Award

Ayrshire College Finance System

  • Ayrshire College

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-037735

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0559d8

Published 7 July 2025, 12:46pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Ayrshire College

Main Campus, Hill Street

Kilmarnock

KA1 3HY

Contact

Alan Ritchie

Email

alan.ritchie@ayrshire.ac.uk

Telephone

+44 1563523501

Fax

+44 1563538182

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKM93 - East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire mainland

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www1.ayrshire.ac.uk/

Buyer's address

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00456

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

Ayrshire College Finance System

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 72261000 - Software support services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

This is a voluntary ex ante transparency notice (VEAT). Ayrshire College intends to award a contract for it's finance system for 4 years.

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: £304,000

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 72261000 - Software support services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM93 - East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire mainland
Main site or place of performance

Ayrshire College - Kilmarnock

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

This is a voluntary ex ante transparency notice (VEAT). Ayrshire College intends to award a contract for it's financial software system for 4 years.

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


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:

The College requires to replace its current finance system. The College established a Finance System Implementation Group with the remit to review the various procurement options open to it, noting that there is a balance to be struck between value for money (overall cost of new system) and the technical capacity of the replacement system. Whilst the various procurement options open to the College do provide a route to market, the Group considered that the indicative costs of the proposed suppliers were cost prohibitive given the current financial challenges facing the organisation. The Group also undertook a market testing exercise considering other potential suppliers and their ability to deliver on similar projects. The Group has concluded that when taking into account both value for money, technical specification and ability to deliver on similar projects that Symmetry Ltd will provide the most economically advantageous outcome for the College. The College therefore proposes to award the contract for the supply of the new finance system to Symmetry.

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes


Section five. Award of contract/concession

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

3 June 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

Symmetry Ltd

7-11 Lodway, The Old Brewery Business Park, Pill

Bristol

BS20 0DH

Telephone

+44 01179006262

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKK1 - Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £304,000


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=803587.

(SC Ref:803587)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Kilmarnock Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace

Marnock Street

Kilmarnock

KA1 1ED

Country

United Kingdom