Public procurement notice: Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Published: 2020-08-04
Buyer: University of Ulster
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Negotiated without a prior call for competition
CPV classification: 72000000
Estimated value: 900000 GBP

Technical requirements: Υπηρεσίες τεχνολογίας των πληροφοριών: παροχή συμβουλών, ανάπτυξη λογισμικού, Διαδίκτυο και υποστήριξη
Ulster University uses Oracle database and application server software which is comprised of the following licensed components:
This software underpins several key University systems including the student record information and finance systems. As such it is a key component of many of our fundamental business processes including those that manage students through the full lifecycle of the University: student recruitment, Universities Central Admissions Services (UCAS) admissions, direct admissions, student fees processing, debt management, enrolment, progression, programme and model registration and data recording, examination processes and graduation.
The University requires ongoing maintenance of Oracle database and application server software to ensure the availability of new software releases and updates. These requirements are included in this contract
It is anticipated the contract will be for 3 years initially, with an option to extend for any periods up to and including 84 months.
The estimated total value stated above in Section II.1.7) includes the initial 3-year contract period and the option to extend the contract for any periods up to and including 84 months.
Justification for the choice of the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice in the OJEU in accordance with Directive 2004/18/EC. The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 under Regulation 32 2(b) allows for the use of the Negotiated Procedure without Prior Publication:
‘where the works, supplies or services can be supplied only by a particular economic operator for any of the following reasons:
The University’s main student and finance systems require Oracle database software. Oracle software is supplied via our Oracle Campus Agreement. This Campus Agreement contract includes educational discounts. The Oracle Campus Agreement can only be supplied by Oracle and not by any other resellers.
It is clear that any break in these contracts with Oracle will seriously undermine the support of our central University Systems that changing such a highly customised system with requirements not yet defined would incur disproportionate costs in both operation and maintenance.
Ulster University uses Oracle Database and Application Server Software which is comprised of the following licensed components:
This software underpins several key University systems including the student record information and finance systems. As such it is a key component of many of our fundamental business processes including those that manage students through the full lifecycle of the University: student recruitment, Universities Central Admissions Services (UCAS) admissions, direct admissions, student fees processing, debt management, enrolement, progression, programme and model registration and data recording, examination processes and graduation.
The University requires ongoing maintenance of Oracle database and application server software to ensure the availability of new software releases and updates. These requirements are included in this contract.
The University does not envisage replacement of either the Student record information or finance systems in the next 3 years and as both systems rely on Oracle database software the anticipated duration of the contract will be for 3 years initially, with an option to extend for any periods up to and including 84 months.
Any proceedings alleging that the University is in breach of its duties under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 must be started in the High Court of Northern Ireland, in accordance with the time limits set out in those Regulations. The University will not enter into the contract before the end of a period of at least 10 days beginning with the day after the date on which this voluntary transparency notice is published in the Official Journal.


Winner: Oracle Corporation UK Ltd
Award value: 900000