AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
The University of Glasgow published a direct award for higher education rankings and reputation management services to MSHARE HONG KONG LIMITED. The notice records a signed contract value of £599,000, while the associated lot is marked cancelled, creating a status inconsistency.
Published outcomeOne active award is recorded for MSHARE HONG KONG LIMITED. Contract data states that a £599,000 contract was signed on 8 September 2026.
Market significanceThis is a £599,000 direct award in education-related data services, justified by claimed technical reasons and made without prior publication of a competition.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
1 supplier record analysed
MSHARE HONG KONG LIMITED
97% confidenceAward 096814-2026-PURCH3011- PPE1005178-1 · Lots 1 · 599000 GBP · Active award; active signed contract recorded
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The active award names MSHARE HONG KONG LIMITED as supplier for lot 1. Its linked contract is active, valued at GBP 599,000, and records a signature date of 8 September 2026.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Notice publication
99% confidence14 October 2026
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Process published_at and release history both state 2026-10-14T09:58:00+01:00.
Award status
98% confidenceActive
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Award 096814-2026-PURCH3011- PPE1005178-1 has status active.
Contract status
98% confidenceActive
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Contract 096814-2026-PURCH3011- PPE1005178-1 has status active.
Contract signature
99% confidence8 September 2026
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Contract dateSigned is 2026-09-08T00:00:00+01:00.
Lot status
99% confidenceCancelled
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Lot 1 is recorded with status cancelled in the tender data.
VALUES
Published values explained
Signed contract value
99% confidence£599,000
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The linked contract value is amount 599000, currency GBP.
Value allocation
91% confidenceAllocated to the single linked award; no separate lot value published
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The contract links to the sole award, which is linked to lot 1. No lot-level value is provided.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Contract signed
99% confidence8 September 2026
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Contract dateSigned is 2026-09-08T00:00:00+01:00.
Award and contract notice published
99% confidence14 October 2026
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The release history identifies an award, contract notice dated 2026-10-14T09:58:00+01:00.
Contract start
99% confidenceUnknown
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No contract start date is supplied.
Contract end
99% confidenceUnknown
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No contract end date is supplied.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Requirement
99% confidenceHigher education rankings and reputation management services
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The process and lot description state this requirement.
Primary classification
99% confidenceCPV 72300000 — Data services
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The tender classification is CPV 72300000, described as Data services.
Delivery location
95% confidenceUKM82
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The tender item gives delivery region UKM82.
Lot structure
99% confidenceOne lot (lot 1)
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The tender contains a single lot, identified as 1.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procedure
99% confidenceLimited procedure: award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
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The process procurement method is limited, with method details stating an award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition.
Stated justification
98% confidenceTechnical reasons / absence of competition for technical reasons
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The rationale cites Regulations 2015-33 (1)(b)(ii) and the classification states services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to technical reasons.
Internal approval
96% confidenceInternal Procurement Policy Exception form completed
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The lot description states that an Internal Procurement Policy Exception (PPE) Form was completed.
Evaluation criteria
97% confidenceQuality 50%; price 50%
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Lot 1 award criteria list Quality at 50% and price at 50%.
Bid and competition data
99% confidenceUnknown
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No bidder count, tenderer identities, scores or evaluation results are supplied.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Signed contract record
99% confidenceA signed contract is explicitly recorded
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The contract data includes dateSigned of 8 September 2026.
Contract duration
93% confidenceMaximum period of three years stated
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Lot 1 description says 'For a maximum period of three years (3).'
Options
99% confidenceNo options
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Lot 1 hasOptions is false.
Start and end dates
99% confidenceUnknown
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No contract start or end date is supplied.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Route-to-market observation
98% confidenceThe buyer used a non-competitive direct-award route based on a stated technical-reasons rationale.
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The notice identifies a limited procedure without prior publication and cites technical reasons.
Commercial scale
99% confidence£599,000 signed contract value
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The linked contract is valued at GBP 599,000.
Duration interpretation
97% confidenceThe stated three-year period is a maximum, not a confirmed term or end date.
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The lot description uses the wording 'For a maximum period of three years (3),' while contract dates are absent.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Material status inconsistency
99% confidenceThe award and contract are active, but the only associated lot is marked cancelled.
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Award and contract statuses are active; lot 1 status is cancelled.
Date completeness
99% confidenceContract signature date is published, but contract start and end dates are not supplied.
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dateSigned is populated; contract_start_at and contract_end_at are null.
Value completeness
99% confidenceA contract-level value is published, but no separate lot value or pricing breakdown is supplied.
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Contract value is GBP 599,000; lot value fields are null.
Supplier verification
98% confidenceNo Companies House-style verified identity is supplied; supplier verification is marked not applicable.
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verified_company_name and verified_company_number are null; supplier_identity_status is not_applicable.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- The sole lot is marked cancelled while the linked award and contract are marked active; the source does not explain the discrepancy.
- Information not supplied in the published notice: contract start date, contract end date, award decision date, bidder count, tenderer identities, scores, detailed evaluation findings, lot-level value and pricing breakdown.
- The stated maximum three-year period does not establish a confirmed contractual term, start date or end date.
- No verified company identity or company number is supplied for MSHARE HONG KONG LIMITED; verification is marked not applicable.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
University of GlasgowMSHARE HONG KONG LIMITEDhigher education rankingsreputation managementdirect awarddata servicespublic procurement
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Who received the University of Glasgow rankings and reputation management award?
MSHARE HONG KONG LIMITED is named as the supplier on the active award.
What is the value of the contract?
The linked signed contract is valued at £599,000.
Was the contract competitively advertised?
No prior call for competition was published. The notice describes a limited procedure justified by technical reasons.
When was the contract signed?
The contract data records a signature date of 8 September 2026.
What is the contract duration?
The notice states a maximum period of three years, but it does not publish contract start or end dates.
ProcuraAxis award analysis supplements, but does not replace, the official award notice, contract data or procurement documents. “Awarded” does not by itself prove that a contract has been signed.