University of Sunderland has published this notice through Delta eSourcing
| Notice Summary |
|---|
| Title: | AI-enabled Admissions Platform – University of Sunderland 0326 |
| Notice type: | UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice |
| Authority: | University of Sunderland |
| Nature of contract: | Supplies |
| Procedure: | Above threshold - Open procedure |
| Short Description: | The University of Sunderland (UoS) is exploring an AI-enabled Admissions platform capable of transforming the end-to-end applicant journey and addressing the limitations of our current systems, which rely heavily on manual processing and fragmented workflows and can no longer meet applicant expectations, competitive pressures, or peak period demand. UoS is broadly defining the areas as “Admissions” support in processing applications and handling offers and acceptances, and “Conversion” support, providing communications to offer-holding students to nurture them towards successful enrolment. The aim of this exercise is to understand the market’s ability to support the UoS Admissions team and International Office for the 2026/27 intakes. |
| Published: | 01/05/2026 15:31 |
AI-enabled Admissions Platform – University of Sunderland 0326
Contracting authority
- Contracting authority:
- University of Sunderland
- Public Procurement Organisation Number:
- PVDN-7726-TBVN
- Address:
5th Floor Edinburgh Building, Chester Road
Sunderland
SR1 3SD
UK- Contact name:
- Not provided
- Email:
- procurement@sunderland.ac.uk
- Telephone:
- 01915152000
- Website:
- https://neupc.delta-esourcing.com/members/university-of-sunderland
- Organisation type:
- REGIONAL_AUTHORITY
- Devolved regulations that apply:
- None
Procedure
- Procedure type:
Open procedure- Preliminary market engagement conducted:
- Not provided
- Tenders received:
- 0
- Tenders assessed:
- 0
- Tenders from SMEs:
- 0
- Tenders from VCSEs:
- 0
- Special regime:
None
Scope
- Title:
- AI-enabled Admissions Platform – University of Sunderland 0326
- Reference number:
- UOS/Admissions platform/0326
- Main category:
- SUPPLIES
- Description:
- The University of Sunderland (UoS) is exploring an AI-enabled Admissions platform capable of transforming the end-to-end applicant journey and addressing the limitations of our current systems, which rely heavily on manual processing and fragmented workflows and can no longer meet applicant expectations, competitive pressures, or peak period demand.
UoS is broadly defining the areas as “Admissions” support in processing applications and handling offers and acceptances, and “Conversion” support, providing communications to offer-holding students to nurture them towards successful enrolment.
The aim of this exercise is to understand the market’s ability to support the UoS Admissions team and International Office for the 2026/27 intakes.
To view this notice, please click here:
https://neupc.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=1033169766 - Total value (estimated):
GBP 1,200,000 including VAT- Contract dates (estimated):
- 20/09/2026 to 19/09/2031
- CPV classifications:
48000000 - Software package and information systems.- Delivery regions:
UKC23 - Sunderland
Participation
- Suitable for SMEs:
- No
- Suitable for VCSEs:
- No
Engagement
- Engagement deadline:
- 08/05/2026
- Engagement status:
The engagement has not yet been carried out.- Engagement process description:
- The purpose of this PME is to gather industry expertise and feedback that will inform the development of our final project and procurement requirements.
Objectives:
•Gain a better understanding of suppliers' capabilities, experiences, and innovations.
•Identify potential challenges and solutions relevant to the upcoming procurement project.
•Inform suppliers about the project's scope, objectives, and key requirements.
It should be understood that by participating in this market engagement, suppliers are not guaranteed to be shortlisted as part of a competitive procurement process. Should a tender be advertised, it will be compliant with the Procurement Act 2023, and all bidders will be treated equally.
The UoS is particularly interested in understanding at a high-level how such a solution could support:
•Guided, mobile-first application journeys
•Intelligent triage and pre-screening
•Automated offer making for standard courses
•AI-supported application form and document checking
•Integrated admissions and UKVI workflows
•Modern applicant portals
•Real-time dashboards for operational insight
•Seamless integration with core systems such as SITS and CAS Shield
The UoS aims to identify a scalable, compliant platform that reduces the administrative burden, improves the speed and consistency of decision-making, enhances the applicant experience and conversion, and provides a robust foundation for on-campus and future distance and flexible-delivery recruitment. We are seeking to engage with suppliers very keen to arrange a demo with you to start gaining an understanding of available products on the market.
Invitation to Conduct a System Demonstration
Demonstration Details:
Please note that whilst we aim to engage with a broad range of suppliers, it may not be possible to invite all interested parties to a meeting. Participation in this exercise is voluntary, and there is no obligation for UoS to meet with every supplier who expresses an interest.
Purpose: This session aims to provide an opportunity for you to showcase your solution. Please be advised that this is not a sales pitch, and participation does not guarantee any future work or contracts with our organisation.
Compliance Note:
This demonstration request aligns with the Procurement Act 2023, which encourages preliminary market engagement to better understand available solutions and inform procurement strategies. As per the guidance, such engagements are designed to be transparent and non-committal, ensuring a fair and open procurement process for all potential suppliers.
This PME is not a request for quotation. UoS’s current intention is to conduct an openly advertised tender process at a later stage
There is no obligation for suppliers to respond to this PME. Supplier responses (or lack thereof) to this exercise will not be used to determine which suppliers will be carried forward to the tender process or in any subsequent evaluation of supplier proposals.
