Award

The provision of a similarity detection system

THE UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

31 Jul 2025 at 13:06

Award

22 Jul 2025 at 17:51

Award

22 Jul 2025 at 17:43

Summary of the contracting process

The University of Ulster has completed a direct contract award for the provision of a similarity detection system, a crucial tool for originality and plagiarism detection. This procurement process, categorised under IT services including consulting and software development, is aimed at ensuring the technical continuity and capability in content checks at submission. The contract, spanning from 1st August 2025 to 31st July 2028, will see Turnitin, LLC delivering services in Northern Ireland, aligning with the university's Learning Management System and historical data. The procurement method, justified under certain intellectual property and technical exclusivity conditions, adheres to the standards of the Procurement Act 2023, reflecting best practices for technical reasons and exclusive rights. The total contract value is £200,764, grossing up to £240,916.8.

This tender offers significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in IT services, particularly those with expertise in software integration with educational platforms. Turnitin, LLC, recognised under large scale organisations, exemplifies the type of supplier well-suited to compete in environments requiring proprietary technology and integration capabilities. Enterprises with similar exclusive software solutions or those aiming to enter the public sector IT service market can draw inspiration from this successful direct award process, which highlights recognition of intellectual property and technical exclusivity as pivotal factors in supplier selection.

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Notice Title

The provision of a similarity detection system

Notice Description

This contract is for the provision of an originality/plagiarism detection technology to maintain capability and technical continuity to deliver content checks at point of submission and must integrate with Ulster's Learning Management System and historical data.

Procurement Information

This Direct Award to a single supplier is justified on the grounds set out under paragraphs 5 and 6 of Schedule 5 of Procurement Act 2023 where the following conditions are met in relation to the public contract The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract Paragraph 5 (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. Paragraph 6 (a) due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-056442
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044771-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£200,764 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£200,764 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
31 Jul 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
21 Jul 20257 months ago
Contract Period
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2028 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement_enquiries@ulster.ac.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
COLERAINE
Postcode
BT52 1SA
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN0C Causeway Coast and Glens
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Causeway Coast and Glens
Electoral Ward
University
Westminster Constituency
East Londonderry

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

TURNITIN

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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