Notice Information
Notice Title
Automated Admissions Platform - University of Sunderland 0326
Notice Description
The University of Sunderland (University) seeks to procure an Automated Admissions Platform and invites suitably qualified and experienced vendors to submit proposals. The University is seeking a modern, configurable, and automated admissions platform to manage the end-to-end admissions lifecycle for home and international applicants. The current admissions landscape comprises legacy systems, manual processes, and fragmented workflows. Increasing application volumes, particularly for international recruitment, alongside heightened regulatory, governance, and applicant experience expectations, have driven the need for a future-proof admissions solution. The University's strategic ambition is to improve efficiency, transparency, and decision quality, while ensuring that admissions decisions remain accountable, explainable, and compliant. The University is looking to shortlist up to six (6) suppliers, selected via the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), to receive the ITT pack, which will provide a more detailed set of requirements (The University reserves the right to take more than six suppliers through to ITT where scores at PSQ are so close as to make it difficult to draw a distinction between suppliers). For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://neupc.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Sunderland:-Software-package-and-information-systems./Q4N575W435 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://neupc.delta-esourcing.com/respond/Q4N575W435
Planning Information
The purpose of this PME is to gather industry expertise and feedback that will inform the development of our final project and procurement requirements. Objectives: •Gain a better understanding of suppliers' capabilities, experiences, and innovations. •Identify potential challenges and solutions relevant to the upcoming procurement project. •Inform suppliers about the project's scope, objectives, and key requirements. It should be understood that by participating in this market engagement, suppliers are not guaranteed to be shortlisted as part of a competitive procurement process. Should a tender be advertised, it will be compliant with the Procurement Act 2023, and all bidders will be treated equally. The UoS is particularly interested in understanding at a high-level how such a solution could support: •Guided, mobile-first application journeys •Intelligent triage and pre-screening •Automated offer making for standard courses •AI-supported application form and document checking •Integrated admissions and UKVI workflows •Modern applicant portals •Real-time dashboards for operational insight •Seamless integration with core systems such as SITS and CAS Shield The UoS aims to identify a scalable, compliant platform that reduces the administrative burden, improves the speed and consistency of decision-making, enhances the applicant experience and conversion, and provides a robust foundation for on-campus and future distance and flexible-delivery recruitment. We are seeking to engage with suppliers very keen to arrange a demo with you to start gaining an understanding of available products on the market. Invitation to Conduct a System Demonstration Demonstration Details: Please note that whilst we aim to engage with a broad range of suppliers, it may not be possible to invite all interested parties to a meeting. Participation in this exercise is voluntary, and there is no obligation for UoS to meet with every supplier who expresses an interest. Purpose: This session aims to provide an opportunity for you to showcase your solution. Please be advised that this is not a sales pitch, and participation does not guarantee any future work or contracts with our organisation. Compliance Note: This demonstration request aligns with the Procurement Act 2023, which encourages preliminary market engagement to better understand available solutions and inform procurement strategies. As per the guidance, such engagements are designed to be transparent and non-committal, ensuring a fair and open procurement process for all potential suppliers. This PME is not a request for quotation. UoS’s current intention is to conduct an openly advertised tender process at a later stage There is no obligation for suppliers to respond to this PME. Supplier responses (or lack thereof) to this exercise will not be used to determine which suppliers will be carried forward to the tender process or in any subsequent evaluation of supplier proposals. Action Required: If you wish to be considered for a demonstration session with the project team, please contact procurement@sunderland.ac.uk to register your interest with the subject heading “AI-Enabled Admissions platform 0326”. Kindly respond with the following information by the end of Friday, 8 May 2026 Demonstrations will be online via Teams Meeting. Specify your availability on the following dates: 15 May, 21 May, and 22 May. Main Contact Details: Include the name, email address, and phone number of the primary contact person for the demonstration. The UoS expects suppliers to provide a brief overview of their system that addresses the bullet points listed above. We kindly request that your response be concise, no more than one A4 page. This helps maintain a focused and efficient review process. We look forward to your response and the opportunity to learn more about your system capabilities. Should you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-069003
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060400-2026
- Current Stage
- Tender
- All Stages
- Planning, Tender
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK4 - Tender Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Goods
- Procurement Method
- Open
- Procurement Method Details
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Tender Suitability
- SME
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
-
- CPV Codes
48000000 - Software package and information systems
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £1,200,000 £1M-£10M
- Lots Value
- £1,200,000 £1M-£10M
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 26 Jun 20266 days ago
- Submission Deadline
- 3 Jul 2026Today
- Future Notice Date
