Find a TenderAwarded without competitionContract award notice
Published 7 Oct 2026, 16:30 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Magic Square Software Service Agreement

Official notice

Authority: Coventry University (Education)

Direct awardSME suitable
Sectors: IT Services & Software (72) Delivery: UK
Awarded value£237,250published award · exc. VAT
Award in standstill 7 Oct 2026no call for competition
Award (standstill) to MAGIC SQUARE SYSTEMS LIMITED

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The Services provided under this Agreement comprise four enterprise applications developed and supported by Magic Square Systems Limited ("MSS") for Coventry University: CU ETHICS, OMIS Future Travel (OMIS FT), PGR+, and thefutureworks (TFW). Each platform is delivered as a secure ASP.NET MVC application with a SQL Server backend, fully integrated with Coventry University's Single Sign On (SSO) infrastructure and hosted within the University's dedicated environment. Together, these systems support critical operational, governance and compliance processes across research, travel, postgraduate recruitment and workforce management.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1AwardedSME

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
7 Oct 2026, 16:30 BST
Last source update
7 Oct 2026, 16:36 BST
Authority reference
PA-FRAM-1826-26-TH
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-094925
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-07831f Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
Published justification

This contract facilitates a move away from individual University Product Contracts to a Single University Co-Term Agreement. This Software Service Agreement represents a material enhancement in the level, structure and value of service provision across the four products. This contract delivers the broader scope of coverage which includes: enhanced Support & Maintenance, a more structured Continuous Improvement & Enhancements service, and the introduction of a dedicated Strategic Development Allowance that was not available under the previous SLA model. This SSA provides greater assurance, resilience and continuity across the contract term, while also creating planned capacity for product evolution, road map alignment, proactive improvements and future development. This contract is an investment in a more comprehensive, forward-looking and strategically aligned service model that better supports the long-term sustainability and development of the products. Market analysis undertaken by Coventry University has not resulted in a comparable service offering from any alternative supplier.

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

7 Oct 2026 → 19 Oct 2026 · 2 dates
  1. Notice published7 days ago
    7 Oct 2026, 16:36 BST
  2. Today
    15 Oct 2026
  3. Standstill endsin 5 days
    19 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST

Notice history

3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 7 Oct 2026
  1. Transparency notice published
    7 Oct 2026, 16:30 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract award notice published
    7 Oct 2026, 16:36 BST
    UK6
  3. Contract signature expected
    1 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMT
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1some still in standstill
Awarded value £237,2501 award exc. VAT
Awarded toValueDateStatus
MAGIC SQUARE SYSTEMS LIMITEDSME1 Nov 2026 – 31 Oct 2028 · up to 31 Oct 2029Extensions: 2+1£237,2507 Oct 2026standstill to 19 Oct 2026Standstill

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Coventry University

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PMMH-2339-NMGH Priory Street, Coventry, West Midlands, CV1 5FBContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • MAGIC SQUARE SYSTEMS LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: 03680737GB-PPON: PQYG-7349-YDLD Technocentre, Puma Way, West Midlands, West Midlands, CV1 2TTContact email

Official documents & specifications (2)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender