Sopra Steria sues UK government over £958M Capita outsourcing award

Sopra Steria is suing the UK government, alleging it accepted a bid from rival Capita for an outsourcing contract worth up to £958.7 million that it failed to recognize as too low to comply with procurement rules.

In court filings accessed by The Register, the French outsourcer claims the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which leads the shared services program for multiple departments, failed to spot that Capita's bid for the contract was "abnormally low" relative to Sopra Steria's tender for the same work.

It also alleges that after the UK outsourcer was named preferred bidder for the contract, the DWP conducted further renegotiations around Capita's tender. Sopra Steria argues it was excluded from any such process.

A DWP spokesperson said: "We are aware of the legal challenge and are cooperating fully with the relevant processes. As this matter is currently subject to litigation, it ...