University IT deal up worth up to £150m for grabs

University of Manchester is overhauling its IT procurement strategy

The University of Manchester is on the hunt for a partner to help it adopt an as-a-service IT model in a deal worth up to £150m.

According to a recently published Prior Information Notice (PIN), the university is now pursuing a "phased sourcing" strategy, under which it intends to fulfil new IT requirements using an as-a-service model, rather than building and running its own solutions in house. On top of this, it plans to replace and modernise its systems to ensure it remains "in step with the anticipated needs to students and staff".

"The university is now looking to adopt a new IT delivery model, whereby it will contract with a third-party IT provider (or potentially more than one provider) capable of delivering the bulk of the anticipated IT Strategic Plan over the years ahead," the PIN said.

"Under this model, the intention is that the university would always retain the right to select other providers for specific technical requirements or in the event that the chosen IT provider does not provide a compelling commercial or service delivery capability."

Execution of its new IT plan will require an investment from the university of between £50m and £150m over the next three to five years, the university claims.

It hopes the new model will help it achieve: better access to specialist IT skills; better integration between IT services; a simplified approach to IT; greater value for money; and greater levels of certainty that projects will be delivered on time and on budget.