Planning

Responsible Procurement

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITIES MANAGEMENT SERVICES (SUMS)

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

15 Oct 2025 at 12:48

Planning

10 Oct 2025 at 11:00

Summary of the contracting process

The ongoing procurement process, titled "Responsible Procurement," is spearheaded by Southern Universities Management Services (SUMS) located in Reading, United Kingdom. This initiative, aimed at elevating responsible procurement practices in higher education and the public sector, involves a comprehensive framework tackling modern slavery, ethical supply chain diligence, social value, ESG, EDI, and consultancy services. The process is currently in the planning stage, with a key milestone set for 28th November 2025 for preliminary market engagement. The procurement method centres on a framework agreement and encompasses both services and goods within the United Kingdom, having met the above-threshold criteria.

This tender presents significant opportunities for business growth, particularly for SMEs and VCSEs in the fields of software support, package and consultancy services, social research, business management, and environmental services. Its broad scope and emphasis on ethical practices allow firms proficient in these areas to contribute to impactful public sector improvements while expanding their client base. Businesses with innovative solutions in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) areas or capacities in modern slavery due diligence are particularly well-suited to compete for this contract, which promises collaboration and renewal prospects until 2029, with potential extensions up to 2030.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Notice Title

Responsible Procurement

Notice Description

The framework will be designed to help higher education institutions and the wider public sector achieve responsible procurement outcomes across a number of key areas. It aims to cover aspects such as modern day slavery & ethical supply chain due diligence, social value, ESG, EDI, and varying consultancy services.

Planning Information

https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=97532&B=

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05aca1
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065595-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
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

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

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

98 - Other community, social and personal services


CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

48100000 - Industry specific software package

72261000 - Software support services

72266000 - Software consultancy services

72318000 - Data transmission services

79315000 - Social research services

79410000 - Business and management consultancy services

79411000 - General management consultancy services

90700000 - Environmental services

98200000 - Equal opportunities consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Mar 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 28 Sep 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITIES MANAGEMENT SERVICES (SUMS)
Contact Name
Izzy Mackenzie
Contact Email
i.mackenzie@reading.ac.uk
Contact Phone
+44 123456789

Buyer Location

Locality
READING
Postcode
RG6 6BU
Post Town
Reading
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ16 Berkshire West
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Wokingham
Electoral Ward
Hillside
Westminster Constituency
Earley and Woodley

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05aca1-2025-10-15T13:48:02+01:00",
    "date": "2025-10-15T13:48:02+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05aca1",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-02732244",
            "name": "Southern Universities Management Services (SUMS)",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "02732244"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Reading Enterprise Centre, The University of Reading, Whiteknights Road, Earley Gate",
                "locality": "Reading",
                "postalCode": "RG6 6BU",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKJ11"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Izzy Mackenzie",
                "email": "i.mackenzie@reading.ac.uk",
                "telephone": "+44 123456789"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.supc.ac.uk",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-COH-02732244",
        "name": "Southern Universities Management Services (SUMS)"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=97532&B=",
                "dueDate": "2025-11-28T23:59:59Z",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "064121-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064121-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-10-10T12:00:25+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "065595-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065595-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-10-15T13:48:02+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "RP4066 SU",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Responsible Procurement",
        "description": "The framework will be designed to help higher education institutions and the wider public sector achieve responsible procurement outcomes across a number of key areas. It aims to cover aspects such as modern day slavery & ethical supply chain due diligence, social value, ESG, EDI, and varying consultancy services.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "LOT-0000",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "72261000",
                        "description": "Software support services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "48000000",
                        "description": "Software package and information systems"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "48100000",
                        "description": "Industry specific software package"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "72266000",
                        "description": "Software consultancy services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "72318000",
                        "description": "Data transmission services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79315000",
                        "description": "Social research services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79410000",
                        "description": "Business and management consultancy services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79411000",
                        "description": "General management consultancy services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "90700000",
                        "description": "Environmental services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "98200000",
                        "description": "Equal opportunities consultancy services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "LOT-0000"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 0,
            "amount": 0,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "additionalProcurementCategories": [
            "goods"
        ],
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "techniques": {
            "hasFrameworkAgreement": true
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "LOT-0000",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true,
                    "vcse": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-10-01T00:00:00Z",
                    "endDate": "2029-09-28T23:59:59Z",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2030-09-27T23:59:59Z"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-03-30T23:59:59Z"
        },
        "status": "planning",
        "amendments": [
            {
                "id": "065595-2025",
                "description": "The date has been amended in the Mercell system to reflect the survey response deadline date stated in the Preliminary Market Engagement documentation. The end of the engagement period remains the same."
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en"
}