Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Northumbria University
Sutherland Building, College Street, Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8ST
Contact
Laura Rizaeva
laura.rizaeva@northumbria.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 1912326002
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKC - North East (England)
National registration number
PNBP-4638-XHJP
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Azure Cloud SaaS
Reference number
T24/0091
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72416000 - Application service providers
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The University of Northumbria awarded a Contract for provision of comprehensive Azure FinOps (Cloud Financial Operations) and cost optimisation services. The primary goal of this engagement is to improve resource efficiency, reduce cloud expenditure, and establish a sustainable financial management framework for our growing Azure cloud environment.
The scope of the Azure support includes several critical areas of the university's digital ecosystem.
• Azure Entra ID (formerly Azure AD)
• Corporate Website & Student Portal
• UNN Integration Platform
• Learning Analytics & MS Fabric
• Research Web Hosting
The Supplier demonstrated proven expertise in Azure FinOps and a strong track record of delivering measurable cost savings for enterprise-level clients.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £1,890,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - North East (England)
Main site or place of performance
NORTH EAST (ENGLAND)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The University of Northumbria awarded a Contract for provision of comprehensive Azure FinOps (Cloud Financial Operations) and cost optimisation services. The primary goal of this engagement is to improve resource efficiency, reduce cloud expenditure, and establish a sustainable financial management framework for our growing Azure cloud environment.
The scope of the Azure support includes several critical areas of the university's digital ecosystem.
• Azure Entra ID (formerly Azure AD)
• Corporate Website & Student Portal
• UNN Integration Platform
• Learning Analytics & MS Fabric
• Research Web Hosting
The Supplier demonstrated proven expertise in Azure FinOps and a strong track record of delivering measurable cost savings for enterprise-level clients.
This procurement conducted under JISC OCRE 2024 Cloud Framework
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Criterion 1 / Weighting: 70
Cost criterion - Name: Criterion 1 / Weighting: 30
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
This procurement conducted under JISC OCRE 2024 Cloud Framework
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
This procurement conducted under JISC OCRE 2024 Cloud Framework
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
UNN0000001256A
Title
Azure Cloud SaaS
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
20 October 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Softcat PLC
Solar House, Fieldhouse Lane
Marlow
SL7 1LW
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKC - North East (England)
National registration number
02174990
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £1,890,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,890,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This procurement conducted under JISC OCRE 2024 Cloud Framework
To view this notice, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=1012582678 GO Reference: GO-202626-PRO-34567769
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
University of Northumbria at Newcastle
College street
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE1 8ST
laura.rizaeva@northumbria.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 1912326002
Country
United Kingdom