Award

Migration and Support of the UWS Website (Web Hosting Services)

UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Summary of the contracting process

The University of the West of Scotland has completed a procurement process concerning the "Migration and Support of the UWS Website (Web Hosting Services)". This procurement, dated June 2026, is in the education industry category and involves locations across Paisley, Ayr, Lanarkshire, Dumfries, and London. It was conducted using a limited procurement method due to technical constraints and specific service requirements that impeded a competitive process. Following an unsuccessful competitive tender initiated in October 2025, Waracle LTD was awarded the contract valued at GBP 297,219, with the contract being signed on 22 May 2026. The University functions as a central purchasing body, and this strategic decision supports organisational goals concerning security, website stability, and compliance.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in website development and hosting services, particularly those able to navigate complex service requirements and architectural constraints. The suitability leans towards small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with expertise in agile development and risk management in digital platforms, as evidenced by the successful bid from Waracle LTD, a Dundee-based SME. Such projects can leverage a supplier's strengths in technology integration and operational risk management, enhancing their portfolio and providing a springboard for further contracts within the public sector.

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How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Migration and Support of the UWS Website (Web Hosting Services)

Notice Description

Upgrade of the public website before End of Life to mitigate operational, security and compliance risks. including establishing a predictable, planned, agile development and maintenance pipeline. Protect the public website as UWS's primary recruitment, brand and statutory-compliance platform. Provide a secure, stable, reliable, modern system aligned to the University's cyber and operational risk appetite.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Upgrade of the public website before End of Life to mitigate operational, security and compliance risks. including establishing a predictable, planned, agile development and maintenance pipeline. Protect the public website as UWS's primary recruitment, brand and statutory-compliance platform. Provide a secure, stable, reliable, modern system aligned to the University's cyber and operational risk appetite.

Procurement Information

The UWS website is hosted externally due to technical limitations associated with the original design and development of the platform. A strategic decision was made to continue hosting and developing the website off-site under the current operating model, reflecting the architectural and technical constraints of the existing platform. In October 2025 the University initiated a procurement exercise to explore future options for the platform. However, during the process issues emerged during the live competitive tender process, including supplier queries that UWS was unable to fully resolve, particularly in relation to specific service requirements, solution availability, and associated risks. As a result, the competitive procurement exercise was unsuccessful.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000832712
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN557240
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support


CPV Codes

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£297,219 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Jun 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
22 May 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

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
Post Town
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
Not specified

Local Authority
Renfrewshire
Electoral Ward
Paisley Northwest
Westminster Constituency
Paisley and Renfrewshire South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

WARACLE

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY556442
    Migration and Support of the UWS Website (Web Hosting Services) - Upgrade of the public website before End of Life to mitigate operational, security and compliance risks. including establishing a predictable, planned, agile development and maintenance pipeline. Protect the public website as UWS's primary recruitment, brand and statutory-compliance platform. Provide a secure, stable, reliable, modern system aligned to the University's cyber and operational risk appetite.
  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN557240
    Migration and Support of the UWS Website (Web Hosting Services) - Upgrade of the public website before End of Life to mitigate operational, security and compliance risks. including establishing a predictable, planned, agile development and maintenance pipeline. Protect the public website as UWS's primary recruitment, brand and statutory-compliance platform. Provide a secure, stable, reliable, modern system aligned to the University's cyber and operational risk appetite.

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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