--- title: "Transparency Notice - Direct Award of ERP System (Finance and Procure-to-Pay)" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-069a9a" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-069a9a" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069a9a.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069a9a.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "ARTS UNIVERSITY BOURNEMOUTH" published: "2026-05-17" --- # Transparency Notice - Direct Award of ERP System (Finance and Procure-to-Pay) Buyer: ARTS UNIVERSITY BOURNEMOUTH Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-069a9a [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-069a9a) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069a9a.json) ## Summary The contracting process for a transparency notice involves a direct award by Arts University Bournemouth, located in Poole, UK, for an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, including finance and procure-to-pay modules, to Access UK Limited. The procurement falls under the services category, specifically pertaining to enterprise resource planning software development services, and the total contract value is £509,020. The award is scheduled to be signed on 1st June 2026, with the contract period spanning from 31st December 2026 to 30th December 2029, and potentially extendable by a year. The procurement process, classified as a direct award, is justified by the technical reasons for keeping the existing system to ensure continuity and avoid the complexities of switching suppliers. This tender represents a critical opportunity for businesses involved in ERP solutions and related technical services. As Arts University Bournemouth seeks to continue its operations seamlessly, companies offering consultancy services, particularly those with resources to troubleshoot and provide ongoing support, may find this contract of interest. Given Access UK Limited's role as the incumbent supplier, businesses capable of facilitating the transition in the future or providing additional support services may also find potential growth avenues in forming strategic partnerships or offering complementary services. The focus is on ensuring continuity and technical stability, which offers opportunities for consultancy and technical support providers experienced in complex system integration and management. ## Notice The Authority intends to award a contract to continue the provision of its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, including finance, procurement, and invoicing modules (Access Dimensions, FocalPoint, and Lightyear). The system supports core financial operations, including general ledger, accounts payable, and procure-to-pay workflows, and is fully embedded across the Authority's operational processes. ### Procurement Information The Authority is awarding this contract directly to the incumbent supplier, The Access Group, on the basis of single supplier availability due to technical reasons. The current Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system (Access Dimensions, FocalPoint, and Lightyear) is business-critical and fully embedded within the Authority's financial and procurement operations. The system supports core functions including general ledger, accounts payable, and procure-to-pay workflows, and is integrated across multiple operational processes. Due to this level of technical integration, transitioning to an alternative supplier would require full system replacement, including data migration, reconfiguration of interfaces and integrations, and retraining of users. This would result in: * Disproportionate financial cost relative to the value of the contract * Significant technical complexity and implementation risk * Potential disruption to critical finance and payment operations The Authority has therefore determined that no reasonable alternative supplier can be engaged at this time without incurring disproportionate cost and disruption. This direct award is intended as a transitional arrangement to ensure continuity of service while allowing time for the Authority to review its requirements and undertake a compliant future procurement process. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045164-2026 | | Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Direct | | Procurement method details | Direct award | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Large | | All stages | Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 17 May 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 17 May 2026 | | Contract period | 31 Dec 2026 - 30 Dec 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | £424,183 | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Complete | | Awards status | Pending | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | ARTS UNIVERSITY BOURNEMOUTH | | Locality | POOLE | | Post town | Bournemouth | | Postcode | BH12 5HH | | 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 | Not specified | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | ACCESS | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ### Codes - 72212451 - Enterprise resource planning software development services ## Release History - 17 May 2026 at 18:11 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045164-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045164-2026 17th May 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://www.theaccessgroup.com - 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-069a9a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069a9a.json.