Student and Curriculum Management Systems

The purpose of publishing this document is to invite expression of interest from suppliers who have the capability to provide the next iteration of the University's Integrated Student System (ISS). The current contract for the ISS expires in December 2024. Expressions of interest will allow the University to better understand the capacity and appetite of the market to deliver an Integrated Student System in line with our requirements.

A key role of the ISS is as the identity provider for students, which in turn, provides details for Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) system that manages student access to the ISS and other network and student systems.

The ISS operates in a Microsoft / SQL environment, using a VMWare enabled SAN split across two datacentres, (one on each campus, linked by private dark fibre). The ISS also integrates with the University's primarily Microsoft communication and collaboration tools, Teams, One-Drive, MS Exchange, Stream, MS Telephony and MS365 integration. All systems are also protected by secure snapshot and log-file back-ups and are supported with for example Power BI for enabling analytics, including for the verifiable proofs needed, e.g. for UKVI.

All systems including the ISS are protected by (and need to be compliant with) common security technologies and methods, including, for example, Delineated VLANs, Role Based Access, Insider Protection / Firewalling, Multi Factor Authentication, Mobile Device Management and Virtual Private Network for off-site access.

The University cannot contemplate business interruption - all systems operate 24/7/365. Any new or altered system(s) must be familiar and proven in the HEI sector and must be capable of seamless implementation.

The University also has limited opportunity to disrupt its workflows, as recruitment, retention, and the cycle of the academic year leaves no part of the year when a system can be taken off-line to be replaced, in part or in full.

Although we are objective in terms of hosting arrangements, we believe the existing supported on-premises configuration, with established system interfaces, offers the most reliable, familiar and secure form of delivery. Changing this would have to recognise the contract date as well as the review of custom interfaces and staff skills.

The University cannot risk fragmenting student records - including regulated retention of awards, and award data. Solutions must address archival, as well as active records.

For full details of our requirements, please see the attached document, which is also available at https://help.chi.ac.uk/tenders

We have not set out any format for a submission. It would be helpful if you can get in touch with us as soon as possible, if you consider that you have a product offer that can meet the requirements, Please contact us with details via email to tenders@chi.ac.uk. The final date for making an Expression of Interest is (27/09/24 @ 12:00 GMT mid-day).