UK-West Malling: System software acceptance testing consultancy services.

Section I: Contracting Authority

I.1) Name, Addresses and Contact Point(s):
HR Connect t/a Kent County Council
1 Abbey Wood Road, Kings Hill, West Malling Kent ME19 4YT, West Malling, ME19 4YT, United Kingdom
Tel. +44 162294257, Email: elliot.masters@hrconnect.org.uk
Contact: Elliot Masters
Main Address: https://www.commercialservices.org.uk/
NUTS Code: UK

I.2) Joint procurement:
The contract involves joint procurement: No
In the case of joint procurement involving different countries, state applicable national procurement law: Not Provided
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body: No

I.4)Type of the contracting authority:
Regional or local authority

I.5) Main activity:
General public services

Section II: Object Of The Contract

II.1) Scope of the procurement

II.1.1) Title: Security Penetration Testing
Reference number: CSG003591

II.1.2) Main CPV code:
72226000 - System software acceptance testing consultancy services.


II.1.3) Type of contract: SERVICES

II.1.4) Short description: A commissioned security assessment of a web application and its associated API prior to public release. This is an internet-facing job board and applicant tracking system (ATS) that will process sensitive data, including personal information, user credentials, CVs, and job applications.

II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No

II.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value: 9,600

Currency:GBP

II.2) Description

II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s):
Not Provided

II.2.3) Place of performance
Nuts code:
UK - UNITED KINGDOM

Main site or place of performance:
UNITED KINGDOM


II.2.4) Description of the procurement: A commissioned security assessment of a web application and its associated API prior to public release. An internet-facing job board and applicant tracking system (ATS) that will process sensitive data, including personal information, user credentials, CVs, and job applications.

II.2.5) Award criteria:
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 33
Quality criterion - Name: Technical Ability / Weighting: 33

Cost criterion - Name: Cost / Weighting: 33


II.2.11) Information about options
Options: No


II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No


II.2.14) Additional information: Not Provided


Section IV: Procedure

IV.1) Description

IV.1.1)Type of procedure: Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the Official Journal of the European Union in the cases listed below (please complete Annex D1)


IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement: No


IV.1.6) Information about electronic auction
An electronic auction has been used: No

IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No

IV.2) Administrative information

IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Not Provided


IV.2.9) Information about termination of call for competition in the form of a prior information notice
The contracting authority will not award any further contracts based on the above prior information notice: No

Section V: Award of contract

Award Of Contract (No.1)

Contract No: CSG003591
Lot Number: Not Provided
Title: Penetration Testing

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes


V.2) Award of contract

V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract: 02/06/2026

V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
Number of tenders received from SMEs: Not Provided
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: Not Provided
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: Not Provided
Number of tenders received by electronic means: Not Provided

V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

Contractor (No.1)
Pen Test Partners LLP, OC353362
Unit 2, Verney Junction Business Park, Buckingham, MK18 2LB, United Kingdom
NUTS Code: UK
The contractor is an SME: No

V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: 9,600
Total value of the contract/lot: 9,600
Currency: GBP

V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract is likely to be subcontracted: No

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.3) Additional information: To view this notice, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=1041839096
VI.4) Procedures for review

VI.4.1) Review body
Commercial Services
1 Abbey Wood Road, West Malling, ME19 4YT, United Kingdom
Tel. +44 1622942517

VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures: Not Provided

VI.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Not Provided

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice: 08/06/2026




ANNEX D

1. Justification for the choice of the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a call for competition in accordance with Article 32 of Directive 2014/24/EU

No tenders or no suitable tenders/requests to participate in response to: Not Provided



The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason: No

Extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable for the contracting authority and in accordance with the strict conditions stated in the directive: No

Additional deliveries by the original supplier ordered under the strict conditions stated in the directive: No

New works/services, constituting a repetition of existing works/services and ordered in accordance with the strict conditions stated in the directive: No
Service contract to be awarded to the winner or one of winners under the rules of a design contest: Yes


Purchase of supplies or services on particularly advantageous terms: No


3. Explanation
Two suppliers provided quotes for services and the MEAT supplier was selected