Official UK procurement notice
Provision of Graduation Event Management Services for the University of Aberdeen
Authority: University of Aberdeen (Education)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe University requires a main contractor to support the delivery of the summer graduation ceremonies, hosted in a marquee setting on King’s Lawn. Working alongside the appointed marquee provider, the contractor will be expected to deliver a high‑quality event experience that reflects the significance and profile of graduation within the University’s academic calendar.
The summer graduation ceremonies for 2026 will take place between 29th June and 3rd July 2026 (inclusive).
In addition to the summer ceremonies, the University may require events services for the Winter Graduation ceremonies during the contract period. Winter graduation support at this stage is subject to university approval during the term of the contract. If approved, winter graduation ceremonies are anticipated to take place between 23rd and 27th November, with ceremonies expected to occur on 24th – 26th November. Winter graduations are smaller in scale and will be hosted inside Elphinstone Hall, Old Aberdeen Campus.
The anticipated contract period is 1 year, commencing 1st June 2026. Subject to satisfactory performance and mutual agreement, the University reserves the option to extend the contract for up to three additional periods of 1 year each.
- Recurrence: The anticipated timing for any further notices will depend on whether the available extensions are exercised. If no extensions are applied, the next notice would be issued at the beginning of 2027.
CPV: Event services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewal
What it takes to wini
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 morei
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).
Published sub-criteria (2)
- Technical: 70%
- price: 30%
Published award criteria (2)
- Technical: 70
- Price: 30
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 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 · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
Yes · The anticipated timing for any further notices will depend on whether the available extensions are exercised. If no extensions are applied, the next notice would be issued at the beginning of 2027.
- First published
- 11 Feb 2026, 14:01 GMT
- Last source update
- 8 May 2026, 10:16 BST
- Award evaluation window
- 16 Mar 2026 – …
- Authority reference
AU25/06- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-042313- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-064deaFind a Tender
- Electronic trading
- e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment
Publisher note: (SC Ref:831426)
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 16 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bids opened
- 16 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
Timeline
16 Mar 2026 → 8 May 2026 · 3 dates- Submission deadline220 days ago16 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Bids opened220 days ago16 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Notice published167 days ago8 May 2026, 10:16 BST
Notice history
1 event · 2 releases on Find a Tender- Status changed to complete8 May 2026, 10:16 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wavemakers LiveSME | £480,000 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 042313-2026-AU25/06-1 · Wavemakers LiveSME
- Signed
- 28 Apr 2026
- Value
- £480,000
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1bids · 1 electronic · 1 from abroad | 1 | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Aberdeen Sheriff CourtReview body
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Wavemakers LiveAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (1)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Economic and financial selection criteria