Scope
Reference
1109
Description
Aston University is seeking proposals from Suppliers who are able to provide a Research Ethics Management System suitable for use within a Higher Education Environment.
The Research Integrity Office (RIO) are responsible for ethics evaluation of research projects across the following stakeholder groups:
· Research active staff.
· Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs).
· UG/PG taught students.
Ethics management consists of entirely manual processes involving email, MS Word, and MS Excel, delivered by three people.
The RIO is a small team for the workload, smaller than equivalent teams at other institutions. Whilst the team has grown, so has the complexity and volume of their workload. With the workload demand of the current process, there are not enough reviewers in the Colleges.
With this manual and unsustainable way of working, process reengineering is required with proactive and compliant solutions to allow staff to manage the ethics approval process, in an efficient environment where there is positive sentiment and an understanding of the consequences and the broader context of ethical approval.
Proposals will also include ongoing hosting and maintenance provision.
The full specification is available as part of the procurement documents available through Aston's e-tendering portal.
Contract 1
Supplier
Contract value
- £142,000 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Award decision date
31 July 2025
Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers
1 August 2025
Earliest date the contract will be signed
14 August 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 15 August 2025 to 31 August 2028
- Possible extension to 31 August 2030
- 5 years, 17 days
Description of possible extension:
2 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 72260000 - Software-related services
Contract locations
- UKG31 - Birmingham
Information about tenders
- 14 tenders received
- 6 tenders assessed in the final stage:
- 5 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- 0 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
- 1 supplier awarded contracts
- 5 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Supplier
F1 Solutions Pty Ltd
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PJHX-2541-MGGZ
103-105 Northbourne Avenue
Turner
2612
Australia
Email: tenders@f1solutions.com.au
Website: http://www.f1solutions.com.au
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1
Contracting authority
ASTON UNIVERSITY
- Companies House: RC000904
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PTLB-7496-TPTR
Aston Triangle
Birmingham
B4 7ET
United Kingdom
Email: procurement@aston.ac.uk
Region: UKG31 - Birmingham
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government