EXPONENTIAL-E LIMITED

Hyper Converged Infrastructure (HCI) Platform with Storage Option

Exponential-e’s HCI Service provides private virtualised hardware to the Customer, allowing the the creation and configuration of Virtual Machines via a portal. Exponential-e manage the hardware and underlying virtualisation technology. The Customer is responsible for the VMs, software and applications that may be used in conjunction with the HCI Service.

Features

• Private Dedicated Cloud
• Capacity Planning Inclusive
• Monitoring and Alerting Inclusive
• Patch and Firmware Management Inclusive
• Microsoft and VMWare Licenses Optional

Benefits

• Simplification of IT administration
• Flexibility and Scalability
• Data Protection and Segregation
• Automated Deployment
• Operational Efficiencies

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at psbids@exponential-e.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 15

Service ID

137486573732853

Contact

Kay Sugg
02034358835
psbids@exponential-e.com

About your service

• Service categories:

  IaaS

  IaaS Storage

  • Block

Service scope

• Service constraints: The Hyperconverged Platform, runs the VMWare vSphere stack as virtualisation technology
• System requirements: Where deployed on customer premises adequate racking, cooling, and power
• Cloud deployment model:
  • Private cloud
  • Community cloud
  • Hybrid cloud

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Yes
• Support response times: P1 Target Response Time - 15 Minutes; P2 Target Response Time - 15 Minutes; P3 Target Response Time - 30 Minutes; P4 Target Response Time - 30 Minutes
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: Yes
• Online ticketing support accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AA
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support: No
• Onsite support: No
• Support levels: Technical Support - Business Hours (0900-1700), weekdays excluding Bank Holidays. Extended Business Hours (0800 - 1800), weekdays excluding Bank Holidays. 24x7x365, including Bank Holidays.
• Support available to third parties: No

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: Exponential-e perform technical scoping with the customer during a series of workshops to define the scope of the service and the metrics. We can in addition perform migration and transformation services in respect of the Hyper Converged Platform; ; Optional training can be provided at the Exponential-e offices or onsite, and supporting documentation is provided on commission of the service
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats: PDF
• End-of-contract data extraction: Customers may export their data to an external medium at the end of contract, this does not include the the transfer of licensing. Exponential-e are able to provide chargeable professional services assistance to the customer to provide migration assistance at the end of contract.
• End-of-contract process: At the end of the term and/or if the contract is terminated, the Service Migration provisions will apply.
• Documentation accessibility standard: None or don’t know
• How the documentation is accessible: Details provided on request.

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Using the web interface: Users can perform all IaaS management functions via the Web interface. This will be delivered as either vCenter, vCloud Director or Cloud Management Platform.
• Web interface accessibility standard: None or don’t know
• How the web interface is accessible: Published to the customer encrypted via the internet or via private connectivity with optional multifactor authentication.
• Web interface accessibility testing: N/A
• API: Yes
• What users can and can't do using the API: API access will be granted either to vCenter APIs, vCloud Director APIs or Cloud Management Platform APIs. Users can access all functions permitted in RBAC via the relative API.
• API automation tools:
  • Ansible
  • Chef
  • Terraform
  • Puppet
• API documentation: Yes
• API documentation formats: PDF
• Command line interface: No

Scaling

• Independence of resources: The Hyperconverged Platform is a dedicated instance per customer.
• Usage notifications: No

Analytics

• Infrastructure or application metrics: Yes
• Metrics types:
  • CPU
  • Disk
  • Memory
  • Network
  • Number of active instances
• Reporting types:
  • API access
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Regular reports
  • Reports on request
• Resource tagging: Yes
• FOCUS resource tagging: No

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Conforms to BS7858:2019
• Government security clearance: Developed Vetting (DV)

