--- title: "Award for provision of specialist pensions advice - University of Aberdeen" ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000827972" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000827972" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000827972.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000827972.json" source: "Public Contracts Scotland" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN" published: "2026-03-30" --- # Award for provision of specialist pensions advice - University of Aberdeen Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000827972 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000827972) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000827972.json) ## Summary The contracting process for specialist pensions advice was completed by the University of Aberdeen, situated in Aberdeen, Scotland (region UKM50). This award, designated under contract ID AU25/61, focused on the provision of services within the education sector. The tender was awarded following a limited procurement method without prior publication of a call for competition, as per Regulation 33 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. This decision, made to maintain continuity with Mercer Limited, was based on technical reasons related to their existing in-depth knowledge and previous advisory experience. The contract was signed on 30 March 2026, with a value of £100,000.00 GBP. This procurement offers businesses specialising in pension advisory services opportunities to engage with educational institutions that require comprehensive technical expertise and continuity in service provision. Although this award highlights Mercer Limited as the successful supplier due to its established rapport and accumulated institutional understanding, similar opportunities may be ideal for large entities with robust experience in handling legacy fund decisions and complex actuarial analysis. The contracting process ensures efficiency and continuation of ongoing financial strategies without disruption, benefiting suppliers with similar profiles. Businesses looking to grow in the public sector niche should focus on developing detailed technical knowledge and longstanding advisory relationships to compete effectively for such contracts. ## Notice Award for provision of specialist pensions advice - University of Aberdeen ### Lot Information Lot 1 Award for provision of specialist pensions advice - University of Aberdeen ### Procurement Information Under Regulation 33 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, a contracting authority may award a contract without prior publication under specific limited circumstances, which include: The absence of competition for technical reasons; or When changing supplier would cause disproportionate technical difficulties. Mercer has acted as the organisation's pension fund advisor previously, during which they have accrued deep institutional knowledge, detailed understanding of legacy fund decisions, actuarial assumptions, long-term funding strategies, employer-specific risk profiles, and historic governance matters Continuity maintains efficiency and prevents duplication of prior analysis. Transitioning pension advisory services to a new provider would require: A full transfer of historic actuarial data, funding models, demographic analysis, and long-term modelling assumptions; Extensive re-familiarisation by a new advisor, significantly increasing risk of misinterpretation, delay, or faulty modelling; Disruption to ongoing reviews, employer contribution setting, triennial valuation processes, and governance cycles. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland | | Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR552770 | | Notice type | PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Limited | | Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Large | | All stages | Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 30 Mar 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 30 Mar 2026 | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | £100,000 | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Complete | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Active | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN | | Locality | ABERDEEN | | Post town | Aberdeen | | Postcode | AB24 3FX | | Country | Scotland | | ITL 1 | TLM Scotland | | ITL 2 | TLM5 North Eastern Scotland | | ITL 3 | TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire | | Local authority | Aberdeen City | | Electoral ward | Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen | | Westminster constituency | Aberdeen North | | Delivery location | TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | MERCER | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 66 - Financial and insurance services ### Codes - 66523000 - Pension fund consultancy services ## Release History - 30 Mar 2026 at 00:00 - Award - PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR552770 ## Documents - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR552770 Award for provision of specialist pensions advice - University of Aberdeen - Award for provision of specialist pensions advice - University of Aberdeen ## Notice URLs - http:// - http://www.abdn.ac.uk/procurement - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000827972 ## 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-r6ebe6-0000827972. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000827972.json.