Find a TenderAwardedContract details notice
Published 19 Jan 2026, 17:00 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

ACE - Provision of Financial Management System

Official notice

Authority: Academies for Character & Excellence (Central government)·On behalf of: PHP LAW LLP

GoodsOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitable
Published estimate£250,000≈ £63k / year · £300,000 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 23 Mar 2026awarded 28 Apr 2026
Awarded to IPLICIT LIMITED
Contract term 4 yrsends 31 Aug 2030 · up to 31 Aug 2032 with extensions · starts 1 Sept 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

This tender opportunity has been issued by Academies for Character and Excellence (the Trust) and Tenderers were invited to tender for the provision of Financial Management System. Full details of all contract requirements are given in document Document 2. Specification of Requirement. The Trust comprises multiple academies operating under a unified governance structure and financial framework. To support effective financial oversight and ensure regulatory compliance, the Trust required a fully integrated Finance System. The system must enable compliant financial management in accordance with the Academies Trust Handbook (ATH), all ESFA reporting obligations, and the Trust's Finance Policy.

  • The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 5 Jan 2032, 23:59 GMT.

CPV: Financial analysis and accounting software package · Software package and information systems

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1AwardedRenewal 4 yrsSMEPublished value£250,000
Contract period: 1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2030 (4 yrs) · up to 31 Aug 2032 with extensionsValue: £250,000 exc. VAT · £300,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: South WestEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: To enable further schools to be added to the contract as they join the Trust and to enable additional modules or services in relation to the software. · 4 year term with the option of two further 1 year extensions (4+1+1)
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2
  • Economic & financial standing

    Financial Capacity Assessment: Bidders must demonstrate that their financial position is sufficiently robust to support both the implementation and ongoing delivery of the Finance System. Bidders must provide their audited financial statements for the previous two financial years. Where audited accounts are not available, bidders should provide certified accounts or equivalent financial information. Bidders should disclose any known events that may materially impact their financial position during the contract term (for example, planned sale, refinancing, or restructuring). Minimum Turnover Requirement The bidder’s annual turnover must be at least two times the estimated annual contract value. Net Asset Position Bidders must demonstrate a positive net asset position in their most recent financial statements Liquidity and Access to Financial Resources Bidders must demonstrate access to adequate financial resources to support ongoing business operations and contractual commitments. Revenue Model Stability Bidders must describe their revenue model, including the proportion of income that is recurring, contractually committed, or otherwise predictable. The Trust will assess the economic and financial standing of bidders to ensure that the successful supplier has the financial capacity and resilience required to deliver the contract for its full duration. The Trust is seeking a financially resilient supplier capable of sustaining long-term service delivery. The assessment is designed to ensure resilience rather than favour organisations of a particular size. The assessment will be conducted in accordance with the principles of proportionality, transparency, and equal treatment. Insurance requirements - can commit to obtain, prior to the award of the contract, the levels of insurance cover indicated below a. Employer’s (Compulsory) Liability Insurance* = £5m b. Public Liability Insurance = £5m c. Professional Indemnity Insurance = £1m d. Product Liability Insurance = £1m e. Cyber and Data Protection Insurance = £1m

  • Technical & professional ability

    Relevant experience and contract examples Please provide details of up to three contracts to meet conditions of participation relating to technical ability set out in the relevant notice or procurement documents, in any combination from either the public or private sectors (which may include samples of grant-funded work). The examples must be from the past three years. To constitute a pass, the minimum of two contract examples provided shall be relevant to the complexity of the requirement, with a sufficient level of detail that provides confidence in the Tenderer’s established past experience in similar and relevant projects/contracts. Organisational Standards Please provide details of the organisational standards and certifications your organisation holds that are relevant to the delivery of this contract, including (but not limited to) Quality Management and Information Security standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 27001, or equivalent internationally recognised certifications. You must confirm that the scope of these certifications explicitly covers the services proposed within this procurement. Where equivalent standards are offered, please explain how they meet or exceed the requirements of the specified ISO standards. Bidders must submit the following evidence:

    • Copies of current certification issued by an accredited certification body.
    • A copy of the certification scope statement demonstrating that the services being procured fall within the accredited scope.
    • Confirmation of certification validity dates.
    • Details of any non-conformities identified during the most recent audit and the corrective actions taken.

