Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

DDaT26470-Software licences

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

21 Sep 2026 at 14:05

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research and Innovation bought software licences for use in the United Kingdom. The requirement falls within software packages and information systems, covering the supply of licences rather than software development, implementation works or general IT support. UK Research and Innovation is the buying organisation, with UK Shared Business Services Ltd managing the procurement process as its shared service provider. The awarded supplier, Schlumberger Oilfield UK Ltd, is based in Crawley and is recorded as a large business. The requirement is associated with a single completed lot and is categorised as goods. The procurement therefore suits software publishers, authorised licensing partners, distributors and specialist technology suppliers able to provide the particular software licences required by UK Research and Innovation, including suppliers serving research and technical organisations across the UK.

This procurement has been awarded and the contract is active. UK Research and Innovation used a direct award below the applicable threshold, without competition, because the procurement states that there was no competition for technical reasons, only one particular supplier could provide the required goods and services, and there were no reasonable alternatives. Schlumberger Oilfield UK Ltd was awarded the single lot. The award is active and the contract was signed on 14 September 2026, with a contract period from 15 September to 15 October 2026. The awarded contract value is USD 21,613.53 excluding tax, or USD 25,936.24 including tax. The award date is not separately recorded, but the contract outcome identifies Schlumberger Oilfield UK Ltd as the selected supplier.

Although this contract has already been awarded, it provides a clear indication of UK Research and Innovation’s demand for short-term software licensing supplied through a specialist route. A credible future competitor would need to hold the relevant software rights or an authorised route to licence them, and demonstrate that its products are technically compatible with the buyer’s existing requirements. The direct award rationale makes technical differentiation and the absence of reasonable alternatives particularly important: a general software reseller would be less well placed than a publisher, specialist distributor or partner able to evidence unique product capability. Suppliers should also be able to support public-sector purchasing, provide accurate licensing and entitlement information, and deliver reliably within a defined UK-wide requirement. The incumbent’s scale suggests capacity to fulfil the buyer’s licensing needs.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

DDaT26470-Software licences

Notice Description

**** THIS IS A CONTRACT DETAILS NOTICE, NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION**** This procurement is being concluded without competition due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required and the are no reasonable alternatives to those goods services or works. Brief Description of Requirement Software licences

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077684
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089188-2026
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
£21,613 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
15 Sep 2026 - 15 Oct 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
UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON
Postcode
SN2 1FL
Postcode Area
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Schlumberger Oilfield UK plc

Further Information

Notice Documents

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.

Loading OCDS record...