Scope
Reference
PRN2250
Description
Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) is an activity-based costing system developed for the UK higher education sector and implemented in UK publicly funded higher education institutions. This contract is for the Provision of TRAC technical helpdesk support to UK HE institutions required to submit TRAC returns.
Maintaining and updating the TRAC guidance and reporting requirements, including taking account of changes to financial accounting standards and meeting stakeholder needs.
Carrying out reviews of the TRAC methodology to improve data quality and utility and meet multiple stakeholder requirements.
Supporting the TRAC Development Group in its oversight of the TRAC system.
Supporting the UK Regulators and Funders, including the use of the TRAC system to inform funding policy for teaching and research, and for informing pricing of research grants and contracts.
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Contract 1
Supplier
Contract value
- £530,000 excluding VAT
- £636,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
22 August 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026
- 1 year
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
Contract locations
- UKK1 - Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
Single supplier - technical reasons
The TRAC support service is a specialist contract requiring expertise in the TRAC system, understanding of methodology, and capacity to provide support across the UK HE sector, to OfS, SFC, Medr, DFE(NI) and UKRI to support use of TRAC data for informing funding policy, for use by UKRI for funding research grants and contracts, and to inform government policy for DfE and the devolved administrations.
The OfS is currently implementing changes to its data platform and arrangements for collecting data from institutions (including change to the TRAC return template). Therefore, continuity of helpdesk support to the sector during the next TRAC return will be essential to avoid disproportionate burden for HE institutions during this transition period.
Additionally, continuity is required in order that important developments in the TRAC system which involve implementation of complex technical changes to the TRAC requirements that have been developed and recently piloted under the current service contract can be implemented successfully and without disruption in the helpdesk support.
Supplier
KPMG LLP
- Companies House: OC301540
15 Canada Square
London
E14 5GL
United Kingdom
Region: UKI42 - Tower Hamlets
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1
Contracting authority
Office for Students
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYZM-6681-RPZP
Westward House, Lime Kiln Close, Stoke Gifford
Bristol
BS34 8SR
United Kingdom
Region: UKK12 - Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Organisation type: Public authority - central government