What it takes to win
i

How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
How bids were scored
Quality: 65%Price: 35%
Published sub-criteria (10)
  • Implementation & Transition Delivery: 5%
  • Quality of People & Support Team: 5.5%
  • Customer Retention & Client Success: 4.5%
  • Service Support Model & Responsiveness: 3%
  • Contract Management & Strategic Partnership: 2%
  • Service Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement: 2%
  • Innovation, Product Roadmap & Future Fit: 1.5%
  • Complaint Resolution & Escalation: 1.5%
  • Software Functionality: 40%
  • Price: 35%
Published award criteria (10)
  • Implementation & Transition Delivery
  • Quality of People & Support Team
  • Customer Retention & Client Success
  • Service Support Model & Responsiveness
  • Contract Management & Strategic Partnership
  • Service Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement
  • Innovation, Product Roadmap & Future Fit
  • Complaint Resolution & Escalation
  • Software Functionality: Importance of Requirement: High = 25% Medium = 10% Low = 5%
  • Price: Whole life contract cost
Conditions of participation2
  • Economic & financial standing

    Financial Capacity Assessment: Bidders must demonstrate that their financial position is sufficiently robust to support both the implementation and ongoing delivery of the Finance System. Bidders must provide their audited financial statements for the previous two financial years. Where audited accounts are not available, bidders should provide certified accounts or equivalent financial information. Bidders should disclose any known events that may materially impact their financial position during the contract term (for example, planned sale, refinancing, or restructuring). Minimum Turnover Requirement The bidder’s annual turnover must be at least two times the estimated annual contract value. Net Asset Position Bidders must demonstrate a positive net asset position in their most recent financial statements Liquidity and Access to Financial Resources Bidders must demonstrate access to adequate financial resources to support ongoing business operations and contractual commitments. Revenue Model Stability Bidders must describe their revenue model, including the proportion of income that is recurring, contractually committed, or otherwise predictable. The Trust will assess the economic and financial standing of bidders to ensure that the successful supplier has the financial capacity and resilience required to deliver the contract for its full duration. The Trust is seeking a financially resilient supplier capable of sustaining long-term service delivery. The assessment is desig…

  • Technical & professional ability

    Relevant experience and contract examples Please provide details of up to three contracts to meet conditions of participation relating to technical ability set out in the relevant notice or procurement documents, in any combination from either the public or private sectors (which may include samples of grant-funded work). The examples must be from the past three years. To constitute a pass, the minimum of two contract examples provided shall be relevant to the complexity of the requirement, with a sufficient level of detail that provides confidence in the Tenderer’s established past experience in similar and relevant projects/contracts. Organisational Standards Please provide details of the organisational standards and certifications your organisation holds that are relevant to the delivery of this contract, including (but not limited to) Quality Management and Information Security standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 27001, or equivalent internationally recognised certifications. You must confirm that the scope of these certifications explicitly covers the services proposed within this procurement. Where equivalent standards are offered, please explain how they meet or exceed the requirements of the specified ISO standards. Bidders must submit the following evidence:

    • Copies of current certification issued by an accredited certification body.
    • A copy of the certification scope statement demonstrating that the services being procured fall within the accredited scope.
    • Confir…
What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 35 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3.5 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.

Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Goods
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
Yes · next expected 5 Jan 2032
First published
19 Jan 2026, 17:00 GMT
Last source update
17 May 2026, 18:28 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 11 May 2026
Authority reference
ACE01.76
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-014023
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Classification (CPV)
Financial analysis and accounting software packageSoftware package and information systems
Delivery area
South West (UKK)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06093e Find a Tender
Contract terms summary
  1. The Trust requires the following payment profile: a. Implementation Costs i. 25% invoiced upon Contract Signature ii. 25% invoiced upon completion of the build iii. 25% following completion of testing iv. 25% following go live plus 1 month b. Table B All Inclusive Cost i. Quarterly invoicing, 1st Invoice 2 months in Arrears following Go Live. Where it has been identified, and agreed, that adjustments are required (in respect of service credits, additional works, errors or omissions), these will be taken account of within the next invoice.
Review and risk notes
Risks

Key risks in finance system contracts for schools: Financial risks: Higher-than-expected costs, hidden charges, poor value for money. Contract risks: Long, inflexible contracts, high exit fees, supplier lock‑in. Data & cyber risks: GDPR breaches, weak security, system outages. Operational risks: System downtime, poor usability, inadequate support and training. Compliance risks: Failure to meet DfE/LA requirements, weak audit trails. Implementation risks: Poor data migration, ineffective change management. Fraud & control risks: Weak approval controls, segregation of duties, payment errors. Strategic risks: Supplier failure, system becoming outdated or unsupported. Overall impact: Financial loss, non‑compliance, operational disruption, and reputational damage.

