---
title: "Software-as-a-Service-based solution for research and knowledge exchange administration"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f84c"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f84c"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f84c.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f84c.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD(THE)"
published: "2026-09-11"
---

# Software-as-a-Service-based solution for research and knowledge exchange administration

Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD(THE)  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f84c

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## Summary

The University of Salford procured a software-as-a-service solution for administering research and knowledge exchange. The scope covers the full project lifecycle, including pre-award and post-award projects, contracts, researcher and organisational profiles, the Research Excellence Framework, research impact, outputs and repository functions. This is a software and information-systems requirement rather than a construction or physical-goods supply. The solution is intended to support the university’s research administration and knowledge-exchange operations through an integrated platform. The contracting authority is the University of Salford, based in Salford. Delivery is for the university’s operations in the United Kingdom. The requirement was treated as a single lot and the selected supplier is WorkTribe Ltd, an SME headquartered in Bristol.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a direct award. WorkTribe Ltd was selected on 11 September 2026 for the single lot. The award is valued at £736,999 excluding VAT and £884,398.80 including VAT. The award contract period runs from 27 January 2027 to 26 January 2032, with signature scheduled by 1 November 2026. The buyer justified the direct award because WorkTribe provides the existing research information system, which is deeply embedded in university systems and daily operations. Existing custom integrations, APIs and data-mapping profiles were built specifically for that system; moving provider was assessed as creating disproportionate risks around technical transition, data fragmentation, migration failure, integration complexity and material data loss. The award is above the relevant threshold.

For a future requirement of this kind, credible suppliers would need a mature research and knowledge-exchange administration platform covering pre-award and post-award project management, contracts, profiles, REF activity, impact, outputs and repositories. This buyer’s procurement also demonstrates the importance of proven integration with university systems and established operational workflows. Competitors would need the technical capability to design, maintain and support substantial custom integrations, APIs and data-mapping profiles, while preserving data continuity across a complex research-information environment. Evidence of successful implementation in a university or similarly data-intensive organisation would help demonstrate practical experience. Suppliers should also be able to manage migration, interoperability and information-governance risks convincingly, because continuity of service and avoidance of data fragmentation were central to the selected supplier’s position.

## Notice

A Software-as-a-Service-based solution for research and knowledge exchange administration covering pre and post award projects, contracts, profiles, REF, impact, and outputs/repository.

### Procurement Information

Worktribe provides the current research information system. This infrastructure is heavily embedded into the University's systems and daily operational processes. Significant custom integrations, APIs, and data mapping profiles have been specifically built to function exclusively with this system. Transitioning to an alternative provider at this stage would introduce severe, disproportionate technical difficulties, including data fragmentation and migration failure, integration complexities, and risk of material loss to the University.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086540-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 11 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 11 Sep 2026 |
| Contract period | 27 Jan 2027 - 26 Jan 2032 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £736,999 |
| 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 | UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD(THE) |
| Locality | SALFORD |
| Postcode area | Manchester |
| Postcode | M5 4WT |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD3 Greater Manchester |
| ITL 3 | TLD34 Greater Manchester South West |
| Local authority | Salford |
| Electoral ward | Ordsall |
| Westminster constituency | Salford |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

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

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 48 - Software package and information systems

### Codes

- 48000000 - Software package and information systems

## Release History

- 11 Sep 2026 at 15:15 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086540-2026
- 11 Sep 2026 at 15:01 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086518-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086540-2026
  11th September 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086518-2026
  11th September 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.worktribe.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-06f84c. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f84c.json.