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Microsoft 365 Copilot

University of the West of England

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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12 Aug 2026 at 14:16

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of the West of England procured Microsoft 365 Copilot as an education add-on for its university environment. The requirement is an IT software package, covering Microsoft 365 Copilot EDU licensing rather than construction, consultancy or general IT services. The buying organisation is the University of the West of England, based at its Frenchay Campus in Bristol. The software is intended for use by the university and its education-related users. This is a single- requirement procurement, with the Copilot add-on identified as the purchased item. The arrangement concerns the supply of software licences to the university, making it relevant to Microsoft licensing specialists, education technology suppliers, software resellers and IT providers able to support institutional Microsoft 365 deployments.

This procurement has been awarded and completed as a tender process, with one supplier selected. The University of the West of England used a direct award below the applicable threshold, without competition. SOFTCAT PLC was awarded the requirement and the contract was signed on 24 July 2026. The contract runs from 25 July 2026 to 31 July 2026. Its value is £154,740 excluding VAT and £185,688 including VAT. The procurement has one lot, covering the Microsoft 365 Copilot EDU add-on. The published description identifies the requirement as AAU-89322AP and states that the add-on runs until 31 July 2026. The award is recorded as active and the contract as active.

This award demonstrates demand from a UK university for Microsoft 365 Copilot education licensing at institutional scale. Suppliers best placed for comparable work would have a strong Microsoft 365 and Copilot offer, experience supplying education-sector licensing, and the operational capacity to provision and administer software for a university environment. A credible competitor would also need to understand education add-on licensing, handle substantial software orders, and meet public-sector purchasing and contract administration requirements. The use of a below-threshold direct award without competition shows that this buyer has used a simplified route for this requirement. Microsoft licensing partners, specialist education technology suppliers and established IT resellers can use the purchase as evidence of the buyer's software needs.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Microsoft 365 Copilot

Notice Description

AAU-89322AP - Microsoft 365 Copilot EDU Add-on - until 31.07.26

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e2b2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076818-2026
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

48517000 - IT software package

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£154,740 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
24 Jul 20261 months ago
Contract Period
25 Jul 2026 - 31 Jul 2026 30 days
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
University of the West of England
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS16 1QY
Postcode Area
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Stoke Park & Cheswick
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SOFTCAT PLC

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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