---
title: "SMS Service"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0598e8"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0598e8"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0598e8.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0598e8.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITY"
published: "2025-09-11"
---

# SMS Service

Buyer: BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITY  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0598e8

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## Summary

Bournemouth University is in the planning stage of a procurement process to replace its current SMS solution within the UKK24 region. Scheduled virtual meetings and demonstration sessions will occur in the week commencing 20 October 2025, as part of a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) to gather supplier feedback and expertise. Interested suppliers should express their interest by 25 September 2025. This initiative, under the public authority of a sub-central government, covers services in the software package and information systems category, with a planned contract period starting from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2029.

This upcoming tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specializing in communication software, electronic messaging services, and system support services, especially those geared towards engaging large institutions like universities. It offers a gross value of £100,000, making it suitable for SMEs with innovative solutions that can meet the University's comprehensive communication requirements. Companies with the capability to integrate SMS services with other systems, ensure message security and compliance, and provide robust administration and support features stand a favorable chance in this competitive tendering process.

## Notice

Bournemouth University ("BU" or the "University") has a requirement to replace its existing SMS solution which has reached end of life. SMS messages are used as part of a multi-channel communication approach to engage with students. Approximately 35,000 messages are sent each year. Scenarios where SMS communication is used include the following: * Automated messages to notify of timetable changes and cancellations * Applicant interview details * Appointment notifications and reminders * Wellbeing and engagement contact * Sports centre information and promotions * Urgent alerts to university first-aiders The replacement SMS service may include, but is not limited to, the features listed below: Core Functionality * Ability to convert email into SMS messages. * Extract subject/body and trim to SMS character limits. * Deliver to UK and international mobile phone numbers. * Ability to create custom message templates. * Replies matched to the originating outbound message and delivered to sender. * Ability to prioritise messages and specifically send high-priority alerts. Message Routing and Delivery * Retry failed messages and report failures. * Ability to schedule or delay delivery based on recipient time zone. * Ability to schedule messages on an ad-hoc or recurring basis. Logging and Reporting * Maintain logs of all messages sent and received. * Ability to view message stats, delivery success rates and errors. Compliance and Security * Potential to encrypt messages. * Provide means for recipients to opt out of SMS communications. * Ability to define retention periods for message history. Integration * Potential ability to integrate with other systems (e.g. case management, CRM). Administration and Support * Seamless access (preferably via Single Sign On) to system for message sending, receiving, managing users and viewing logs/reports. * Notification of failed messages and gateway issues. * Option to establish message quotas with notification when close to quota threshold. * Defined service-level agreement for support.

### Planning Information

The purpose of this PME is to gather industry expertise and feedback that will inform the development of our final project and procurement requirements. 
Objectives:
• Gain a better understanding of suppliers' capabilities, experiences, and innovations.
• Identify potential challenges and solutions relevant to the upcoming procurement project.
• Inform suppliers about the project's scope, objectives, and key requirements.
BU are intending on holding virtual meetings / demonstration sessions with interested suppliers via Microsoft Teams on the week commencing 20 October 2025. 
If you wish to be considered for a virtual meeting / demonstration session with BU’s project team, please contact procurement@bournemouth.ac.uk to register your interest with the subject heading “IT/OS/461 – SMS Service”. 
Once suppliers have expressed their interest we will provide further information on the requirements with a Questionnaire for completion. BU will then shortlist suppliers for the virtual meetings / demonstration sessions based on the answers provided in the Questionnaires. 
Please note that while we aim to engage with a broad range of suppliers, it may not be possible to invite all interested parties to a meeting. Participation in this exercise is voluntary, and there is no obligation for BU to meet with every supplier who expresses an interest and submits a completed Questionnaire.
This PME is not a request for quotation. BU’s current intention is to conduct an openly advertised tender process at a later stage.
There is no obligation for suppliers to respond to this PME. Supplier responses (or lack thereof) to this exercise will not be used to determine which suppliers will be carried forward to tender process or in any subsequent evaluation of supplier proposals.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055962-2025 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 11 Sep 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 28 Nov 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Mar 2026 - 28 Feb 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £80,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITY |
| Locality | POOLE |
| Post town | Bournemouth |
| Postcode | BH12 5BB |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset |
| ITL 3 | TLK63 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole |
| Local authority | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole |
| Electoral ward | Talbot & Branksome Woods |
| Westminster constituency | Bournemouth West |
| Delivery location | TLK24 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 48 - Software package and information systems
- 64 - Postal and telecommunications services
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
- 48510000 - Communication software package
- 64216000 - Electronic message and information services
- 72250000 - System and support services

## Release History

- 11 Sep 2025 at 15:46 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055962-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055962-2025
  11th September 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk
- 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-0598e8. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0598e8.json.