Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
Room G010,John Owens Building, Oxford Road
MANCHESTER
M139PL
Telephone
+44 1612752160
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKD33 - Manchester
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofmanchester/aspx/Home
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
Reference number
2021-1828-VLE2022-JL
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 48190000 - Educational software package
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Renewal of Blackboard Learn SaaS.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £2,700,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKD3 - Greater Manchester
Main site or place of performance
The University of Manchester.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Renewal of Blackboard Learn SaaS.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
3 year contract with option to extend for a further 1 x 12 month period
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
Negotiated procedure without prior publication
• The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
• absence of competition for technical reasons
The continuity of a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is business-critical to the University and renewal of the Blackboard Learn SaaS solution is essential to our student experience. Change to a new environment is not possible at this stage but the University does anticipate undertaking a procurement exercise for a replacement during the calendar year 2022
• Student Experience. Due to Covid there has been considerable disruption to the student experience and it is essential that we have minimal disruption in the short term to ensure the continuity of the online components of teaching and learning.
• We are currently undertaking a review of our requirements from a wide range of teaching and support staff across the University. The recommendations of this review is anticipated to be Spring 2022 and will be essential to shaping the specification as part of a competitive tendering process.
• Given the time-frame for the review, and the expected length of time to conduct competitive tendering, it is not feasible that a future VLE supplier could be identified much before November 2022, when our existing Blackboard contract expires.
• Sufficient time will be required to implement and configure the chosen solution and to migrate all existing course and student/staff data (c. 8,000 courses, 50,000 users). A reasonable estimate for this activity is 2-3 years, during which we will need to retain access to all Blackboard data in order to comply with data retention regulations.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
2021/1828/VLE2002/SN/JL
Title
Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
13 January 2022
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Blackboard International B.V.
Paleisstraat 1-5
1012 RB Amsterdam
Country
Netherlands
NUTS code
- NL - Netherlands
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £2,700,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The High Court of Justice of England
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
http://www.procurement.manchester.ac.uk/
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The authority will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar days standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. Applicants who are unsuccessful shall be informed by the authority as soon as possible after the decision has been made as to the reasons why the applicant was unsuccessful. If an appeal regarding the award of the contract has not been successfully resolved, the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 No 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Any such action must generally be brought within 3 months. If a declaration of ineffectiveness is sought, any such action must be brought within 30 days where the authority has communicated the award of the contract and summary of reasons to tenderers or otherwise within 6 months of the contract being entered into. Where a contract has not been entered into, the Court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the authority to amend any document and may award damages. If the contract has been entered into the Court may, depending on the circumstances, award damages, make a declaration of ineffectiveness, order the authority to pay a fine and/or order the duration of the contract to be shortened. The purpose of the standstill period referred to is to allow the parties to apply to the Courts to set aside the award decision before the contract is entered into.