Asset protection

• Knowledge of data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Data storage and processing locations: United Kingdom
• User control over data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Datacentre security standards: Complies with a recognised standard (for example CSA CCM version 4.0)
• Penetration testing frequency: At least once a year
• Penetration testing approach: ‘IT Health Check’ performed by a CHECK service provider
• Protecting data at rest:
  • Physical access control, complying with CSA CCM v4.0
  • Physical access control, complying with SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
  • Physical access control, complying with another standard
  • Encryption of all physical media
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Equipment disposal approach: Complying with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0, CAS (Sanitisation) or ISO/IEC 27001
• Data sanitisation type:
  • Deleted data can’t be directly accessed / Cryptographic Erasure
  • Explicit overwriting of storage before reallocation / Secure Erase
  • Physical Destruction / Hardware containing data is completely destroyed

Backup and recovery

• Backup and recovery: No

Data-in-transit protection

• Data protection between buyer and supplier networks:
  • Private network or public sector network
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
  • Other
• Other protection between networks: Exponential-e is able to provide private VPLS WAN connectivity
• Data protection within supplier network:
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
  • Other
• Other protection within supplier network: Exponential-e VPLS WAN technology extends to the provider data centre maintaining segregation within the DC network

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: VM Availability 99.9%; ; Service Credits of; 5% for Below Target; 10% for >0.1 Below Target; 15% for >0.2 Below Target; ; *The Service Credit is applied as a percentage of the Monthly Charge for the VMs that are Unavailable (calculated on a pro-rata basis). Monthly Charge is the Annual Charge divided by 12.
• Approach to resilience: The Hyperconverged service is designed to be resilient, minimising single points of failure. a minimim of 4 x VxRail Nodes are provided in N+1 for vCPU and vRAM availability, with VMWare vSAN distributing the storage resiliently over 4 nodes.; ; Optionally, VMs can be replicated to the Exponential-e shared cloud service (the VDC) as well as a number of ratified public cloud options such as AWS and Azure, which Exponential-e can set-up
• Outage reporting: The Exponential-e Service desk will inform customers for any service outage.

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication:
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: Details available on request.
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least once a year
• Management access authentication:
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password
• Devices users manage the service through:
  • Dedicated device on a segregated network (providers own provision)
  • Dedicated device on a government network (for example PSN)
  • Dedicated device over multiple services or networks
  • Any device but through a bastion host (a bastion host is a server that provides access to a private network from an external network such as the internet)
  • Directly from any device which may also be used for normal business (for example web browsing or viewing external email)

Audit information for users

• Access to user activity audit information: Users contact the support team to get audit information
• How long user audit data is stored for: User-defined
• Access to supplier activity audit information: Users contact the support team to get audit information
• How long supplier audit data is stored for: User-defined
• How long system logs are stored for: User-defined

Security governance

• Named board-level person responsible for service security: Yes
• Security governance certified: Yes
• Security governance standards:
  • CSA CSM version 4.0
  • ISO/IEC 27001
  • Other
• Other security governance standards: Exponential-e are a Stage 3 accredited HSCN CN-SP and our network operability conforms to HSCN Framework Obligations.
• Information security policies and processes: Exponential-e are a Stage 3 accredited HSCN CN-SP and our network operability conforms to HSCN Framework Obligations.

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Complies with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Configuration and change management approach: Details available on request.
• Vulnerability management type: Complies with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Vulnerability management approach: Details available on request.
• Protective monitoring type: Complies with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Protective monitoring approach: Details available on request.
• Incident management type: Complies with a recognised standard, for example, CSA CCM v4.0 or ISO/IEC 27035:2011 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Incident management approach: Exponential-e’s Incident Management process is integrated into its ISO9001 and ISO20000-1 accredited framework. Pre-defined procedures address common events, with examples including automated scripts for capacity-related issues. Incidents are reported by users via email, phone, or ServiceNow, which generates a tracking number for efficient handling and prioritisation. These incidents are logged, allocated to appropriate teams, and resolved based on their urgency and impact. Incident updates are provided regularly, with detailed reports shared for major incidents. Post-resolution evaluations ensure continuous improvement, supported by root cause analyses and formal Reason for Outage reports
• Post-quantum cryptography secure: Yes

