---
title: "Direct Award for Engagement Platform Software under the SLRA - Framework Agreement for Software Licence Resellers Agreement & Consultancy Services, Agreement Reference: ITS4052 SU Lot 4 - Commercial Off the Shelf Software (COTS)"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-6cb37b3b-127a-420a-854b-0d9c6be64b57"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-6cb37b3b-127a-420a-854b-0d9c6be64b57"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6cb37b3b-127a-420a-854b-0d9c6be64b57.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6cb37b3b-127a-420a-854b-0d9c6be64b57.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "University of Chester"
published: "2026-08-18"
---

# Direct Award for Engagement Platform Software under the SLRA - Framework Agreement for Software Licence Resellers Agreement & Consultancy Services, Agreement Reference: ITS4052 SU Lot 4 - Commercial Off the Shelf Software (COTS)

Buyer: University of Chester  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-6cb37b3b-127a-420a-854b-0d9c6be64b57

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## Summary

The University of Chester procured an engagement platform software licence: Vevox’s Education Institution Plan, supplied as commercial off-the-shelf software. The requirement is for software supply services, covering the University’s engagement platform needs under the Software Licence Resellers Agreement and Consultancy Services framework. Delivery is for the University in Chester, within the North West of England. The procurement is categorised as goods. The framework route links the software purchase to a supplier able to provide commercial software licences through the relevant framework lot. The arrangement is intended for an education institution, so suppliers with products suited to university teaching, events, consultation or audience participation environments would be relevant when this requirement is next considered.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded. The University used a selective direct call-off from the Software Licence Resellers Agreement framework, Agreement Reference ITS4052 SU Lot 4 for commercial off-the-shelf software. The tender period ended at 10:00 on 13 July 2026, and the award was made on 29 July 2026. Academia Limited was awarded the contract after the University’s framework review identified it as the first-ranked supplier on Lot 4 and the University LIS team reviewed quotes received. The award value is £55,000 including the full contract period, with values rounded up. The contract runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2029. The award was made under the framework call-off terms and conditions.

This award shows established demand from the University of Chester for an education-focused audience engagement platform delivered through a software reseller framework. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need a commercial off-the-shelf platform that supports interactive engagement, together with the licensing, account management and implementation capability expected by a university. Experience supplying education institutions would help demonstrate fit with teaching and institutional use, while framework access or an equivalent route to compliant public-sector software call-offs would be commercially important. The opportunity was identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises, so smaller specialist software providers and resellers may be able to compete when the requirement returns.

## Notice

Direct Award to Academia Limited for Engagement Platform Software; Vevox: Education Institution Plan under the SLRA - Framework Agreement for Software Licence Resellers Agreement & Consultancy Services, Agreement Reference: ITS4052 SU Lot 4 - Commercial Off the Shelf Software (COTS). This direct award follows University of Chester's review of the SLRA framework Buyers Guide, which established that Academia Limited is the first ranked supplier on Lot 4, and the University LIS team's review of the quotes received. This award is made under the framework Call-Off Terms and Conditions. All values in this award have been rounded up and are for the full contract period.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8c14c0b2-3265-45c0-ae83-de454354f307 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a framework agreement |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 18 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 13 Jul 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 29 Jul 2026 |
| Contract period | 1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £55,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £55,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | University of Chester |
| Locality | CHESTER |
| Postcode area | Chester |
| Postcode | CH1 4BJ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD6 Cheshire |
| ITL 3 | TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester |
| Local authority | Cheshire West and Chester |
| Electoral ward | Chester City & the Garden Quarter |
| Westminster constituency | Chester North and Neston |
| Delivery location | TLD North West (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Academia Ltd |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 72268000 - Software supply services

## Release History

- 18 Aug 2026 at 17:15 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8c14c0b2-3265-45c0-ae83-de454354f307

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8c14c0b2-3265-45c0-ae83-de454354f307
  18th August 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Notice URLs

- http://www.chester.ac.uk

## Provenance

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