University of Keele Direct Awards £1.7M Research Management System Contract to Worktribe Ltd
Summary
University of Keele published a transparency notice announcing its intention to directly award a £1.7M contract to Worktribe Ltd for provision of a consolidated, end-to-end research management system. The direct award is justified under Paragraphs 7 and 25 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023, citing substantial prior investment in system integrations, customisations, and staff training with Worktribe since 2022. The notice is published in accordance with Section 44 of the Procurement Act 2023.
What changed
The University of Keele published a transparency notice under Section 44 of the Procurement Act 2023 announcing its intention to directly award a £1.7M contract to Worktribe Ltd for research management system services. The direct award justification cites substantial existing investments in Worktribe integrations, customisations, and staff training that would be duplicated by switching suppliers, along with unacceptable mobilisation delays.\n\nThis notice does not itself constitute a contract award or create compliance obligations. It is a procedural transparency requirement under UK public procurement law. For suppliers and contractors, this illustrates the limited circumstances under which direct awards may be justified in UK public procurement.
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Archived snapshot
Apr 13, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Award
Provision of Research Management System
- University of Keele UK5: Transparency notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types
Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-033452
Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-06815b
Published 13 April 2026, 5:03pm
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Contents
Scope Contract 1. Provision of Research Management System Participation Other information Procedure Supplier Contracting authority
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Reference
KU/840/LF/TN/2026
Description
University of Keele is publishing this transparency notice to announce its intention, in accordance with its statutory obligations, to award a contract directly to Worktribe Ltd for the provision of a consolidated, end-to-end research management system.
This direct award is justified under Paragraphs 7 and 25 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023.
The services require a platform that is fully integrated with the University's existing technical estate (including HR and Finance systems), workflows, and processes. Since first procuring Worktribe in 2022, the University has made a substantial investment in system integrations, customisations, and staff training. These are now embedded in the University's research support operations.
Appointing any alternative supplier would require them to replicate this specific integration and expertise. This would necessitate a substantial duplication of effort and cost, and an unacceptable period of mobilisation, resulting in:
Potential material duplication of cost for the University (including data migration, new integrations, and staff retraining); and
Detrimental delays in the delivery of critical research support services, which would disrupt the University's research activities and prevent it from achieving its operational and financial objectives.
The award of this contract to Worktribe Ltd represents the only viable route to secure the required goods and services in a timely and cost-effective manner, as a competitive procurement process would be objectively unsuitable in these specific circumstances.
This justification is supported by precedents from other UK universities, including the University of Birmingham, the University of Greenwich, and Nottingham Trent University.
This Transparency Notice is published by the University of Keele, a contracting authority, in accordance with its statutory obligations under Section 44 of the Procurement Act 2023 to notify its intention to award a contract directly.
Disclaimer
This notice does not itself constitute an offer, an award of contract, or give rise to any implied contract. The publication of the subsequent Contract Award Notice will initiate the mandatory 8-working-day standstill period, as required by Section 51(1) of the Act.
The University will not, and cannot lawfully, enter into a contract for the required goods and services until the 8-working-day standstill period has been successfully completed. Any contract award will be confirmed through the subsequent publication of a Contract Details Notice.
Contract 1. Provision of Research Management System
Supplier
Contract value
- £1,424,104 excluding VAT
- £1,708,924.80 including VAT Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
27 April 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 27 April 2026 to 26 April 2031
- 5 years
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
Software package and information systems
Contract locations
- UKG24 - Staffordshire CC
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
Single supplier - technical reasons
University of Keele is publishing this transparency notice to announce its intention, in accordance with its statutory obligations, to award a contract directly to Worktribe Ltd for the provision of a consolidated, end-to-end research management system.
This direct award is justified under Paragraphs 7 and 25 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023.
The services require a platform that is fully integrated with the University's existing technical estate (including HR and Finance systems), workflows, and processes. Since first procuring Worktribe in 2022, the University has made a substantial investment in system integrations, customisations, and staff training. These are now embedded in the University's research support operations.
Appointing any alternative supplier would require them to replicate this specific integration and expertise. This would necessitate a substantial duplication of effort and cost, and an unacceptable period of mobilisation, resulting in:
Potential material duplication of cost for the University (including data migration, new integrations, and staff retraining); and
Detrimental delays in the delivery of critical research support services, which would disrupt the University's research activities and prevent it from achieving its operational and financial objectives.
The award of this contract to Worktribe Ltd represents the only viable route to secure the required goods and services in a timely and cost-effective manner, as a competitive procurement process would be objectively unsuitable in these specific circumstances.
This justification is supported by precedents from other UK universities, including the University of Birmingham, the University of Greenwich, and Nottingham Trent University.
This Transparency Notice is published by the University of Keele, a contracting authority, in accordance with its statutory obligations under Section 44 of the Procurement Act 2023 to notify its intention to award a contract directly.
Disclaimer
This notice does not itself constitute an offer, an award of contract, or give rise to any implied contract. The publication of the subsequent Contract Award Notice will initiate the mandatory 8-working-day standstill period, as required by Section 51(1) of the Act.
The University will not, and cannot lawfully, enter into a contract for the required goods and services until the 8-working-day standstill period has been successfully completed. Any contract award will be confirmed through the subsequent publication of a Contract Details Notice.
Supplier
WORKTRIBE LTD
- Companies House: 04576074
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PRGY-5139-LLQN Engineers House The Promenade
Bristol
BS8 3NB
United Kingdom
Email: projects@worktribe.com
Website: http://www.worktribe.com
Region: UKK11 - Bristol, City of
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. Provision of Research Management System
Contracting authority
University of Keele
- Charity Commission (England and Wales): RC000655
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PMPH-8367-VGCY Procurement Office, Directorate of Finance, Innovation Centre 1, Keele University Science and Innovation Park,
Keele, Staffordshire,
ST5 5NB
United Kingdom
Contact name: Darren Pearce
Telephone: +441782734124
Email: d.pearce@keele.ac.uk
Website: https://www.keele.ac.uk
Region: UKG24 - Staffordshire CC
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
Named provisions
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