05 June 2023

The UK Home Office has launched a tender worth up to £895 million for a user services supplier for its issue-riddled Emergency Services Network (ESN), a project which has been plagued with years of delays and escalating costs.

In a tender notice issued in May, the Home Office said that it was aiming to establish a contract for a ‘user services’ supplier to work in conjunction with other partners, including the mobile supplier which is currently EE.

The successful bidder will be involved in programme and project delivery, system integration, delivery of network and IT infrastructure, including a dedicated dual 4G/5G standalone mobile core network, and specifications and certification services for third-party devices and systems connected to the ESN.

Prospective bidders must submit their tenders by 19 June and the initial term of the contract lasts until the end of 2031, with the possibility of two 12-month extensions.