Purpose

Trading with Schools (TwS), Schools Finance Team offers a schools financial accounting software package which provides support to schools with their financial, accounting, and budgetary functions. This package is currently being purchased by a number of Bristol Schools (54 in total) but, Schools may also choose to purchase from alternative suppliers.
The existing contract ends on 30th September 2026, and unfortunately, the incumbent contractor are no longer offering this software system that is required. We obtained permission to conduct a procurement exercise, and the purpose of this report is to gain approval to contract with the successful bidder following the tender process.

Decision

Approval was granted to go out to tender following PA23 and BCC procurement rules, and the procurement exercise has now been concluded. The contract has been awarded to Blucar Solutions Ltd, and the purpose of this report is to confirm approval to contract with the successful bidder for 12 months.

Alternative options considered

The incumbent contractor informed us that they are no longer offering the existing finance system at the end of the contract period. The TwS schools finance team undertook comprehensive market research, including reviewing other alternative solutions.
It was decided that considering the potential cost to replace for BCC the entire existing system, and that alternative solutions did not offer the same functionality needs, that a new provider would be sought to commence supply for some of the existing Finance System elements and the team could provide the remaining key tasks.
The new contractor can offer the existing system required and this secures consistency for school clients.
By putting a contract in place for 1 year, it gives the team time so they can review what should happen next.