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Wharton Data Research Services (WRDS) Platform

University of Strathclyde

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

27 Jul 2026 at 11:49

Award Notice
Award

08 Jul 2026 at 10:44

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Strathclyde procured access to the Wharton Data Research Services (WRDS) Platform for teaching and research across the whole university. This is a data-processing and data-supply service, including research consultancy and economic research services. The requirement is associated with the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow and is intended for university-wide use rather than a single department or project. The selected provider is The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, trading as Wharton Research Data Services. The service concerns access to a specialist research data platform, so relevant businesses would need to provide comparable financial, economic or academic research data services and support their use in teaching and research.

The procurement has been completed and awarded. The University used a limited procedure without prior publication of a call for competition, on the basis that the service could only be supplied by a particular economic operator because of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights. A voluntary ex-ante transparency notice was raised on 8 July 2026, and no objection was received. One bid was recorded, submitted electronically, and it was not from an SME. The contract was signed on 8 July 2026 with The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania trading as Wharton Research Data Services. The recorded contract value is £83,653 excluding any separately stated tax treatment. The procurement’s evaluation basis covered quality and price. The lot is recorded as cancelled, while the award and contract are active.

This outcome indicates demand from a higher-education buyer for a specialist research data platform used across teaching and research. A credible competitor for a future requirement of this kind would need to provide reliable access to substantial financial, economic and related research datasets, together with the technical infrastructure and service support needed by university users. The requirement also points to the importance of rights to distribute or provide access to the relevant proprietary data and platform, since the award rationale relied on exclusive rights and a particular economic operator. Suppliers would need to demonstrate that their data coverage, academic usability, platform access and support arrangements can serve an entire university rather than a small specialist team.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Wharton Data Research Services (WRDS) Platform

Notice Description

The provision of the Wharton Data Research Services (WRDS) Platform.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The University requires the provision of the Wharton Data Research Services (WRDS) Platform for teaching and research across the whole University.

Procurement Information

A Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice (VEAT) was raised on 08/07/2026. It provided third parties with the opportunity to raise their objection to this contract being awarded without competition. No objection was received which allows the University to determine that the appropriate route to market for this requirement is an award without competition in accordance with the Procurement (Scotland) Regulations 2016, Regulation 6 - Circumstances in which a contract can be awarded without competition - (1) A contracting authority may award a public contract without seeking offers in relation to the proposed contract - b) where the works, supplies or services can be supplied only by a particular economic operator for any of the following reasons - (iii) the protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c601
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070727-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

72310000 - Data-processing services

72319000 - Data supply services

73210000 - Research consultancy services

79311400 - Economic research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£83,653 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
University of Strathclyde
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
GLASGOW
Postcode
G1 1XU
Postcode Area
Glasgow
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM3 West Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM32 Glasgow City
Delivery Location
TLM82 Glasgow City
Local Authority
Glasgow City
Electoral Ward
Anderston/City/Yorkhill
Westminster Constituency
Glasgow North East

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania dba Wharton Research Data Services

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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