This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

16 Jul 2026 at 09:26

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process conducted by Nottingham College involves the award of a contract titled "Open Athens" in the software package and information systems category. The procurement aimed at providing a Jisc OpenAthens subscription with associated authentication services. The contract, which was distinguished by its limited procurement method, commenced without prior publication of a competitive call due to Jisc being the sole provider. The contract was awarded on 15th July 2026, allowing authorised users secure access to digital resources. The contract, valued at £35,000, covers goods and services necessary for access management and compliance, located in the UK region.

This tender offers business growth opportunities primarily for large-scale enterprises in the information technology sector capable of providing secure authentication services akin to those offered by Jisc. Companies that specialise in digital content delivery and secure access management, especially those with proprietary systems, will find this tender particularly insightful. While the opportunity was exclusive due to proprietary service constraints, comparable niche segments in subscription management could perceive potential to partner or compete in future tenders with similar criteria.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Open Athens

Notice Description

Award of a contract for the provision of a Jisc OpenAthens subscription and associated authentication services. The contract enables secure, single sign-on access to subscribed electronic resources, databases, journals, e-books, and digital content for authorised users. The service includes ongoing support, administration, and maintenance to ensure reliable access management and compliance with organisational information access requirements.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Direct award to Jisc under a single waiver notification

Procurement Information

Jisc is the sole provider of the OpenAthens authentication service and holds the exclusive rights to supply, maintain, and support the platform. No alternative suppliers are authorised to provide the service.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06cc8a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067095-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
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

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
Not specified
Contracts Value
£35,000 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Jul 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
14 Jul 20263 weeks ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NOTTINGHAM COLLEGE
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NOTTINGHAM
Postcode
NG1 7HB
Post Town
Nottingham
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF14 Nottingham
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Nottingham
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Nottingham East

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

JISC SERVICES

Further Information

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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