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Unit4 Enterprise Resource Planning

Buckinghamshire New University

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

26 Aug 2026 at 15:01

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

06 Aug 2026 at 23:24

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

30 Jun 2026 at 10:24

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Buckinghamshire New University is procuring continued use, support and maintenance of its Unit4 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution. The system supports the university’s financial operations and has been integrated into its business since 2017, making continuity central to the requirement. This is primarily enterprise software and information-systems work, including the existing ERP platform and the associated support service. The buying organisation is Buckinghamshire New University, based on Queen Alexandra Road in High Wycombe. Delivery covers the university’s operations across England. The requirement is therefore aimed at suppliers with expertise in Unit4 ERP, enterprise resource planning, software support and maintenance, rather than businesses providing general IT services, unrelated software products or new-build systems without relevant ERP capability.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded through a direct award to UNIT4 BUSINESS SOFTWARE LIMITED. The award date was 30 June 2026, with the contract signed on 21 August 2026. The contract runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2031. Its value is £1,590,289.18 excluding VAT, or £1,908,347.02 including VAT. The direct award was justified as additional or repeat services from the existing supplier: changing supplier would create incompatible services and disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance. The university also cited the business-critical nature of the system, the cost and disruption of change, limited IT resources, and the expected 12-month-plus implementation and retraining burden. There was one completed lot.

This award shows sustained demand from Buckinghamshire New University for a business-critical Unit4 ERP platform and its ongoing support and maintenance. A credible future competitor would need demonstrable capability in Unit4 enterprise resource planning, including maintaining an established implementation and supporting financial operations without disrupting service continuity. Relevant experience of working with integrated ERP environments would be important, as would the operational capacity to provide reliable support throughout a substantial multi-year service period. Suppliers would also need to address the practical consequences of platform change, including implementation, consultancy, staff impact and retraining, because these factors were central to the university’s decision to retain its incumbent supplier. The opportunity is best suited to Unit4 specialists and established ERP support providers able to manage continuity in a university setting.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Unit4 Enterprise Resource Planning

Notice Description

Buckinghamshire New University (the "University") has been using the Unit4 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software since 2017 with the technology now profoundly integrated and pivotal to the financial operations of the University . This renewal will ensure continuity of services, access to support which is crucial to maintaining operational efficiency.

Procurement Information

The University has awarded a direct award contract to Unit4 Business Software Limited for ongoing use of Unit4 Enterprise Resource Planning Solution including the support and maintenance of this existing ERP System. The award of the contract is permitted in accordance with Section 41 and Paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 to the Procurement Act 2023 on the basis that: (a) Additional or repeat services; The public contract concerns the supply of services by the existing supplier which are intended as an extension to, or partial replacement of, existing services in circumstances where- (a) a change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving services that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing services, and (b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance. Of particular note: The University has used the Unit4 ERP since 2017. The continuity of this ERP is business-critical to the University and the renewal of the Unit4 ERP is essential for operations. The University does not currently have the resources to undertake the implementation of a new ERP system due to several existing, business critical IT projects. Unit4 ERP is considered to be a stable platform and therefore is a low priority for limited IT resource at this time. The cost of change would be very high given the impact on the members of staff. In addition, a 12 month+ implementation period with considerable consultancy cost and retraining is not economically viable at this moment in time. For these reasons the University has decided to re-contract with Unit4 for a further five years for the ERP system.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06bfc6
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081412-2026
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
SME

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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,590,289 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£1,590,289 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
30 Jun 20262 months ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Buckinghamshire New 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
HIGH WYCOMBE
Postcode
HP11 2JZ
Postcode Area
Hemel Hempstead
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ13 Buckinghamshire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Buckinghamshire
Electoral Ward
Abbey
Westminster Constituency
Wycombe

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Unit4 Business Software Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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