UCC to deploy web credit card system


9 May 2006

University College Cork (UCC) has issued a tender for the deployment of web-based credit card services as part of its overall e-business strategy, siliconrepublic.com has learned. The university intends to have a credit card system for collection of student fees up and running by September.

The university says it is currently involved in developing an e-business interface with its students and other customers.

In a document published on the Government’s E-tenders website the university says it is proposing to make online web payment facilities available to students.

The initiative initially will be rolled out for the collection of student fees. Web payment facilities will also be offered to conference delegates and it is envisaged that this will be the manner in which other sources of revenue within the university will be collected.

According to the tender documents UCC is pushing for a rapid deployment of the system with a tender deadline of 14 June, with the contract awarded two weeks later. It is expected that the system will begin testing in July and will be live by August — just in time for the start of the academic year.

In terms of how the contract will be awarded, UCC says that cost and pricing structure will account for 70pc of the weighting behind the decision, followed by tenderer experience (15pc) and administration of transactions (15pc).

By John Kennedy