Award

Knowledge Management System - Oracle

THE OPEN UNIVERSITY

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

16 May 2025 at 14:41

Award

02 May 2025 at 15:54

Award

17 Apr 2025 at 12:45

Summary of the contracting process

The Open University, a sub-central government public authority in Milton Keynes, has completed a direct award procurement process for the renewal of software licenses for the Oracle RightNow Knowledge Management System. The procurement process, titled "Knowledge Management System - Oracle," falls under the category of software package and information systems and was conducted in the United Kingdom. The contract was awarded to Oracle Corporation UK Limited, located in Reading, due to the supplier's exclusive rights to the Oracle KMS software, which is embedded within the university's existing infrastructure. The contract was signed on 15th May 2025, with an active period from 21st May 2025 to 20th May 2027, and includes an optional extension for up to an additional two years.

This procurement offers significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in software and technology services, particularly those capable of providing support and integration services for Oracle products. Large-scale vendors, particularly those with expertise in knowledge management systems or those holding unique technological solutions, may find advantageous opportunities in similar future tenders. The decision by The Open University to choose a direct award route highlights the necessity for exclusivity in rights or unique software capabilities, underlining the importance for businesses to establish strong intellectual property or exclusive service offerings to compete effectively in similar procurement processes.

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Notice Title

Knowledge Management System - Oracle

Notice Description

Renewal of software licenses for the Oracle RightNow Knowledge Management System which is an existing and embedded software package.

Procurement Information

1 The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract- (a) due to a particular supplier having intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. Oracle KMS is an embedded system which the university is not currently in a position to move away from. RM6285 Back Office Software 2 CCS Framework was considered, but the value of the contract does not meet the PS5m value threshold for Lot 1 and Oracle are not available under Lot 2. An over-threshold direct award was identified as the most appropriate route to market to comply with PA23.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0504de
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/022340-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

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
£445,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£445,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 May 20259 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
17 Apr 202510 months ago
Contract Period
20 May 2025 - 20 May 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE OPEN UNIVERSITY
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
finance-tenders@open.ac.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
MILTON KEYNES
Postcode
MK7 6AA
Post Town
Milton Keynes
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ12 Milton Keynes
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Milton Keynes
Electoral Ward
Monkston
Westminster Constituency
Milton Keynes Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ORACLE

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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