- 8 May 2026Expired
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 15 Oct 2026 - 15 Oct 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
- UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND
- Contact Name
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Email
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Phone
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Buyer Location
- Locality
- SUNDERLAND
- Postcode
- SR1 3SD
- Post Town
- Sunderland
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLC North East (England)
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLC44 Sunderland
- Delivery Location
- TLC23 Sunderland
-
- Local Authority
- Sunderland
- Electoral Ward
- Millfield
- Westminster Constituency
- Sunderland Central
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060400-2026
26th June 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060382-2026
26th June 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040663-2026
1st May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040349-2026
1st May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Notice URLs
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
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-069003-2026-06-26T14:22:10+01:00",
"date": "2026-06-26T14:22:10+01:00",
"ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-069003",
"initiationType": "tender",
"parties": [
{
"id": "GB-PPON-PVDN-7726-TBVN",
"name": "University of Sunderland",
"identifier": {
"scheme": "GB-PPON",
"id": "PVDN-7726-TBVN"
},
"address": {
"streetAddress": "5th Floor Edinburgh Building, Chester Road",
"locality": "Sunderland",
"postalCode": "SR1 3SD",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom",
"region": "UKC23"
},
"contactPoint": {
"email": "procurement@sunderland.ac.uk",
"telephone": "01915152000"
},
"roles": [
"buyer"
],
"details": {
"classifications": [
{
"id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
"scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
"description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
}
]
}
}
],
"buyer": {
"id": "GB-PPON-PVDN-7726-TBVN",
"name": "University of Sunderland"
},
"planning": {
"milestones": [
{
"id": "engagement",
"type": "engagement",
"description": "The purpose of this PME is to gather industry expertise and feedback that will inform the development of our final project and procurement requirements. Objectives: *Gain a better understanding of suppliers' capabilities, experiences, and innovations. *Identify potential challenges and solutions relevant to the upcoming procurement project. *Inform suppliers about the project's scope, objectives, and key requirements. It should be understood that by participating in this market engagement, suppliers are not guaranteed to be shortlisted as part of a competitive procurement process. Should a tender be advertised, it will be compliant with the Procurement Act 2023, and all bidders will be treated equally. The UoS is particularly interested in understanding at a high-level how such a solution could support: *Guided, mobile-first application journeys *Intelligent triage and pre-screening *Automated offer making for standard courses *AI-supported application form and document checking *Integrated admissions and UKVI workflows *Modern applicant portals *Real-time dashboards for operational insight *Seamless integration with core systems such as SITS and CAS Shield The UoS aims to identify a scalable, compliant platform that reduces the administrative burden, improves the speed and consistency of decision-making, enhances the applicant experience and conversion, and provides a robust foundation for on-campus and future distance and flexible-delivery recruitment. We are seeking to engage with suppliers very keen to arrange a demo with you to start gaining an understanding of available products on the market. Invitation to Conduct a System Demonstration Demonstration Details: Please note that whilst we aim to engage with a broad range of suppliers, it may not be possible to invite all interested parties to a meeting. Participation in this exercise is voluntary, and there is no obligation for UoS to meet with every supplier who expresses an interest. Purpose: This session aims to provide an opportunity for you to showcase your solution. Please be advised that this is not a sales pitch, and participation does not guarantee any future work or contracts with our organisation. Compliance Note: This demonstration request aligns with the Procurement Act 2023, which encourages preliminary market engagement to better understand available solutions and inform procurement strategies. As per the guidance, such engagements are designed to be transparent and non-committal, ensuring a fair and open procurement process for all potential suppliers. This PME is not a request for quotation. UoS's current intention is to conduct an openly advertised tender process at a later stage There is no obligation for suppliers to respond to this PME. Supplier responses (or lack thereof) to this exercise will not be used to determine which suppliers will be carried forward to the tender process or in any subsequent evaluation of supplier proposals. Action Required: If you wish to be considered for a demonstration session with the project team, please contact procurement@sunderland.ac.uk to register your interest with the subject heading \"AI-Enabled Admissions platform 0326\". Kindly respond with the following information by the end of Friday, 8 May 2026 Demonstrations will be online via Teams Meeting. Specify your availability on the following dates: 15 May, 21 May, and 22 May. Main Contact Details: Include the name, email address, and phone number of the primary contact person for the demonstration. The UoS expects suppliers to provide a brief overview of their system that addresses the bullet points listed above. We kindly request that your response be concise, no more than one A4 page. This helps maintain a focused and efficient review process. We look forward to your response and the opportunity to learn more about your system capabilities. Should you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.",
"dueDate": "2026-05-08T23:59:59+01:00",
"status": "scheduled"
}
],
"documents": [
{
"id": "040349-2026",
"documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
