Planning

Soft Market Testing Exercise for Scholarship Management Software

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

05 Feb 2025 at 15:16

Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Southampton has initiated a soft market testing exercise for Scholarship Management Software, aimed at understanding current software options for managing its diverse scholarship programmes. This process is in the Planning stage and involves engagement with potential vendors. The deadline for clarifications is set for 17th February 2025 at 12:00 Noon, with questionnaire submissions due by 24th February 2025 at 12:00 Noon. The industry category is Software package and information systems (CPV code 48000000), and the project location is Southampton (SO17 1BJ), England. The University plans to utilise the software for the full scholarship award cycle, from applications to reporting, using their electronic tendering tool, In-Tend.

This tender offers a valuable opportunity for businesses specialising in scholarship management software to engage early and shape the University’s requirements. Companies with expertise in scalable and sustainable digital solutions for managing scholarship programmes, particularly those currently operating with manual processes, would find this tender well-suited. The engagement provides a platform for sharing insights without any immediate commitments, allowing for informed preparation for potential future procurement. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to participate, leveraging their innovative solutions to support the University's ambitions in scholarship management.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Soft Market Testing Exercise for Scholarship Management Software

Notice Description

The University of Southampton is conducting a soft market testing exercise to better understand the current Scholarship Management Software options. The International Scholarships team manages multiple scholarships for the University, from application to award. This includes the flagship scholarship of the University for international students, the Southampton Presidential International Scholarship. Currently, many of the processes are manual, which presents issues with sustainability and scalability for the team. The anticipated increase in applicants and ambitious targets for growing the University's scholarship portfolio year to year puts the team in a unique position regarding scholarship management software and its use in day-to-day operations. We anticipate the software being used for the full cycle of awards, from application for housing and maintenance, to scoring, and to awarding these in our University's Banner system (if applicable). We are also anticipating the software to store historical data for scholarship reporting to a wider University audience on an annual basis or ad hoc as requested from University executive leadership. Please Note: The University is conducting this soft market testing exercise to allow interested parties, with appropriate experience, to outline their views and provide impartial information to the University with no commitment to themselves or the University. This is not a call for competition at this stage. The deadline for clarifications is 17th February 2025 12.00 Noon. The deadline for questionnaire submissions is 24th February 2025 at 12.00 Noon. Additional information: The University is utilising an electronic tendering tool (In-Tend: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton) to manage this Soft Market Testing Exercise (SMTE) and to communicate with participating organisations. All documentation in relation to this SMTE can be downloaded from In-Tend. Participating organisations are advised that there will be no hard copy documents issued to organisations and all communications with the University will be conducted via In-Tend. Regular monitoring of In-Tend is the responsibility of the participating organisation. If you are not already registered as a supplier with the University of Southampton, you will need to register in In-Tend in order to access the SMTE documentation. Once you have logged in: click on 'Tenders'; locate the relevant project; and click 'View Details'. Once you are in the project screen, you will be able to register your company against the project and access all documentation by clicking 'Express Interest'. Further instructions for the submission of soft market event forms are below. To submit your return, please follow the instructions below: 1. Log In 2. Click 'Tenders' 3. Locate the relevant project 4. View Details 5. Click on the tab relating to the relevant project stage (e.g., 'Soft Market Testing') 6. Click on the 'Attach Documents' button and upload your return. 7. Check ALL your response documents are uploaded and displayed in the "My Tender Return" panel. The system will only permit your organisation to make one return. 8. Click the red "Submit Return" button. Please note that, to preserve the integrity of the soft market testing exercise, all queries must made be via the correspondence function within In-Tend. This Prior Information Notice is issued solely for the purpose of conducting pre-procurement market engagement and does not constitute any commitment to undertake any procurement in the future. Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to the PIN event and a response to this PIN does not guarantee any invitation to participate in this event or any future procurement. This PIN does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services, supplies or works mentioned in this PIN and the University will not accept any proposals offered in response to this PIN. The University of Southampton is not liable for any costs, fees, or expenses incurred by any party in replying to the PIN or attending any briefing day (if applicable). Any procurement of any services, supplies or works by the University of Southampton will be carried out strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-9b5961b0-b9aa-405b-b2c7-4aeb747d72ce
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8ba90591-588e-40cf-8ec9-f22bd6a431dd
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Not specified
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Feb 20251 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
24 Feb 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON
Contact Name
Hannah Nash
Contact Email
procurement@soton.ac.uk
Contact Phone
02380595000

Buyer Location

Locality
SOUTHAMPTON
Postcode
SO17 1BJ
Post Town
Southampton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ32 Southampton
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Southampton
Electoral Ward
Portswood
Westminster Constituency
Southampton Test

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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