Notice Information
Notice Title
Finance System Cloud Migration
Notice Description
In October 2023, Unit4 announced the end-of-life for on-premise support with effect from 31 December 2024 for all its customers globally as part of its Software as a Service [SAAS] product strategy. The December 2024 deadline was extended for the University until December 2025 at which point we are required to commit to upgrade and migrate to a fully cloud-based solution by December 2026 or purchase a new ERP/Finance system. The Unit4 software is core to the financial operations of the University having been originally procured in 1999. It is fully embedded throughout the organisational infrastructure for the management and operation of the University's finances and is currently supported on premise. The announcement to end on-premise support from Unit 4 was completely unforeseeable by the University and as a consequence of this the University does not have enough time to fully procure a brand-new ERP/Finance System and undertake a fully competitive procurement process, test and implement new software from an alternative provider and train the workforce in the timeframes outlined by Unit 4. Changing providers in this timeframe would cause the University immense technical difficulties, introduce new complexities and have additional financial implications. It is the University's opinion therefore that a direct award to Unit4 is compliant with the Procurement Act 2023 as outlined in section 41 (5) (d). The justifications for this, are twofold 1) technical difficulties as outlined in Schedule 5 section 7b 2) extreme and unavoidable urgency as outlined in Schedule 5 section 13
Procurement Information
The University (alongside all Unit4 customers globally) has been served notice by the supplier of its ERP/Finance System software, Unit 4 Business World (U4BW) - formerly Agresso that on-premise support of this software will cease to exist from December 2026. The current system is end-of-life and will no longer be supported on premise after this date and we are therefore required to commit to move to a cloud solution or purchase a new Finance System by December 2025.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-05e90e
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077929-2025
- Current Stage
- Award
- All Stages
- Award
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK6 - Contract Award 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
48441000 - Financial analysis software package
48442000 - Financial systems software package
48443000 - Accounting software package
48444000 - Accounting system
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- Not specified
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- £865,000 £500K-£1M
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 28 Nov 20256 days ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- Not specified
- Award Date
- 26 Nov 20251 weeks ago
- Contract Period
- 1 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2031 Over 5 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Complete
- Lots Status
- Complete
- Awards Status
- Pending
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
- Contact Name
- Andrea Brooksbank
- Contact Email
- tenders@cardiffmet.ac.uk
- Contact Phone
- +44 000000002920417310
Buyer Location
- Locality
- CARDIFF
- Postcode
- CF5 2YB
- Post Town
- Cardiff
- Country
- Wales
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLL Wales
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLL5 South East Wales
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
- Delivery Location
- Not specified
-
- Local Authority
- Cardiff
- Electoral Ward
- Llandaff
- Westminster Constituency
- Cardiff West
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077929-2025
28th November 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077187-2025
26th November 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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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