Action Required:
If you wish to be considered for a demonstration session with the project team, please contact procurement@sunderland.ac.uk to register your interest with the subject heading “AI-Enabled Admissions platform 0326”.
Kindly respond with the following information by the end of Friday, 8 May 2026
Demonstrations will be online via Teams Meeting.
Specify your availability on the following dates: 15 May, 21 May, and 22 May.
Main Contact Details: Include the name, email address, and phone number of the primary contact person for the demonstration.
The UoS expects suppliers to provide a brief overview of their system that addresses the bullet points listed above. We kindly request that your response be concise, no more than one A4 page. This helps maintain a focused and efficient review process.
We look forward to your response and the opportunity to learn more about your system capabilities.
Should you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Submission
Other organisations
Not provided
Related Notice
Automated Admissions Platform – University of Sunderland 0326
Contracting authority
- Contracting authority:
- University of Sunderland
- Public Procurement Organisation Number:
- PVDN-7726-TBVN
- Address:
5th Floor Edinburgh Building, Chester Road
Sunderland
SR1 3SD
UK- Contact name:
- Not provided
- Email:
- procurement@sunderland.ac.uk
- Telephone:
- 01915152000
- Website:
- https://neupc.delta-esourcing.com/members/university-of-sunderland
- Organisation type:
- REGIONAL_AUTHORITY
- Devolved regulations that apply:
- None
Procedure
- Procedure type:
Competitive flexible procedure- Dynamic market OCID:
- Not provided
- Competitive flexible procedure description:
- This will be a three-stage above-threshold competitive flexible procedure with the intention of creating a contract with a single supplier.
The objective of this competitive flexible procedure is to identify the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT). Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the assessment criteria and percentage weightings set out within both this PSQ document and the ITT document.
Stage 1 - The Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), which will allow the University to
shortlist up to six (6) suppliers who meet the minimum requirements and score highest on the financial and technical ability questions in Parts 3 and 4. The University reserves the right to take more than six suppliers through to the ITT when PSQ scores are so close as to make it difficult to distinguish between bidders.
Stage 2 - These shortlisted suppliers will progress to the second stage of the process, the Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage, where further technical ability and qualitative elements will be tested along with pricing.
Stage 3 - Following ITT submissions and initial evaluations, the 3 highest scoring suppliers will commence a third stage where suppliers will have the opportunity to delivery as sandbox which will be scored and the Quality recalculated. Every supplier must meet the mandatory minimum requirements detailed in Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4. Any suppliers who do not meet these requirements will be deemed unsuccessful and will not be shortlisted for the ITT stage (Stage 2).
There will be no negotiation as part of this procurement - Preliminary market engagement conducted:
- Yes
- Dynamic market:
- No
- Tenders received:
- 0
- Tenders assessed:
- 0
- Tenders from SMEs:
- 0
- Tenders from VCSEs:
- 0
- Special regime:
None
Scope
- Title:
- Automated Admissions Platform – University of Sunderland 0326
- Reference number:
- UOS/Admissions platform/0326
- Main procurement category:
- SUPPLIES
- Description:
- The University of Sunderland (University) seeks to procure an Automated Admissions Platform and invites suitably qualified and experienced vendors to submit proposals. The University is seeking a modern, configurable, and automated admissions platform to manage the end-to-end admissions lifecycle for home and international applicants.
The current admissions landscape comprises legacy systems, manual processes, and fragmented workflows. Increasing application volumes, particularly for international recruitment, alongside heightened regulatory, governance, and applicant experience expectations, have driven the need for a future-proof admissions solution. The University’s strategic ambition is to improve efficiency, transparency, and decision quality, while ensuring that admissions decisions remain accountable, explainable, and compliant.
The University is looking to shortlist up to six (6) suppliers, selected via the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), to receive the ITT pack, which will provide a more detailed set of requirements (The University reserves the right to take more than six suppliers through to ITT where scores at PSQ are so close as to make it difficult to draw a distinction between suppliers).
To view this notice, please click here:
https://neupc.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=1046603196 - CPV classifications:
48000000 - Software package and information systems.- Delivery regions:
UKC23 - Sunderland- Total value (estimated):
GBP 1,200,000 including VAT
Description
- Description:
- Not provided
- Main procurement category:
- SUPPLIES
- Suitable for SMEs:
- Yes
- Suitable for VCSEs:
- No
- Contract dates (estimated):
- 16/10/2026 to 15/10/2031
- CPV classifications:
48000000 - Software package and information systems.- Contract can be extended:
- No
- Delivery regions:
UKC23 - Sunderland- Award criteria:
Name: PSQ Supplier Selection 100% / Weighting:
Documents
- Associated tender documents:
Not provided- Technical specifications:
Not provided
Submission
- Enquiry deadline:
- 03/07/2026 Time: 17:00
- Deadline for requests to participate:
- 13/07/2026 Time: 12:00
- Submission address and any special instructions:
- https://www.neupc.delta-esourcing.com/members/university-of-sunderland/
- An electronic auction will be used:
No- Languages that may be used for submission:
English- Award decision date (estimated):
- 16/10/2026
Other information
- Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation:
- Not provided
- Technical ability conditions of participation:
- Not provided
- Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP):
- No
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA):
- No
- A conflicts assessment has been prepared and revised:
- Yes
Other organisations
Not provided