Award

Finance System Cloud Migration

CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

28 Nov 2025 at 09:13

Award

26 Nov 2025 at 12:02

Summary of the contracting process

Cardiff Metropolitan University has completed the procurement process for their "Finance System Cloud Migration" project. The contracting process involves a direct award to Unit4 Business Software Ltd for the provision of a cloud-based finance system. The project was initiated to address the end-of-life announcement of Unit4's on-premise support for its software, essential to the University's financial operations. The procurement, classified under the goods category, follows a direct procurement method due to technical difficulties and urgent timelines imposed by this end-of-life announcement. The contract, valued at approximately £865,000, starts on 1 January 2026 and ends on 31 December 2031. The University has cited extreme urgency and technical challenges as justifications for bypassing a competitive tender process.

This tender presents significant business opportunities for software providers capable of delivering advanced financial system solutions, particularly those experienced in finance and accounting software packages. Large businesses specialising in providing cloud migration services and financial systems software can seize this opportunity to establish or enhance their relationships with educational institutions. Organisations with the capability to facilitate seamless cloud transitions, while ensuring robust financial software solutions, would be highly suitable to meet the requirements outlined by the University. The University’s commitment to upgrading its financial infrastructure underscores the potential for growth and further collaboration in future projects with similar institutions.

How relevant is this notice?

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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

UNIT4 BUSINESS SOFTWARE

Further Information

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-05e90e-2025-11-28T09:13:09Z",
    "date": "2025-11-28T09:13:09Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05e90e",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PPNB-5569-JLHH",
            "name": "Cardiff Metropolitan University",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PPNB-5569-JLHH"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Llandaff campus",
                "locality": "Cardiff",
                "postalCode": "CF5 2YB",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKL22"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Andrea Brooksbank",
                "email": "tenders@cardiffmet.ac.uk",
                "telephone": "+44 000000002920417310"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/procurement/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_DEVOLVED_REGULATIONS",
                        "id": "GB-WLS",
                        "description": "Welsh devolved regulations apply"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PVRP-7679-QVJG",
            "name": "Unit4 Business Software Ltd",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PVRP-7679-QVJG"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "5 Churchill Place",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "E14 5HU",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI42"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "bids.UKI@unit4.com",
                "telephone": "+44 000000002920417310"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.unit4.com",
                "scale": "large",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PPNB-5569-JLHH",
        "name": "Cardiff Metropolitan University"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ITT/25/37",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Finance System Cloud Migration",
        "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",
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "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.",
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "additionalRepeatExtensionPartialReplacement"
            },
            {
                "id": "urgency"
            }
        ],
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "title": "Finance System Upgrade and Cloud Migration",
            "status": "pending",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 1038000,
                "amount": 865000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-PPON-PVRP-7679-QVJG",
                    "name": "Unit4 Business Software Ltd"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "48441000",
                            "description": "Financial analysis software package"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "48443000",
                            "description": "Accounting software package"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "48442000",
                            "description": "Financial systems software package"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "48444000",
                            "description": "Accounting system"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UKL22",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKL2",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-01-01T00:00:00+00:00",
                "endDate": "2031-12-31T23:59:59+00:00"
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "077187-2025",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK5",
                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077187-2025",
                    "datePublished": "2025-11-26T12:02:55Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                },
                {
                    "id": "077929-2025",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077929-2025",
                    "datePublished": "2025-11-28T09:13:09Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2025-12-17T23:59:59+00:00",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ],
            "date": "2025-11-26T00:00:00+00:00",
            "standstillPeriod": {
                "endDate": "2025-12-10T23:59:59+00:00"
            }
        }
    ],
    "language": "en"
}