The Police Service of Northern Ireland (Authority) has a requirement for the provision of Core IT Managed Services (Contract). The Core IT contract encompasses the Authority’s operational systems excluding Wide Area Networks, Local Area Networks, Printers, and those dedicated internal networks and systems supporting sensitive specialist departments. The Supplier may be required to interface with these systems and collaborate with relevant third parties as necessary to ensure the effective delivery of services. The primary focus of this Core IT procurement is, to make a strong contribution to public confidence in policing by driving improvements in public service delivery through the provision of world-class IT services, which enhances frontline policing efficiency and resilience. In parallel, the aim is to deliver improved value for money for taxpayers through robust and effective contract management that drive continuous improvement in supplier performance throughout the initial contract term. The Authority therefore wishes to procure a Core IT solution which: • Meets all existing business requirements, providing continuity of service across all Authority operations; • Supports the transition from the current contractual arrangements to the new contract, ensuring minimal disruption to ongoing IT services and operational capability; • Provides flexibility and scalability to accommodate future and evolving business requirements, including changes in operational scope, technology, or user demand; • Maintains the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of all Authority systems, networks, and data in accordance with applicable legislation, security policies and standards; • Ensures the secure storage and management of Authority data, both on-premises and within any approved hosted or cloud environments; • Complies with all relevant current and future requirements relating to IT infrastructure, operational standards, and data protection legislation, including but not limited to UK GDPR and associated security frameworks; • Implements continuous quality enhancements in all areas, identified as requiring improvement, ensuring that service performance and user satisfaction are maintained and developed throughout the contract term; • Supports the adoption of automated services and modern management capabilities to streamline operational processes across both on-premises and cloud-hosted environments, delivering infrastructure services through a standardised, service-oriented model that provides a consistent and simplified user experience regardless of where the underlying data or services are hosted; and • Actively explores and adopts innovative technologies,. including artificial intelligence (AI) and Automation, where such technologies demonstrably streamline processes, enhance efficiency, resilience, and value for money, whether on-premises or cloud. The Core Towers are: 1. Infrastructure and Hosting Services; 2. Application Support. 3. Desktops, Laptops, and Peripherals; and 4. Service Desk. Please see DRAFT Services Specification provided at PSQ stage for further details.