Secure development

• Approach to secure software development best practice: Independent review of processes (for example CESG CPA Build Standard, ISO/IEC 27034, ISO/IEC 27001 or CSA CCM v4.0)

Separation between users

• Virtualisation technology used to keep applications and users sharing the same infrastructure apart: Yes
• Who implements virtualisation: Third-party
• Third-party virtualisation provider: VMWare
• How shared infrastructure is kept separate: TBC

Energy efficiency

• Energy-efficient datacentres: Yes
• Description of energy efficient datacentres: Critical to our core operation is our national network infrastructure and Data Centres, which house our server and switching equipment, as well as our cloud Infrastructure. Exponential-e recognises that energy efficient practices, and reducing our carbon footprint, are paramount in achieving our corporate sustainability goals. • All our Data Centres are ISO14001 accredited organisations with robust environmental management systems • Procuring consumed energy from sustainable energy sources wherever possible • Ensuring the use of hot/cold aisle cooling design in our Data Centres, which reduces energy consumption as the cooling is more efficient and helps our customers to reduce their carbon footprint • Use the latest virtualisation (VDC) technologies to ensure the most efficient utilisation of hardware resulting in the overall optimization of our client’s infrastructure. Our VDC delivers dedicated processing instead of having multiple, underutilised physical servers, which helps minimise our environmental impact

Pricing

• Discount for educational organisations: No
• Free trial available: No

Discount

• Provide your minimum discount applicable to your baseline prices: 5%

Formula for calculating price of your services

• Formula for calculating price of your services:

  Which of the core deployment models you intend to offer

  Private Cloud

  Private Cloud - Formula for calculating price of your services

  ---

  Total Cost

  The Total Cost for a buyer's call off requirement in a Private Cloud Deployment

  =

  Baseline Pricing

  Baseline Pricing for these services will be found under the G-Cloud Service Lines, within the Pricing Document.; ; The applicable price point is determined by factors such as required performance levels, availability requirements, data protection, and scale. ; ; This pricing approach allows buyers to clearly understand entry-level costs while retaining flexibility to scale performance and capacity in line with workload demands. All pricing assumptions and variables will be clearly described to ensure buyers can accurately forecast costs and assess value for money.

  -

  Minimum Discounting

  5%

  +

  Onboarding Activity

  Onboarding costs may vary based on your specific requirements, please confirm with suppliers during the clarification process

  +

  Additional sources of cost

  In addition to baseline pricing, buyers may incur additional costs depending on their existing infrastructure, data volumes, and integration requirements. ; ; One potential cost is dedicated network connectivity. For data-intensive workloads such as digital pathology, GPU computation, or HPC environments, buyers may require enhanced or private connectivity. Where required, dedicated network services can be provided and scoped separately to meet performance, security, and availability needs. For health and care organisations, this may include connectivity via the Health and Social Care Network (HSCN). ; Additional variations in the costs for licencing and compute may also apply.; ; Data migration may also introduce additional costs. Buyers transitioning from existing on-premises or third-party storage platforms may require support to transfer large datasets, validate data integrity, and minimise service disruption. Migration activities are scoped based on data volume, complexity, and delivery timelines and can be delivered as a professional service, including discovery, planning, execution, and post-migration validation. ; ; In greenfield deployments, where no existing data platform is in place, data migration costs would not apply. ; ; Additional costs may arise from optional services such as enhanced resilience, bespoke configurations, or specialist support. Any such services would be clearly defined and agreed with the buyer prior to contract commencement.

