Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

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 01:00

OJEU - F15 - Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of the West of Scotland bought financial markets data analytics and trading hardware and software for teaching, learning and research. The solution provides global financial market intelligence, real-time and historical data across asset classes, analytics tools, simulated trading and market environments, and access to global networking and competition challenges. It is intended to support a two-year pilot for employer-informed undergraduate and postgraduate courses, while extending learning and research beyond the classroom. The requirement is for an integrated, one-stop-shop solution across the university’s Paisley and London campuses. The procurement is for financial information and trading systems, rather than general-purpose university IT equipment.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to Bloomberg LP. The contract is active and was signed on 16 October 2026, at a value of £196,000. The award covers one lot; no contract start or end dates are stated. The university used a limited procedure without prior publication of a competition notice, citing the absence of competition for technical reasons. It said comprehensive market engagement found that only the nominated supplier had the capacity and solution to meet all requirements, with no reasonable alternative or substitute. The university also stated that a supplier demonstrating it could meet the requirements could prevent the award. The stated purpose is a two-year pilot, but the contract period is not separately set out.

For suppliers considering a future requirement from the University of the West of Scotland, this award indicates demand for a joined-up financial markets data and simulated trading platform serving teaching, learning and research. A credible competitor would need to demonstrate global market intelligence, real-time and historical coverage across asset classes, and capable analytics alongside simulated trading environments. The university’s stated requirement also includes access to global networking and competition challenges, support for employer-informed undergraduate and postgraduate activity, and delivery across both Paisley and London campuses. The buyer considered the selected supplier’s capacity and complete solution decisive, following market engagement, and said no reasonable alternative existed. Suppliers would therefore need evidence that they can meet the full requirement as an integrated offer, rather than provide only data feeds, software, hardware or isolated analytics tools. The pilot provides a model of the buyer’s intended use and scope.

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-r6ebe6-0000845754
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566892
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F15 - Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency 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
Complete
Awards Status
Not Specified
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

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...