Award

Ayrshire College Finance System

AYRSHIRE COLLEGE

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

02 Sep 2025 at 13:01

Award

07 Jul 2025 at 11:46

Summary of the contracting process

The public procurement process pertains to Ayrshire College's finance system, located in Kilmarnock, United Kingdom. Conducted under an award procedure without prior publication, this voluntary ex ante transparency notice (VEAT) aims to secure software support services within the educational sector. The process recently completed the award stage, with the contract amounting to £410,000 signed on 13th August 2025. The procurement, classified under the CPV code 72261000, involves a four-year service provision for the college's financial software system, simplifying procurement through a limited approach without competitive tendering owing to a specialised requirement.

For businesses specialising in providing sophisticated software support services, particularly in the finance domain, this contract award represents considerable opportunity for growth by aligning with the educational services sector. Companies similar in profile to Symmetry Ltd, the selected supplier, that excel in technical and commercial aspects, could find entering such sectors with tailored solutions socioeconomically rewarding. Furthermore, large-scale enterprises able to meet specific technical and financial criteria, as evidenced by their delivery experience with projects akin to this, are well-suited to thrive by engaging with such targeted procurement opportunities.

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Notice Title

Ayrshire College Finance System

Notice Description

This is a voluntary ex ante transparency notice (VEAT). Ayrshire College intends to award a contract for it's finance system for 4 years.

Lot Information

Lot 1

This is a voluntary ex ante transparency notice (VEAT). Ayrshire College intends to award a contract for it's financial software system for 4 years.

Procurement Information

The College requires to replace its current finance system. The College established a Finance System Implementation Group with the remit to review the various procurement options open to it, noting that there is a balance to be struck between value for money (overall cost of new system) and the technical capacity of the replacement system. Whilst the various procurement options open to the College do provide a route to market, the Group considered that the indicative costs of the proposed suppliers were cost prohibitive given the current financial challenges facing the organisation. The Group also undertook a market testing exercise considering other potential suppliers and their ability to deliver on similar projects. The Group has concluded that when taking into account both value for money, technical specification and ability to deliver on similar projects that Symmetry Ltd will provide the most economically advantageous outcome for the College. The College therefore proposes to award the contract for the supply of the new finance system to Symmetry.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0559d8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053176-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

72261000 - Software support services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£410,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£714,000 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
2 Jun 20258 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
AYRSHIRE COLLEGE
Contact Name
Alan Ritchie
Contact Email
alan.ritchie@ayrshire.ac.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1563523501

Buyer Location

Locality
KILMARNOCK
Postcode
KA1 3HY
Post Town
Kilmarnock
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM9 Southern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM93 North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire
Delivery Location
TLM93 North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire

Local Authority
East Ayrshire
Electoral Ward
Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse
Westminster Constituency
Kilmarnock and Loudoun

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SYMMETRY

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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