Award

Direct Award for Finance System replacement

TWO RIVERS HOUSING

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

03 Feb 2026 at 18:18

Award

12 Dec 2025 at 14:17

Award

04 Dec 2025 at 11:57

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process involves Two Rivers Housing, a public authority in the sub-central government category based in Newent, UK. They have initiated a direct award contract with MRI Software Limited, a large supplier based in London, for the replacement of their finance system. The procurement is for a cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) finance system to replace the outdated server-based OpenAccounts system. The direct award was made due to the urgent need for replacement and the alignment with organisational strategies. The contract commenced on 24th December 2025 and is scheduled to run until 22nd May 2029, including a five-month implementation at no cost. The annual contract value is £99,500, which will be subject to a 5.5% annual inflationary uplift over the term, bringing the total contract value to £315,218.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in financial software systems and cloud-based infrastructure. Companies capable of delivering integrated, scalable, and secure financial solutions could benefit from engaging in similar opportunities. The replacement of multiple standalone systems with a single integrated solution can attract firms skilled in simplifying complex IT environments and enhancing operational efficiencies. Enterprises focusing on SaaS solutions and digital transformation strategies would be particularly well-suited to provide competitive alternatives in the anticipated future tenders for similar services, set to open in May 2029, as Two Rivers Housing continually seeks to evolve its financial software capabilities in line with the latest technology advancements.

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Notice Title

Direct Award for Finance System replacement

Notice Description

The requirement of this direct award is within the scope of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023, and in line with the Section 44 the same. The award is for the provision of a Financial Cloud based, Software as a Service system (SAAS) incorporating a Purchase to Pay solution to MRI Software Limited. This contract enables the organisation to transition from the current server-based OpenAccounts finance system to an integrated, modern, cloud-hosted platform with the same supplier. The cloud-hosted system is the replacement for the current server-based system, which is no longer being developed. The existing contract commenced in October 2021. Contract Scope Current Two Rivers Housing finance system is a suite of three standalone but interfaced modules consisting of: OpenAccounts, eBIS and Version One. All three products are owned by OneAdvanced and provided by MRI Software. The replacement system will be one fully integrated system that is cloud based. The move to the cloud-based system will also result in on-premises savings such as servers, backups, and disaster recovery costs. Essentially, the contract being awarded, concerns the supply of goods and services by the existing supplier which are intended as an extension to, or partial replacement of, existing goods and services in circumstances where: (a) a change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods, services or works that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing goods, services or works, and (b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance. The award will be for a period of 41 months commencing from December 2025, including a five-month implementation period at zero cost. The scope of the contract will include the implementation, licensing, and ongoing maintenance of the following components of the Financials suite: * Core Financials base engine * Project Management module * Air Approvals (mobile approval workflow) * Business Tax Portal * Purchase Invoice Automation The annual fee is PS99,500 including VAT, subject to a 5.5% annual inflationary uplift for three years, bringing the total contract value to PS315,218. Included within the contract is a Right to Use Licence for Open Accounts which would have otherwise incur a cost of PS123,910 over 7 years

Procurement Information

Urgent replacement of unsupported system: The current version of OpenAccounts (8.5) is now unsupported. Continued usage jeopardises Two Rivers Housing's Cyber Essentials accreditation, which requires systems to be no more than two versions behind current releases. * Non-viable upgrade option: Upgrading to the latest OpenAccounts version (10.1) would require a significant investment, including an upgrade of the Progress Database. OpenAccounts is being phased out and no longer has a product roadmap beyond legislative updates, this would not represent value for money for a short-term solution. * Alignment with organisational strategy: Transitioning to a SaaS-based finance system aligns with Two Rivers Housing's digital and technology strategy to reduce reliance on onpremises infrastructure. * Natural graduation from the current system: Cloud Financials is the replacement for OpenAccounts and will be managed and supported by the same system owners and support providers * Cost of change: The cost of supplier replacement will include, demobilisation of existing system, user training and onboarding, data cleansing and migration which will increase overall cost and as such not aligning with the Group objective to reduce waste of all forms and ensure value for money. * Familiarity and reduced training requirement: The Financials product uses similar processes to the existing OpenAccounts system, reducing training needs. MRI consultants already understand Two Rivers Housing's business processes, supporting a smooth and efficient implementation. * Operational efficiencies: Replacing three separate systems (OpenAccounts, eBIS, and Version One) with one integrated solution will reduce system interfaces and provide operational efficiencies. Moving to a cloud-based system will also reduce on-premises costs such as server maintenance, backups, and disaster recovery. Future Procurement Plans Two Rivers Housing will use the time opportunity availed through this award to re consider finance solutions for the growing needs of the organisation, with the intention to conduct a full competitive tender for its finance system to go live in May 2029.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05eea5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009685-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details 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

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
£315,218 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£315,218 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Feb 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
4 Dec 20252 months ago
Contract Period
24 Dec 2025 - 22 May 2029 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
TWO RIVERS HOUSING
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
accounts@2rh.org.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
NEWENT
Postcode
GL18 1DS
Post Town
Gloucester
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK73 Gloucestershire CC
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Forest of Dean
Electoral Ward
Newent & Taynton
Westminster Constituency
Forest of Dean

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

MRI SOFTWARE

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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