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Peer to Peer Engagement Platform

University Of Edinburgh

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

03 Aug 2026 at 01:00

PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Edinburgh procured the renewal of its complete Unibuddy peer-to-peer engagement platform. This is a software and digital engagement requirement, covering an instant messaging service that allows prospective students to contact university student ambassadors about degree programmes, accommodation, campus culture and the local area. The platform also provides a dashboard for insight into engagement data. The University has used the Unibuddy Chat functionality for several years, making this a continuation of an established student recruitment and engagement service. Delivery is for the University in Edinburgh. The procurement was made by the University of Edinburgh, which also acts as a central purchasing body.

The procurement has been awarded and the tender is complete. The University made a direct award to Academia Ltd as the first-ranked supplier under Lot 4 of the SUPC Software Resellers Agreement framework. One bid was recorded for the requirement, submitted electronically. The contract is active and was signed on 11 June 2026. Its awarded contract value is £86,533.25. The requirement was treated as a single lot and has no stated options. The commercial route was a framework direct award rather than a fresh competition, with supplier ranking under the framework determining the outcome. The award covers the full Unibuddy platform renewal for the University of Edinburgh.

This award demonstrates established demand from a major university for a specialist student engagement platform rather than a one-off communications tool. Suppliers well placed for a future requirement would need to provide a complete peer-to-peer platform, including reliable one-to-one messaging between prospective students and current student ambassadors, support for questions about courses, accommodation and campus life, and reporting on engagement. Experience serving higher education organisations and supporting student recruitment or conversion would strengthen credibility. Suppliers would also need a route into the relevant software reseller framework, or the ability to work through an eligible framework reseller. The requirement favours providers able to support an established service at institutional scale.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Peer to Peer Engagement Platform

Notice Description

Renewal of the entire Unibuddy Platform.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal of the entire Unibuddy Platform. The University has specifically used Unibuddy Chat functionality for a number of years. Unibuddy Chat is the core of the Unibuddy platform and uses a one-to-one messaging feature, Unibuddy Chat. This provides a digital front door where prospective students can directly contact Student Ambassadors employed by the University to ask questions relating to degree programs, accommodation, campus culture, or the local area, in order to gain insights from current students. It utilises an instant messaging app. It also includes a dashboard which provides insight into engagement data.. Direct Award under the SUPC Software Resellers Agreement (SLRA) Framework (Lot 4)

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000839026
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG561414
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
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
£86,533 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Aug 20262 months 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
Complete
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
University Of Edinburgh
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH1 1HT
Postcode Area
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM75 City of Edinburgh
Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Academia Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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