Find a TenderAwarded without competitionTransparency notice
Published 17 May 2026, 19:11 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Transparency Notice - Direct Award of ERP System (Finance and Procure‑to‑Pay)

Official notice

Authority: Arts University Bournemouth (Education)

Direct award
Awarded value£424,183published award · exc. VAT
Award in standstill Not publishedno call for competition
Award (standstill) to Access UK Ltd

What is being bought

Published requirement description

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.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Direct award
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Notice status
Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
17 May 2026, 19:11 BST
Last source update
17 May 2026, 19:11 BST
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-045164
Latest notice
Transparency notice (UK5)
Delivery area
South West (UKK24)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-069a9a Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
Published justification

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.

Notice history

2 events · 1 release on Find a Tender · since 17 May 2026
  1. Transparency notice published
    17 May 2026, 19:11 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract signature expected
    1 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1some still in standstill
Awarded value £424,1831 award exc. VAT
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Access UK Ltd31 Dec 2026 – 30 Dec 2029 · up to 30 Dec 2030Extensions: The Authority proposes a single extension of up to one year, to be exercised at its discretion. This extension may be utilised where additional time is required to complete a compliant procurement process, including market engagement, specification development, and contract award, or where there is a continued need to ensure continuity of critical financial and procurement system operations. Any decision to exercise the extension will be subject to internal governance approval and ongoing assessment of value for money and operational requirements. · Options: consulting manhours to help is trouble shooting£424,183—Standstill

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Arts University Bournemouth

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PVCG-5182-VTDJ 7 Fern Barrow, Wallisdown, Poole, South West, BH125HHContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • Access UK LimitedAwarded supplierGB-COH: 02343760GB-PPON: PBNW-7697-HCPQ Armstrong Building Oakwood Drive, Loughborough, East Midlands, LE11 3QFContact email

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender