---
title: "Postgraduate Research Management System"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06105b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06105b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06105b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06105b.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "ASTON UNIVERSITY"
published: "2026-04-17"
---

# Postgraduate Research Management System

Buyer: ASTON UNIVERSITY  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06105b

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06105b)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06105b.json)

## Summary

Aston University, located in Birmingham, United Kingdom, is currently in the tender stage of procuring a Postgraduate Research Management System. The process commenced on 17th April 2026, with the aim to enhance the management and support of the postgraduate research student lifecycle. The procurement falls under the industry category of 'Software package and information systems' and is being managed through the competitive flexible procedure. Business entities interested in participating must submit expressions of interest by 13th May 2026, with inquiries closing on 5th May 2026. The contract is scheduled to be awarded by 3rd August 2026, and the implementation period will start on 1st September 2026, lasting for five years. The procurement aligns with the University's 2030 Strategy to substantially grow its postgraduate research community.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses in the software and information systems industry, especially those specialising in education sector solutions, to provide a robust and integrated management system for postgraduate research processes. With an estimated contract value of £439,000, this tender is ideal for companies that offer out-of-the-box solutions capable of supporting student lifecycle, including admissions, thesis submission, and supervisory engagements, while integrating seamlessly with existing systems like Tribal: SITS. The competitive flexible procedure allows firms to showcase their technical expertise and alignment with the University’s needs, while potentially significant long-term engagement offers avenues for growth and partnership with a leading academic institution. Small and medium enterprises are particularly encouraged to participate, given the suitability consideration included in the procurement criteria.

## Notice

Aston University is seeking proposals from suitably qualified and experienced suppliers to provide and implement an off-the-shelf solution to support the full Postgraduate Research (PGR) student lifecycle. This procurement aligns with the University's 2030 Strategy and its ambition to expand its PGR 1community to 1,000 students by 2030. Currently, the University does not have a single system to manage the end-to-end PGR student journey. Processes are fragmented, with a heavy reliance on manual workflows and spreadsheets. Core student data and activities such as enrolment, progression, and award management are handled through Tribal: SITS, alongside other selected processes. A comprehensive review of the PGR student lifecycle-from application through to supervisory meetings, progression monitoring, and thesis submission-has identified a number of inefficiencies and pain points. These issues limit service quality, user experience, and reporting capability. To support planned growth and enhance operational effectiveness, the University requires a robust, integrated solution that streamlines processes and improves data visibility. The University is therefore seeking a specialist, off-the-shelf system focused on the PGR lifecycle, requiring minimal customisation to ensure efficiency, maintainability, and long-term sustainability. The solution should integrate effectively with existing systems, including Tribal: SITS, and support future scalability. This procurement will be conducted under the Competitive Flexible Procedure, in accordance with applicable public sector procurement regulations. This approach enables a transparent, fair, and consistent evaluation process, while allowing the University flexibility to clarify, refine, and assess supplier solutions throughout the procurement lifecycle. Full details, including all documents and questions, can be found on the ProContract tendering portal: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=a8c9cdbb-493a-f111-813c-005056b64545

### Planning Information

Prospective suppliers who meet all of the listed requirements are encouraged to contact procurement@aston.ac.uk.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035203-2026 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning, Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 17 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 5 May 2026 |
| Future notice date | 15 Mar 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2031 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £439,000 |
| Lots value | £439,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | ASTON UNIVERSITY |
| Locality | BIRMINGHAM |
| Post town | Birmingham |
| Postcode | B4 7ET |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands |
| ITL 3 | TLG31 Birmingham |
| Local authority | Birmingham |
| Electoral ward | Nechells |
| Westminster constituency | Birmingham Ladywood |
| Delivery location | TLG31 Birmingham |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 48 - Software package and information systems

### Codes

- 48000000 - Software package and information systems

## Release History

- 17 Apr 2026 at 12:30 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035203-2026
- 28 Jan 2026 at 09:13 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007373-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035203-2026
  17th April 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007373-2026
  28th January 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=a8c9cdbb-493a-f111-813c-005056b64545
- https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=f453b617-4924-f011-8136-005056b64545
- https://www.aston.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-06105b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06105b.json.