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Whitespace software

Coventry University

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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24 Jul 2026 at 14:35

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Coventry University procured specialist software and information systems for research into a language model. Whitespace Ventures Ltd is providing significant upgrades to the software used in the first phase of the research, allowing the tool to be examined in an operational setting with 12–15 anonymous test partners. The requirement includes both a web-based tool and an offline application for user testing. The offline platform is intended for secure testing in disconnected environments. Testing is designed not to capture or request personal data. Delivery covers the university’s user-testing activities in the United Kingdom, with the buying organisation based in Coventry. This is a software and research technology requirement rather than a general IT support or standard software licensing purchase.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded through a below-threshold direct award without competition. One completed lot was awarded to Whitespace Ventures Ltd. The contract was signed on 27 February 2026 and runs from 11 March 2026 to 10 March 2027. Its value is £72,000 excluding VAT, or £86,400 including VAT. The contract is active. The requirement was evaluated and handled as a direct procurement rather than an open tender, so there was no competitive bidding process. The selected supplier is responsible for the software upgrades, the web-based testing tool and the offline platform described in the requirement. The procurement sits below the applicable threshold and is classified as goods, specifically software packages and information systems.

This award indicates that Coventry University values suppliers able to work as specialist research technology partners, not simply providers of off-the-shelf software. A credible competitor for a comparable requirement would need demonstrable capability in upgrading an existing research tool, adapting it for operational testing and supporting structured user testing with multiple anonymous test partners. Experience of language-model or related artificial-intelligence testing would be relevant, particularly where testing must avoid capturing or requesting personal data. Suppliers should also be able to deliver both web-based and offline applications, including secure operation in disconnected environments. The requirement favours organisations with software engineering, secure deployment and research collaboration capability, together with the capacity to support a university-scale testing programme through a direct-award route.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Whitespace software

Notice Description

Whitespace as a core research partner are providing significant upgrades to the tool that was used in the first phase of the research. This is to all the tool to be examined in much greater detail in an operational setting with 12-15 test partners which are all anonymous with no personal data captured or requested. They will also be providing an offline platform that can be used in disconnected environments for secure testing of the language model. They will provide both a web-based tool and an offline application for the university's user testing.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d367
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070358-2026
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
Below threshold - without 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
£72,000 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
11 Mar 2026 - 10 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Coventry 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
COVENTRY
Postcode
CV1 5FB
Postcode Area
Coventry
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG33 Coventry
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Coventry
Electoral Ward
St Michael's
Westminster Constituency
Coventry South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Whitespace Ventures Limited

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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