"noticeType": "UK2",
"description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
"url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040349-2026",
"datePublished": "2026-05-01T10:19:42+01:00",
"format": "text/html"
},
{
"id": "040663-2026",
"documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
"noticeType": "UK2",
"description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
"url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040663-2026",
"datePublished": "2026-05-01T15:31:56+01:00",
"format": "text/html"
}
]
},
"tender": {
"id": "UOS/Admissions platform/0326",
"legalBasis": {
"id": "2023/54",
"scheme": "UKPGA",
"uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
},
"title": "Automated Admissions Platform - University of Sunderland 0326",
"description": "The University of Sunderland (University) seeks to procure an Automated Admissions Platform and invites suitably qualified and experienced vendors to submit proposals. The University is seeking a modern, configurable, and automated admissions platform to manage the end-to-end admissions lifecycle for home and international applicants. The current admissions landscape comprises legacy systems, manual processes, and fragmented workflows. Increasing application volumes, particularly for international recruitment, alongside heightened regulatory, governance, and applicant experience expectations, have driven the need for a future-proof admissions solution. The University's strategic ambition is to improve efficiency, transparency, and decision quality, while ensuring that admissions decisions remain accountable, explainable, and compliant. The University is looking to shortlist up to six (6) suppliers, selected via the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), to receive the ITT pack, which will provide a more detailed set of requirements (The University reserves the right to take more than six suppliers through to ITT where scores at PSQ are so close as to make it difficult to draw a distinction between suppliers). For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://neupc.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Sunderland:-Software-package-and-information-systems./Q4N575W435 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://neupc.delta-esourcing.com/respond/Q4N575W435",
"items": [
{
"id": "1",
"additionalClassifications": [
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "48000000",
"description": "Software package and information systems"
}
],
"deliveryAddresses": [
{
"region": "UKC23",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKC23",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKC23",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKC23",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
}
],
"relatedLot": "1"
}
],
"value": {
"amountGross": 1200000,
"currency": "GBP"
},
"mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
"aboveThreshold": true,
"lots": [
{
"id": "1",
"contractPeriod": {
"startDate": "2026-10-16T00:00:00+01:00",
"endDate": "2031-10-15T23:59:59+01:00"
},
"status": "active",
"value": {
"amountGross": 1200000,
"currency": "GBP"
},
"awardCriteria": {
"weightingDescription": "PSQ Supplier Selection weighted: 20% - Financial Capability 80% - Technical Ability",
"criteria": [
{
"type": "quality",
"name": "PSQ Supplier Selection 100%"
},
{
"type": "quality",
"name": "PSQ Supplier Selection 100%"
}
]
},
"suitability": {
"sme": true
}
}
],
"status": "active",
"procurementMethod": "open",
"procurementMethodDetails": "Competitive flexible procedure",
"procedure": {
"features": "This will be a three-stage above-threshold competitive flexible procedure with the intention of creating a contract with a single supplier. The objective of this competitive flexible procedure is to identify the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT). Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the assessment criteria and percentage weightings set out within both this PSQ document and the ITT document. Stage 1 - The Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), which will allow the University to shortlist up to six (6) suppliers who meet the minimum requirements and score highest on the financial and technical ability questions in Parts 3 and 4. The University reserves the right to take more than six suppliers through to the ITT when PSQ scores are so close as to make it difficult to distinguish between bidders. Stage 2 - These shortlisted suppliers will progress to the second stage of the process, the Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage, where further technical ability and qualitative elements will be tested along with pricing. Stage 3 - Following ITT submissions and initial evaluations, the 3 highest scoring suppliers will commence a third stage where suppliers will have the opportunity to delivery as sandbox which will be scored and the Quality recalculated. Every supplier must meet the mandatory minimum requirements detailed in Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4. Any suppliers who do not meet these requirements will be deemed unsuccessful and will not be shortlisted for the ITT stage (Stage 2). There will be no negotiation as part of this procurement"
},
"submissionMethodDetails": "https://www.neupc.delta-esourcing.com/members/university-of-sunderland/",
"submissionTerms": {
"electronicSubmissionPolicy": "notAllowed",
"languages": [
"en"
]
},
"expressionOfInterestDeadline": "2026-07-13T12:00:00+01:00",
"enquiryPeriod": {
"endDate": "2026-07-03T17:00:00+01:00"
},
"awardPeriod": {
"endDate": "2026-10-16T23:59:59+01:00"
},
"documents": [
{
"id": "conflictOfInterest",
"documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
"description": "Not published"
},
{
"id": "060382-2026",
"documentType": "tenderNotice",
"noticeType": "UK4",
"description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
"url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060382-2026",
"datePublished": "2026-06-26T14:13:27+01:00",
"format": "text/html"
},
{
"id": "060400-2026",
"documentType": "tenderNotice",
"noticeType": "UK4",
"description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
"url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060400-2026",
"datePublished": "2026-06-26T14:22:10+01:00",
"format": "text/html"
}
]
},
"language": "en"
}