  -

  Additional sources of cost reduction

  This model provides several opportunities for cost reduction, depending on the service configuration/scaling over time. The proposed approach uses a hybrid scale-out storage architecture, combining high-performance nodes with archive-optimised nodes to deliver a single, aggregated storage platform, enabling buyers to align costs directly with workload requirements. ; ; A primary source of cost efficiency is the ability to balance performance and archive tiers. High-performance nodes command a higher price per GB within the defined pricing range, while archive nodes offer significantly lower-cost storage for data that is accessed less frequently. By limiting high-performance capacity to only where it is required and increasing the proportion of archive nodes, buyers can reduce the overall cost per GB. ; ; Additional savings are achieved by reducing/removing front-end performance nodes where sustained high throughput is not necessary. The platform can operate predominantly as a scale-out archive solution, optimised for capacity rather than performance. ; ; As service demand grows, cost efficiency is maintained by selectively expanding archive capacity rather than scaling performance uniformly. This targeted approach ensures buyers only pay for capabilities needed at each stage. ; ; Together, these configuration options allow buyers to optimise storage environments over time, lowering unit costs while retaining flexibility and performance appropriately.

  ---

• Total Cost: The Total Cost for a buyer's call off requirement in a Private Cloud Deployment
• Baseline Pricing: Baseline Pricing for these services will be found under the G-Cloud Service Lines, within the Pricing Document.; ; The applicable price point is determined by factors such as required performance levels, availability requirements, data protection, and scale. ; ; This pricing approach allows buyers to clearly understand entry-level costs while retaining flexibility to scale performance and capacity in line with workload demands. All pricing assumptions and variables will be clearly described to ensure buyers can accurately forecast costs and assess value for money.
• Minimum Discounting: 5%
• Onboarding Activity: Onboarding costs may vary based on your specific requirements, please confirm with suppliers during the clarification process
• Additional sources of cost: In addition to baseline pricing, buyers may incur additional costs depending on their existing infrastructure, data volumes, and integration requirements. ; ; One potential cost is dedicated network connectivity. For data-intensive workloads such as digital pathology, GPU computation, or HPC environments, buyers may require enhanced or private connectivity. Where required, dedicated network services can be provided and scoped separately to meet performance, security, and availability needs. For health and care organisations, this may include connectivity via the Health and Social Care Network (HSCN). ; Additional variations in the costs for licencing and compute may also apply.; ; Data migration may also introduce additional costs. Buyers transitioning from existing on-premises or third-party storage platforms may require support to transfer large datasets, validate data integrity, and minimise service disruption. Migration activities are scoped based on data volume, complexity, and delivery timelines and can be delivered as a professional service, including discovery, planning, execution, and post-migration validation. ; ; In greenfield deployments, where no existing data platform is in place, data migration costs would not apply. ; ; Additional costs may arise from optional services such as enhanced resilience, bespoke configurations, or specialist support. Any such services would be clearly defined and agreed with the buyer prior to contract commencement.
• Additional sources of cost reduction: This model provides several opportunities for cost reduction, depending on the service configuration/scaling over time. The proposed approach uses a hybrid scale-out storage architecture, combining high-performance nodes with archive-optimised nodes to deliver a single, aggregated storage platform, enabling buyers to align costs directly with workload requirements. ; ; A primary source of cost efficiency is the ability to balance performance and archive tiers. High-performance nodes command a higher price per GB within the defined pricing range, while archive nodes offer significantly lower-cost storage for data that is accessed less frequently. By limiting high-performance capacity to only where it is required and increasing the proportion of archive nodes, buyers can reduce the overall cost per GB. ; ; Additional savings are achieved by reducing/removing front-end performance nodes where sustained high throughput is not necessary. The platform can operate predominantly as a scale-out archive solution, optimised for capacity rather than performance. ; ; As service demand grows, cost efficiency is maintained by selectively expanding archive capacity rather than scaling performance uniformly. This targeted approach ensures buyers only pay for capabilities needed at each stage. ; ; Together, these configuration options allow buyers to optimise storage environments over time, lowering unit costs while retaining flexibility and performance appropriately.

Mandatory certifications

• Mandatory certifications:

  Are you are bidding to offer IaaS and/or PaaS as a reseller or are you in sole control of the infrastructure

  Sole Control of the Infrastructure

  ISO 9001 certification

  Provided

  ISO 14001 certification

  Provided

  ISO 27001 certification

  Provided

  ISO 20000-1 certification

  Provided

  ISO 27017 certification

  Provided

  Are you bidding to provide services under Lot 1b or both Lot 1a and Lot 1b?