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: EU-Supply (CTM) · Who buys & how to bid on EU-Supply
Public notice page · account needed to bidElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free · 5–10 minutes
Submission deadline
23 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
Clarification deadline
13 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

19 Jan 2026 → 1 Sept 2026 · 10 dates
  1. Planning notice published281 days ago
    19 Jan 2026, 17:00 GMT
  2. Market engagement263 days ago
    6 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT

    uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_… ↗ This pre-market engagement exercise is intended to help shape the Trust’s detailed requirements, commercial approach, and implementation planning. Suppliers will be offered a 1-hour slot on the 4th or 5th of February for a brief meeting/demo focussed on specific areas of enquiry which will be provided in advance. If you wish to book in a slot, please message the request through the tendering portal EU Supply with your email address with your preferred date and time for the 4th or 5th February. Slots will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. Once all slots are booked out we will have to respectfully decline any further requests. However all information from these meetings will be shared within the tender pack, where it has been deemed as not commercially sensitive.

  3. Next notice expected256 days ago
    13 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
  4. Tender notice published253 days ago
    16 Feb 2026, 16:52 GMT
  5. Clarification questions by229 days ago
    13 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
  6. Submission deadline219 days ago
    23 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
  7. Assessment summaries sent182 days ago
    29 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST
  8. Award decision expected by169 days ago
    11 May 2026, 23:59 BST
  9. Latest notice published163 days ago
    17 May 2026, 18:28 BST
  10. Contract starts57 days ago
    1 Sept 2026

Notice history

11 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 19 Jan 2026
  1. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    19 Jan 2026, 17:00 GMT
    UK2
  2. Tender notice published
    16 Feb 2026, 16:52 GMT
    UK4
  3. Status changed to active
    16 Feb 2026, 16:52 GMT
  4. Procurement method changed
    16 Feb 2026, 16:52 GMT
  5. Deadline published: 23 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
    16 Feb 2026, 16:52 GMT
  6. Buyer details updated
    16 Feb 2026, 16:52 GMT
  7. Contract award notice published
    29 Apr 2026, 13:35 BST
    UK6
  8. Status changed to complete
    29 Apr 2026, 13:35 BST
  9. Buyer details updated
    29 Apr 2026, 13:35 BST
  10. Contract signature expected
    12 May 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled
  11. Contract details notice published
    17 May 2026, 18:28 BST
    UK7
Routine re-releases (4)
  • 2026-01: 1 release · 19 Jan 2026

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £250,0001 award exc. VAT
Bids received 54 from SMEs
Contracts signed 1latest 14 May 2026
Awarded toValueDateStatus
IPLICIT LIMITED12 May 2026 – 11 May 2030 · up to 11 May 2032Extensions: 4 year term with the option of two further 1 year extensions (4+1+1) · Options: The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid. To enable further schools to be added to the contract as they join the Trust and to enable additional modules or services in relation to the software.£250,00028 Apr 2026Awarded

Contracts

  • ACE - Provision of Financial Management System · IPLICIT LIMITED

    Signed
    14 May 2026
    Value
    £250,000
    Period
    14 May 2026 – 13 May 2030 · up to 11 May 2032 with extensions
    Status
    active
    Extensions
    4 year term with the option of two further 1 year extensions (4+1+1)
    Options
    The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid. To enable further schools to be added to the contract as they join the Trust and to enable additional modules or services in relation to the software.
    1 agreed KPI: System Uptime Commitment
    • System Uptime Commitment, Target Availability 99.8% of Actual Uptime

Bid statistics published by the authority

BidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
5final-stage tenders · 14 at stage one40—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

3 public bodies on the notice

Academies for Character & Excellence

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PYNM-4868-XBBN Pathfields, Totnes, South West, TQ9 5TZContact name, email

Consortium members and other public bodies

  • PHP LAW LLPProcess contact pointProcuring entityPublic authority - sub-central governmentProcurement ConsultantGB-COH: OC429243GB-PPON: PPRM-9434-VNYQ Totnes, South WestContact email
  • THE ACADEMIES FOR CHARACTER AND EXCELLENCEContracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central governmentGB-COH: 10098444GB-PPON: PYNM-4868-XBBN Totnes, South WestContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • IPLICIT LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: 07194134GB-PPON: PVDM-5962-ZZWY 1st Floor At Bobby's The Square, 2-12 Commercial Road, Bournemouth, South West, BH2 5LPContact email

Official documents & specifications (4)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure