URL: https://councillors.knowsley.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=8551

Decision Maker: Executive Director Resources & Partnerships (Stephan Van Arendsen)

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: The purpose of this report is to seek approval, in accordance with The Public Contact Regulations 2015, Regulation 33 (8), to awarded to e2e-assure Ltd for the protective monitoring and 24/7 Security Operations Centre (SOC) from 21st November 2026 to 20th November 2029, including the option to extend for a further 12-month period, to 20th November 2030.   The reason for the decision is that a compliant procurement exercise has been undertaken in accordance with The Public Contact Regulations 2015, Regulation 33 (8), using the Government Commercial Agency, G-Cloud 14 Framework. The provider which has been identified as part of the call off process has been evaluated and is considered to provide an offer which is acceptable to the Council in accordance with the councils specification.  

Content: The purpose of this report is to seek approval, in accordance with The Public Contact Regulations 2015, Regulation 33 (8), to awarded to e2e-assure Ltd for the protective monitoring and 24/7 Security Operations Centre (SOC) from 21st November 2026 to 20th November 2029, including the option to extend for a further 12-month period, to 20th November 2030.   The reason for the decision is that a compliant procurement exercise has been undertaken in accordance with The Public Contact Regulations 2015, Regulation 33 (8), using the Government Commercial Agency, G-Cloud 14 Framework. The provider which has been identified as part of the call off process has been evaluated and is considered to provide an offer which is acceptable to the Council in accordance with the councils specification.   (i)             That, in accordance with The Public Contact Regulations 2015, Regulation 33 (8), a call off contract be awarded to e2e-assure Ltd. for the protective monitoring and 24/7 Security Operations Centre (SOC) from 21st November 2026 to 20th November 2029, including the option to extend for a further 12-month period, to 20th November 2030. (ii)              Procurement Team be authorised to make the necessary arrangements for the issue of the relevant contract documentation after conclusion of the call-in period The availability of a skilled Security Operations Centre (SOC) team with an in-depth understanding of our environment ensures that security events are assessed, triaged, and responded to promptly and effectively. This reduces response times, enables more accurate decision-making, and strengthens the organisation's overall security posture and resilience. In the current cyber security landscape, where threat actors operate continuously and attacks such as ransomware, business email compromise, and exploitation of newly disclosed vulnerabilities can occur at any time, the ability to detect and respond to threats on a 24/7 basis is increasingly critical. Delays in identifying and containing incidents can significantly increase the potential impact on services, data, and operational continuity.   Furthermore, the supplier's 24/7 operating model provides continuous monitoring and incident response capabilities, ensuring that potential threats are identified and managed regardless of the time or day. This supports compliance obligations, incident management requirements, and business continuity objectives, while reducing the likelihood of security incidents escalating into major service disruptions. Collectively, these benefits were key factors in identifying the supplier as offering the most advantageous solution, delivering enhanced risk mitigation, operational effectiveness, and assurance that the organisation remains protected against an evolving and increasingly sophisticated cyber threat landscape.  

Date of Decision: September 16, 2026