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Award Notice for Pre-Award Costing Tool under G-Cloud 14

University of Chester

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

14 Aug 2026 at 15:48

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Chester procured a pre-award research and costing software tool, described as software supply services (CPV 72268000). The tool is intended for use within the university to support costing before awards are made. Delivery is associated with Chester, in the North West of England. The requirement is classified as a services contract and was sourced through the university’s use of the G-Cloud 14 framework. The selected solution is Fusion Practices’ GrantsNow product, supplied by Fusion Practices Limited. This is therefore relevant to software providers with products for grant, bid or pre-award research and costing activity, particularly those able to support higher education users.

The procurement has been completed and awarded. The University of Chester selected Fusion Practices Limited on 20 April 2026, following formal searches, service assessment and evaluation. The award value is £220,000 including the full potential four-year contract period. The contract runs from 21 April 2026 to 20 April 2030. It was conducted as a selective call-off from a framework agreement, specifically G-Cloud 14. The tender submission deadline was 17 April 2026 at 10:00. The procurement was suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises. The award is active, with Fusion Practices’ GrantsNow named as the successful solution.

For suppliers who did not win this procurement, the award demonstrates a defined higher education demand for software that supports pre-award research and costing. A credible competitor would need a functioning product focused on grant or bid costing workflows, with the usability and service capability to operate within a university environment. Experience supporting research, funding or finance teams would help demonstrate relevance, while evidence of successful software delivery and implementation would strengthen a future proposition. Suppliers should also be able to compete through a public-sector framework route such as G-Cloud, understand framework call-off requirements and provide the capacity to support a multi-year institutional service. The requirement was considered suitable for smaller organisations.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Award Notice for Pre-Award Costing Tool under G-Cloud 14

Notice Description

This Award Notice follows the formal searches, service assessment and evaluation conducted through CCS G-Cloud 14, of a pre award research costing tool which resulted in an award to Fusion Practices - GrantsNow, for use within University of Chester. The contract values in this notice are for the full potential 4 year contract period and have been rounded up.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-9269b72c-0616-4165-9f54-eb41c304712d
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9c3ce2c3-5a39-48d6-8afb-3a92082618ee
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Call-off from a framework agreement
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

72268000 - Software supply services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£220,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£220,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
17 Apr 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
20 Apr 20264 months ago
Contract Period
21 Apr 2026 - 20 Apr 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
University of Chester
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CHESTER
Postcode
CH1 4BJ
Postcode Area
Chester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD6 Cheshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester
Delivery Location
TLD North West (England)
Local Authority
Cheshire West and Chester
Electoral Ward
Chester City & the Garden Quarter
Westminster Constituency
Chester North and Neston

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Fusion Practices Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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