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Postgraduate Research Management System

ASTON UNIVERSITY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

17 Apr 2026 at 13:30

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

28 Jan 2026 at 09:13

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Aston University, located in Birmingham, United Kingdom, is currently in the tender stage of procuring a Postgraduate Research Management System. The process commenced on 17th April 2026, with the aim to enhance the management and support of the postgraduate research student lifecycle. The procurement falls under the industry category of 'Software package and information systems' and is being managed through the competitive flexible procedure. Business entities interested in participating must submit expressions of interest by 13th May 2026, with inquiries closing on 5th May 2026. The contract is scheduled to be awarded by 3rd August 2026, and the implementation period will start on 1st September 2026, lasting for five years. The procurement aligns with the University's 2030 Strategy to substantially grow its postgraduate research community.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses in the software and information systems industry, especially those specialising in education sector solutions, to provide a robust and integrated management system for postgraduate research processes. With an estimated contract value of £439,000, this tender is ideal for companies that offer out-of-the-box solutions capable of supporting student lifecycle, including admissions, thesis submission, and supervisory engagements, while integrating seamlessly with existing systems like Tribal: SITS. The competitive flexible procedure allows firms to showcase their technical expertise and alignment with the University’s needs, while potentially significant long-term engagement offers avenues for growth and partnership with a leading academic institution. Small and medium enterprises are particularly encouraged to participate, given the suitability consideration included in the procurement criteria.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Postgraduate Research Management System

Notice Description

Aston University is seeking proposals from suitably qualified and experienced suppliers to provide and implement an off-the-shelf solution to support the full Postgraduate Research (PGR) student lifecycle. This procurement aligns with the University's 2030 Strategy and its ambition to expand its PGR 1community to 1,000 students by 2030. Currently, the University does not have a single system to manage the end-to-end PGR student journey. Processes are fragmented, with a heavy reliance on manual workflows and spreadsheets. Core student data and activities such as enrolment, progression, and award management are handled through Tribal: SITS, alongside other selected processes. A comprehensive review of the PGR student lifecycle-from application through to supervisory meetings, progression monitoring, and thesis submission-has identified a number of inefficiencies and pain points. These issues limit service quality, user experience, and reporting capability. To support planned growth and enhance operational effectiveness, the University requires a robust, integrated solution that streamlines processes and improves data visibility. The University is therefore seeking a specialist, off-the-shelf system focused on the PGR lifecycle, requiring minimal customisation to ensure efficiency, maintainability, and long-term sustainability. The solution should integrate effectively with existing systems, including Tribal: SITS, and support future scalability. This procurement will be conducted under the Competitive Flexible Procedure, in accordance with applicable public sector procurement regulations. This approach enables a transparent, fair, and consistent evaluation process, while allowing the University flexibility to clarify, refine, and assess supplier solutions throughout the procurement lifecycle. Full details, including all documents and questions, can be found on the ProContract tendering portal: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=a8c9cdbb-493a-f111-813c-005056b64545

Planning Information

Prospective suppliers who meet all of the listed requirements are encouraged to contact procurement@aston.ac.uk.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06105b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035203-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£439,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£439,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Apr 20264 months ago
Submission Deadline
5 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
15 Mar 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ASTON UNIVERSITY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B4 7ET
Postcode Area
Birmingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG31 Birmingham
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Nechells
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Ladywood

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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