Scope
Reference
ID 5830970
Description
The Department for the Economy through its executive agency Stranmillis University College (The Buyer) wishes to establish a contract with a Supplier to provide a commercial, off-the shelf solution for the provision, support and maintenance of a finance system, which must be fully operational by 1 March 2026. The Contract will commence immediately following Award with an implementation phase, which must be completed by 28 February 2026.
The initial 5-year period will commence on the Go-Live date of 1 March 2026, and include options to extend for 2 further up to one-year periods (i.e. a maximum of 7.5 years, dependent on the Contract Award date and Implementation Phase).
Suppliers should refer to the Specification Schedule for full detail on the deliverables of this contract. This procurement is for the award of a public contract through a competitive flexible procedure in accordance with section 20(1) and (2)(b) of the PA 2023.
Total value (estimated)
- £596,000 excluding VAT
- £715,200 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 6 October 2025 to 28 February 2031
- Possible extension to 28 February 2033
- 7 years, 4 months, 26 days
Description of possible extension:
Following the initial contract period, there are 2 potential extension periods of up to 12 months each. Optional extension periods will be subject to review and satisfactory performance assessment by the Contracting Authority.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 72212400 - Business transaction and personal business software development services
- 72212440 - Financial analysis and accounting software development services
- 72212443 - Accounting software development services
- 72212450 - Time accounting or human resources software development services
- 72200000 - Software programming and consultancy services
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 72212000 - Programming services of application software
- 72212700 - Software development services utilities
- 72212783 - Content management software development services
- 72212760 - Virus protection software development services
- 72500000 - Computer-related services
- 72610000 - Computer support services
- 72253000 - Helpdesk and support services
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
- 48440000 - Financial analysis and accounting software package
- 48443000 - Accounting software package
- 48444000 - Accounting system
- 48450000 - Time accounting or human resources software package
- 48780000 - System, storage and content management software package
- 48783000 - Content management software package
- 48612000 - Database-management system
- 48600000 - Database and operating software package
- 48800000 - Information systems and servers
Contract locations
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Submission
Enquiry deadline
27 August 2025, 3:00pm
Tender submission deadline
8 September 2025, 3:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders must be submitted electronically via the relevant Call for Tender (CfT) opportunity on eTendersNI, website details immediately below.
Paper submissions will not be accepted or considered and will be rejected by the Contracting Authority / Buyer.
The tender documents are available with unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: URL https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
6 October 2025
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Criteria | As per Tender documentation. The Contracting Authority may during the process refine an award criterion in line with section 24 of the PA 2023. Where this is the case revised tender documentation will... |
Price | 65% |
| Qualitative Criteria | As per Tender documentation. The Contracting Authority may during the process refine an award criterion in line with section 24 of the PA 2023. Where this is the case revised tender documentation will... |
Quality | 35% |
Other information
Payment terms
As per Schedule 3 (Charges) of the Contract
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Justification for not publishing a preliminary market engagement notice
A pre-market engagement exercise titled 'DfE - Stranmillis UC - Replacement Finance and Purchasing Solution Pre Market Engagement' was published on 12/03/2024. The closing date was 05/04/2024.
The PME Notice identifier was: 2024/S 000-007859
Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0447bb
As part of this engagement suppliers were invited to submit a response to a questionnaire
and attended meetings with Stranmillis University College. Meetings with respondents took place on 01 May 2024 virtually.
Contracting authority
Stranmillis University College
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PLVV-6416-NPRL
Stranmillis Road
Belfast
BT9 5DY
United Kingdom
Email: SSDAdmin.CPD@finance-ni.gov.uk
Website: https://www.stran.ac.uk
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland
Other organisation
These organisations are carrying out the procurement, or part of it, on behalf of the contracting authorities.
CPD - Supplies & Services Division
Summary of their role in this procurement: Construction and Procurement Delivery - Supplies and Services Division, is a Centre of Procurement Expertise and provides a central procurement function for central government in Northern Ireland
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVWG-8426-YWXV
Clare House 303 Airport Road West
Belfast
BT3 9ED
United Kingdom
Region: UKN06 - Belfast