RM1069 Crown Hosting

This agreement relates to the provision of Data Centre space and the related services (energy, cooling, connectivity and physical security) necessary to house and provide an operating environment for physical computing infrastructure (“Data Centre Colocation Services”) from at least two separate locations subject to appropriate minimum separation requirements.

The Cabinet Office (“CO”), acting as the Contracting Authority, and Government Digital Service (“GDS”) on behalf of HM Government has secured a private sector partner (the “Facilities Partner”) to subscribe for a majority shareholding (up to 75% less one share) in “DatacentreCo”, a new private company limited by shares established by the Cabinet Office to provide Data Centre Colocation Services. The operating environment is to be capable of housing computer infrastructure that initially handles information with UK Government security classification “OFFICIAL” but there may be a future requirement for Data Centre Colocation Services that can handle information with “SECRET” and “TOP SECRET” security classification. The provision of SECRET and TOP SECRET would be subject to separate security accreditation.

The Facilities Partner will acquire and hold equity share capital in DatacentreCo through a Shareholders' and Subscription Agreement, Articles of Association and other relevant documents. HM Government intends to retain a significant minority shareholding in DatacentreCo (anticipated to be a minimum of 25%+1 share).

Under HM Government’s Cloud First policy (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-adopts-cloud-first-policy-for-public-sector-it ) the hosting of many existing and new applications will move to the public cloud over the next few years. DatacentreCo will support and compliment this policy by providing “legacy” (non -public cloud) hosting for applications not suitable or not ready for cloud hosting or for which conversion to cloud readiness would be uneconomic.

A single supplier Framework Agreement has been established between Cabinet Office and DatacentreCo for a period of 4 years. Call Off Contracts awarded under the Framework Agreement may be awarded for a period of up to 5 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years.

A more extensive description is available in the previously issued Contract Notice, which has been included in the attachments.