Project Zora is a strategic programme within the Department for Work and Pensions’ Working Age Services portfolio, focused on improving the sustainability, agility and resilience of the Universal Credit service. It addresses the constraints of a long‑standing monolithic application estate to enable more responsive delivery of policy change, user needs and future service evolution.
The programme will progressively decompose elements of the Universal Credit application into more modular, loosely coupled components aligned to a modern, microservices‑based architecture. This includes re‑architecting systems and supporting capabilities to reduce interdependencies, improve deployment flexibility, and enable faster, safer change while maintaining continuity of service.
Through this transformation, Project Zora aims to establish reusable platform and service capabilities that can be iterated over time and support wider Working Age Services objectives. Delivery is expected to require specialist digital, engineering and delivery expertise across analysis, design, build and transition activity, with a clear focus on managing operational risk, supporting user‑centred outcomes and delivering long‑term value for money.
Estimated total contract value (inclusive of optional extension period) is between £20,000,000 and £35,000,000
Please note, that all key decisions including final programme title, budgets, contract length and dates are yet to be approved through internal governance and therefore may change. The procurement will be conducted via DWP’s e-procurement system Atamis. Further information on registering an interest in this procurement will be provided in future notices.