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Financial Data Analytics and Trading Tools - Hardware and software

University of the West of Scotland

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

19 Oct 2026 at 16:50

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is buying hardware and software for financial markets data analysis, market intelligence and simulated trading. The solution is intended to support teaching, learning and research through a two-year pilot for undergraduate and postgraduate students, informed by employers. It must provide global financial market intelligence, real-time and historical data across asset classes, analytics, simulated markets and trading, and access to global networking and competition challenges that connect learning with industry. UWS sought a single, integrated solution across its Paisley and London campuses. The requirement is for specialist financial data and trading technology, rather than general-purpose university IT.

The procurement is complete: UWS awarded the contract to Bloomberg LP, and the contract is active. The award was made on 16 October 2026 and the contract was signed on 16 October 2026. The contract value is £196,000. UWS used a limited procedure without prior publication of a competition, stating that technical reasons meant no reasonable alternative could meet its needs and that market engagement identified only the nominated supplier as capable of providing the complete solution. The requirement was treated as outside the scope of the relevant directive. There was one lot covering the integrated hardware and software solution; no separate lot awards were reported. The stated evaluation basis was the supplier’s ability to meet the full educational, research and market-data requirements.

For suppliers assessing comparable future work from UWS, this award shows demand for an integrated financial-markets learning and research environment, combining data, analytics, simulated trading and industry-facing activities across two campuses. A credible competitor would need to demonstrate comprehensive global market coverage, live and historical information across asset classes, powerful analytical capability, realistic simulated trading environments, and access to networking and competitions connected with industry. The buyer’s stated rationale makes breadth and integration central: the selected provider was considered the only supplier able to satisfy all requirements, following market engagement. Suppliers would therefore need evidence that their solution is a genuine alternative across the full package, not just a data feed or standalone trading tool, and sufficient capacity to deploy and support it across UWS’s Paisley and London campuses.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Financial Data Analytics and Trading Tools - Hardware and software

Notice Description

Hardware and software for the delivery of financial markets data analysis, with real time and historical insights for educational, learning and research purposes

Lot Information

Lot 1

University of the West of Scotland is seeking to award a contract for the purchase of a financial markets data analysis, market intelligence and trading solution - hardware and software without a tender process due to the belief that there is only one supplier who can meet our requirements as follows: 1. This is to support a two-year pilot project to support employer-informed post-graduate and undergraduate teaching, learning and research 2. Industry-leading global financial market intelligence data provision and analytics 3. Real-time and historical data across all asset classes alongside powerful analytic tools and market intelligence 4. Simulated trading and markets environments 5. Access to global networking and competition challenges that go beyond the classroom and into industry 6. Provision of a one-stop shop solution across two campuses

Procurement Information

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition Justification for selected award procedure: The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive. Explanation: Competition is absent for technical reasons. No reasonable alternative or substitute exists that provides the requirements for education, learning and research. UWS has not artificially narrowed the parameters of the procurement. After comprehensive market engagement only the nominated supplier has the capacity and solution to provide all of UWS's requirements. This notice provides transparency and due diligence prior to the award of the contract. In the event that a supplier details its ability to meet the requirements, then this award will not be made.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078b29
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/098662-2026
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

48100000 - Industry specific software package

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£196,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

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

Buyer Location

Locality
PAISLEY
Postcode
PA1 2BE
Postcode Area
Paisley
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM3 West Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM33 Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, and Renfrewshire
Delivery Location
TLI London, TLM83 Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, and Renfrewshire
Local Authority
Renfrewshire
Electoral Ward
Paisley Northwest
Westminster Constituency
Paisley and Renfrewshire South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

BLOOMBERG FINANCE L.P.

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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