Scope
Description
Unit4 is our current provider for our finance system, Agresso since 2003 and is pivotal to our finance operations. In 2023, Unit4 announced that the on prem version of Agresso would become end of life by Dec 2024 and all customers will need to have moved to their cloud product.
Unit4 subsequently agreed to 2 extra years for contract negotiations and migrations to happen requiring universities to migrate off the on prem finance system to an alternative solution by the end of December 2026 at the latest.
Contract 1. Unit4 Cloud Migration Contract
Supplier
Contract value
- £762,454.68 excluding VAT
- £914,945.61 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
11 September 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 December 2025 to 30 November 2030
- 5 years
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
Contract locations
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKI - London
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
Other information
Description of risks to contract performance
The applicable risk in this instance is that of the non implementation of this contract as that would leave the University without access to a reliable finance system
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
- Single supplier - technical reasons
- Extreme and unavoidable urgency
Contract for Unit4 Business Software Limited for the provision of a cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning Solution. The proposed contract term is 60 Months.
The current on premise Unit 4 finance software is a business-critical application used by the University and its subsidiaries for the management of their finances.
The University considers that the award of the contract is permitted under section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023. Section 41 allows contracting authorities to award a public contract to a non excluded supplier directly. Section 41 (5) (d) permits the award of a public contract for reasons of extreme and unavoidable urgency, the time limits for the open or competitive flexible procedures in addition to the integration and implementation services cannot be complied with.
Due to Unit4's unforeseeable decision to remove support for the University's on-premises solution after 31st December 2026, the University does not consider that there is sufficient time to implement a new financial system.
This would have involved gathering a full set of requirements and specification, conducting market tests, completing a full procurement exercise and integration of existing interfaces before the given deadline by Unit4. The award of a contract pursuant to section 41 (5) (d) is therefore strictly necessary, for reasons of extreme urgency, to ensure business continuity for the University of Essex from 31st December 2026.
The cloud based Unit4 Enterprise Resource Planning solution provides a full suite of financial management functions. It enables budget management, expenses, purchase to pay, sales to cash, inventory management, general ledger reporting and commitment accounting. Unit4 also provides support and maintenance of the software on its cloud under this contract.
Supplier
UNIT4 BUSINESS SOFTWARE LIMITED
- Companies House: 01737985
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVRP-7679-QVJG
C/O Corporation Service Company (Uk) Limited
London
E14 5HU
United Kingdom
Email: bids.uki@unit4.com
Website: http://www.unit4.com
Region: UKI42 - Tower Hamlets
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. Unit4 Cloud Migration Contract
Contracting authority
University of Bedfordshire
- UK Register of Learning Providers (UKPRN number): 10007152
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVYH-1841-HTTT
University Square
Luton
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom
Email: Procurement@beds.ac.uk
Website: https://www.beds.ac.uk/
Region: UKH21 - Luton
Organisation type: Public undertaking (commercial organisation subject to public authority oversight)