Planning

SMS Service

BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

11 Sep 2025 at 15:46

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Bournemouth University is in the planning stage of a procurement process to replace its current SMS solution within the UKK24 region. Scheduled virtual meetings and demonstration sessions will occur in the week commencing 20 October 2025, as part of a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) to gather supplier feedback and expertise. Interested suppliers should express their interest by 25 September 2025. This initiative, under the public authority of a sub-central government, covers services in the software package and information systems category, with a planned contract period starting from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2029.

This upcoming tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specializing in communication software, electronic messaging services, and system support services, especially those geared towards engaging large institutions like universities. It offers a gross value of £100,000, making it suitable for SMEs with innovative solutions that can meet the University's comprehensive communication requirements. Companies with the capability to integrate SMS services with other systems, ensure message security and compliance, and provide robust administration and support features stand a favorable chance in this competitive tendering process.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

SMS Service

Notice Description

Bournemouth University ("BU" or the "University") has a requirement to replace its existing SMS solution which has reached end of life. SMS messages are used as part of a multi-channel communication approach to engage with students. Approximately 35,000 messages are sent each year. Scenarios where SMS communication is used include the following: * Automated messages to notify of timetable changes and cancellations * Applicant interview details * Appointment notifications and reminders * Wellbeing and engagement contact * Sports centre information and promotions * Urgent alerts to university first-aiders The replacement SMS service may include, but is not limited to, the features listed below: Core Functionality * Ability to convert email into SMS messages. * Extract subject/body and trim to SMS character limits. * Deliver to UK and international mobile phone numbers. * Ability to create custom message templates. * Replies matched to the originating outbound message and delivered to sender. * Ability to prioritise messages and specifically send high-priority alerts. Message Routing and Delivery * Retry failed messages and report failures. * Ability to schedule or delay delivery based on recipient time zone. * Ability to schedule messages on an ad-hoc or recurring basis. Logging and Reporting * Maintain logs of all messages sent and received. * Ability to view message stats, delivery success rates and errors. Compliance and Security * Potential to encrypt messages. * Provide means for recipients to opt out of SMS communications. * Ability to define retention periods for message history. Integration * Potential ability to integrate with other systems (e.g. case management, CRM). Administration and Support * Seamless access (preferably via Single Sign On) to system for message sending, receiving, managing users and viewing logs/reports. * Notification of failed messages and gateway issues. * Option to establish message quotas with notification when close to quota threshold. * Defined service-level agreement for support.

Planning Information

The purpose of this PME is to gather industry expertise and feedback that will inform the development of our final project and procurement requirements. Objectives: • Gain a better understanding of suppliers' capabilities, experiences, and innovations. • Identify potential challenges and solutions relevant to the upcoming procurement project. • Inform suppliers about the project's scope, objectives, and key requirements. BU are intending on holding virtual meetings / demonstration sessions with interested suppliers via Microsoft Teams on the week commencing 20 October 2025. If you wish to be considered for a virtual meeting / demonstration session with BU’s project team, please contact procurement@bournemouth.ac.uk to register your interest with the subject heading “IT/OS/461 – SMS Service”. Once suppliers have expressed their interest we will provide further information on the requirements with a Questionnaire for completion. BU will then shortlist suppliers for the virtual meetings / demonstration sessions based on the answers provided in the Questionnaires. Please note that while we aim to engage with a broad range of suppliers, it may not be possible to invite all interested parties to a meeting. Participation in this exercise is voluntary, and there is no obligation for BU to meet with every supplier who expresses an interest and submits a completed Questionnaire. This PME is not a request for quotation. BU’s current intention is to conduct an openly advertised tender process at a later stage. There is no obligation for suppliers to respond to this PME. Supplier responses (or lack thereof) to this exercise will not be used to determine which suppliers will be carried forward to tender process or in any subsequent evaluation of supplier proposals.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0598e8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055962-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

64 - Postal and telecommunications services

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

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

48510000 - Communication software package

64216000 - Electronic message and information services

72250000 - System and support services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£80,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Sep 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
28 Nov 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Mar 2026 - 28 Feb 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITY
Contact Name
Olly Sanders
Contact Email
procurement@bournemouth.ac.uk
Contact Phone
01202961623

Buyer Location

Locality
POOLE
Postcode
BH12 5BB
Post Town
Bournemouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK63 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Delivery Location
TLK24 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Local Authority
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Electoral Ward
Talbot & Branksome Woods
Westminster Constituency
Bournemouth West

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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