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Southern Universities Management Services (SUMS Consulting)-Membership Fees

University Of Bedfordshire

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

16 Jul 2026 at 16:11

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Bedfordshire bought membership fees for Southern Universities Management Services (SUMS Consulting), covering the 2026–27 membership year. This is a subscription service for the university, delivered in the United Kingdom. The requirement is classified as subscription services and sits within the services category. The procurement relates to the University of Bedfordshire, based at University Square in Luton. The selected provider, Southern Universities Management Services (SUMS Consulting), operates from the University of Reading’s Reading Enterprise Centre in Reading. The arrangement concerns access to SUMS Consulting’s membership offering rather than a conventional supply of goods, construction project or standalone consultancy commission. Businesses serving universities through paid membership, subscription or sector-support services would find the requirement most comparable to their own work.

The procurement is complete and a supplier has been selected. The University of Bedfordshire used a direct award below the applicable threshold, without competition, for one lot. Southern Universities Management Services (SUMS Consulting) was selected for an award of £44,200 excluding VAT, or £53,040 including VAT. The award covers a contract period from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027. A contract signature milestone was scheduled for 23 July 2026. The award information was recorded on 16 July 2026. The lot was identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises. The procurement was evaluated through the buyer’s direct-award route rather than an open tender competition.

This procurement provides a clear benchmark for businesses supplying membership or subscription services to universities. A credible competitor would need an established service that universities can access through a defined membership arrangement, with the organisational capacity to support a public university throughout a full membership year. Experience of working with higher education institutions would help demonstrate relevance, particularly where the service depends on understanding university management, shared-sector needs or collaboration between institutions. The selected supplier is recorded as a small and medium-sized enterprise and a voluntary, community or social enterprise, showing that this type of requirement can be delivered by an organisation of that scale and character. Providers should be able to evidence a reliable subscription model and sustained service delivery for a university customer.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Southern Universities Management Services (SUMS Consulting)-Membership Fees

Notice Description

Southern Universities Management Services (SUMS Consulting)-Membership Fees 2026-27

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06cd35
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067406-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79980000 - Subscription services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£44,200 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Aug 2026 - 31 Jul 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
University Of Bedfordshire
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LUTON
Postcode
LU1 3JU
Postcode Area
Luton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH21 Luton
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Luton
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Luton South and South Bedfordshire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Southern Universities Management Services (SUMS Consulting)

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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