  No

Cyber Essentials

• Do you have a Cyber Essentials Plus certificate?: Yes
• Cyber Essentials Plus certificate Number: 5dd79cac-9d43-47c5-89dc-7942d72666ee

Non-mandatory Standards and certifications

• ISO 28000:2022 certification: No
• Quality management systems (QMS): Yes
• CSA STAR certification: Yes
• CSA STAR accreditation date: Saturday 13 April 2024
• CSA STAR certification level: Level 1: CSA STAR Self-Assessment
• What the CSA STAR doesn’t cover: N/a
• PCI certification: Yes
• Who accredited the PCI DSS certification: PCI Security Standards Council
• PCI DSS accreditation date: Friday 30 January 2026
• What the PCI DSS doesn’t cover: Not applicable.
• Other security certifications: Yes
• Any other security certifications:
  • HSCN CN-SP Stage 2
  • SOC Type 1 & 2
  • ISO 27017

Social value

• Section B - Commitment for Future: Delivery:

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 1: Fair work: That offers fair wages and good working conditions. Help people get a job, stay in work, and progress in their careers, with good employment opportunities across the country. Notes: Where there is a large proportion of labour costs in the contract, commercial teams should consider MAC in Outcome 1 as a priority

    • New or retained jobs on the contract workforce in the relevant area that meet the criteria set out in MAC 1b, 1c and 1d
    • New apprenticeships on the contract workforce in the relevant area that meet the criteria set out in MAC 1b
    • Providing opportunities for, and measuring and monitoring of, staff workforce conditions over time, including employee engagement, involvement in decision-making and satisfaction and adapting to any changes in the results, with clear processes for acting on issues identified
    • Plans to engage the contract workforce in deciding the most important workplace issues to address
    • Employment contracts that reflect actual hours worked; steps taken to ensure employees understand their contracts and have the ability to review and adjust them if actual hours regularly exceed contracted hours
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about, and feel empowered to, address their physical wellbeing
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about and feel empowered to report and address bullying and harassment
    • Measures to support in-work progression to help people in the contract workforce, to move into higher paid work by developing new skills relevant to the contract
    • Support for the contract workforce by providing career advice, and providing opportunities for staff working on the contract with in-work progression career development into known skills shortages or high growth areas
    • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications
    • Volunteering opportunities for staff

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 2: Skills for growth: Supporting growth sectors and addressing skills gaps.

    • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications
    • Delivery of apprenticeships, supported internships and T Level industry placement opportunities (Level 2, 3 and 4+) in relation to the contract

  • Mission: Make Britain a clean energy superpower: To cut bills, create jobs and deliver security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity by 2030, accelerating to net zero

    Policy Outcome 4: Sustainable procurement practices: Reducing carbon footprints, minimising waste, and promoting the use of clean energy and green technologies.

    • Understanding of opportunities for additional environmental benefits delivery in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Delivery of additional environmental benefits through the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies

  • Mission: Break down barriers to opportunity: By reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain

    Policy Outcome 6: Employment and training: For those who face barriers to employment

    • Understanding of the issues affecting inequality in employment, skills and pay in the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors. Measures to tackle inequality in employment, skills and pay in the contract workforce

  • Mission: Build an NHS fit for the future: That is there when people need it; with fewer lives lost to the biggest killers; in a fairer Britain, where everyone lives well for longer.

    Policy Outcome 8: Increasing productivity through physical and mental wellbeing: In the supply chain and communities in the relevant area.

    • Understanding of issues relating to health and wellbeing, including physical and mental health, in the contract workforce
    • Understanding barriers to access to health and social care services or employment opportunities e.g. digital inclusion
    • Inclusive and accessible recruitment practices, development practices and retention policies that support-focused activities including those provided in the Guide for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing which support people with a disability or health condition
    • Actions to invest in the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the contract workforce

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at psbids@exponential-e.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.