---
title: "Communication Channel System/RFI/PRO/2026"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-051150"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-051150"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051150.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051150.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "THE OPEN UNIVERSITY"
published: "2026-04-01"
---

# Communication Channel System/RFI/PRO/2026

Buyer: THE OPEN UNIVERSITY  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-051150

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-051150)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051150.json)

## Summary

The Open University, as the contracting authority, is in the Planning stage of a public procurement process for a Communication Channel System under the tender ID OUPA11459. Located in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom, this initiative aims to gather information on the market, potential suppliers, and solutions for goods in the software package and information systems industry category, focusing on communication and multimedia software packages. The procurement process initiated as a tender will be setting significant milestones with immediate actions needed by suppliers, as evidenced by the milestone set for engagement due by 1st April 2026. Although the contract period is planned for 2028–2038, this preliminary stage involving a Request for Information (RFI) document pack offers businesses a strategic entry point.

This procurement presents growth opportunities for businesses specialising in software packages and information systems, particularly those capable of providing communication and multimedia solutions. The Open University's market engagement initiative signifies its openness to varied supplier solutions, heralding business expansion possibilities within the public sector. Companies with robust offerings in customer service, call centre software, or multimedia communications are exceptionally well-suited to compete, leveraging technological advancements to meet the tender requirements. Engaging at this stage may preclude future partnership opportunities in subsequent years, aligning with the planned contract period from January 2027 to January 2037.

## Notice

Preliminary Market Engagement: Request for Information to gather information on the market, potential suppliers and solutions.

### Planning Information

Suppliers are invited to submit information to help the OU information on the market, potential suppliers and solutions. 
The RFI document pack is available via the OU In-Tend Procurement Portal 
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/openuniversity/aspx/Home

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030593-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 1 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 Jan 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Jul 2028 - 31 Jul 2038 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | THE OPEN UNIVERSITY |
| Locality | MILTON KEYNES |
| Post town | Milton Keynes |
| Postcode | MK7 6AA |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLJ12 Milton Keynes |
| Local authority | Milton Keynes |
| Electoral ward | Monkston |
| Westminster constituency | Milton Keynes Central |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 48 - Software package and information systems

### Codes

- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
- 48500000 - Communication and multimedia software package

## Release History

- 1 Apr 2026 at 15:58 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030593-2026
- 12 May 2025 at 15:23 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020611-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030593-2026
  1st April 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020611-2025
  12th May 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://in-tendhost.co.uk/openuniversity/aspx/Home
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-051150. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051150.json.