Scope
Reference
6282386 EXP/2305
Description
Ulster University has been using Microsoft's Project Online (POL) system since 2019. Following Microsoft's recent announcement to decommission Project Online in September 2026 with some system functionality ceasing from April 2026, the University is looking for alternative solutions from potential service providers in the marketplace to deliver the following aims:
.
- Establish a "single source of truth" for all project data.
- Standardise templates, reports, and processes.
- Future Capability to integrate with our financial systems. The new system should be the source of truth for project-level financials.
- Be scalable, secure, and future proof.
- Support strategic, executive, and operational reporting levels.
- Usability of the system is considered key.
- Migrate the current POL data and system to the future system.
.
We are seeking options available to the University currently available in the market to include:
.
- Strategic alignment, prioritisation and what-if analysis;
- Portfolio, programme and project management;
- Project planning, management, and execution;
- Task management;
- Financial management;
- Reporting and analytics;
- Benefits management;
- Risk and issue management;
- Change request management;
- Dependency management;
- POL Migration process; and
- Intuitive User Experience and Interface.
Total value (estimated)
- £220,000 excluding VAT
- £264,000 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028
- Possible extension to 31 March 2030
- 4 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 72263000 - Software implementation services
- 72268000 - Software supply services
Contract locations
- UKN - Northern Ireland
- UKN0 - Northern Ireland
- UKN06 - Belfast
- UKN0C - Causeway Coast and Glens
Engagement
Engagement deadline
10 October 2025
The engagement was carried out before this notice was published.
Engagement process description
The Preliminary Market Engagement for this requirement has now been concluded. A Request for Information (RFI) was issued on eSourcingNI on 26-Sep-25 under Project Code: Project_28878 / RFI Ref: PQQ_4683 which closed on 10-Oct-25.
10 completed PME responses were received and the University opted to not follow up with any further engagement meetings / demonstrations due to sufficient information received from respondents following a short clarification period.
F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)
Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-060231
Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05a369
The University initially believed this procurement was going to be below threshold but following indicative costs received in PME responses, we now believe this will be above threshold hence why this PME notice is retrospective.
It is anticipated that the resulting tender competition will be published via eTendersNI under CFT ID 6282386 in early 2026, however this is subject to change along with estimated tender publication date and contract start & end dates stated in this PME notice.
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
12 January 2026
Contracting authority
THE UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER
- Companies House: RC000726
Finance Office
Coleraine
BT52 1SA
United Kingdom
Email: procurement_enquiries@ulster.ac.uk
Website: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/
Region: UKN0C - Causeway Coast and Glens
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland