Public procurement notice: Contract Award Notice
Published: 2018-04-10
Buyer: Newcastle University
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Open procedure
CPV classification: 72260000: Software-related services | 72268000: Software supply services
Estimated value: 326519.06 GBP
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: Newcastle University invites tenders to supply and implement an integrated and fully customised off the shelf system for Research Costing and Project Administration and Management System, to support administrators and academics to manage research activity, throughout the projects life cycle. The solution will be one that has a proven track record in Higher Education Research Costing and Project Management, or equivalent.
Bids are invited from suppliers that can demonstrate they have an existing solution in a live environment that can demonstrate compliance with UK statutory conditions governing Higher Education research costing, and research administration and project management.
Newcastle University invites tenders to supply and implement an integrated and fully customized off the shelf system for Research Costing and Project Administration and Management System, to support administrators and academics to manage research activity, throughout the project life cycle. The solution will be one that has a proven track record in Higher Education Research Costing and Project Management or equivalent, that can demonstrate compliance with UK statutory conditions governing Higher Education research costing, and research administration and project management.
The current MyProjects system will soon come to the end of its life and needs to be replaced. It is used to manage all externally funded and strategic projects including research proposals and contracts and enterprise and business development related activities. The system manages around 100 000 000 GBP of external funding per annum and has approximately 2 000 users.
The MyProjects Proposals system is a bespoke project proposal costing tool. Our current system manages in excess of 3 000 proposals per annum with a total value in excess of 600 000 000 GBP.
The replacement system(s) will be an integral component(s) of the University's “end to end” project management system and as such will be required to integrate effectively with other established systems including MyImpact a Current Research Information System (CRIS) in which information on publications, research and teaching evaluation activities is collected), SAP (HR, Finance and Business Warehouse).
Expressions of interest in this tender (and access to the tender documentation) can be made by registering via the University's e-tendering portal at: https://procontract.due-north.com/Login
Beyond the initial 72-month contract period, a further 24-month contract may be awarded subject to mutual agreement. A final 24-month contract may be awarded on the same basis. Options will be taken up on or before 1.10.2023 and 1.10.2025 respectively.
The University will incorporate a standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. That notification will provide full information on the award decision. The standstill period, which will be for a minimum of 10 calendar days, provides time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract is entered into.
The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 No 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) within 30 days of knowledge or constructive knowledge of breach.


Winner: UNIT4 Business Software Limited
Award value: 326519.06
Number of bids: 2