Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
OPEN UNIVERSITY(THE)
The Vice-Chancellors Office,Walton Hall
MILTON KEYNES
MK76AA
Contact
Procurement Team
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ12 - Milton Keynes
Charity Commission (England and Wales)
RC000391
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://about.open.ac.uk/governance-ou/procurement-services/procurement-open-university
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
Supply of STRATUM software
Reference number
OUPA10613
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Supply of STRATUM software
This is a voluntary ex ante transparency notice for the Open University's intention to award a contract.
The Open University (OU) intends to award a contract for 2 years with an option of further annual extensions up a maximum of five years in total for the maintenance of its current alumni, donor, and business engagement customer relationship management system (Current application STRATUM).
The STRATUM application is owned, supplied and supported exclusively by ClearCourse, a company which specialises in software membership and external relationship management.
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: £550,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ12 - Milton Keynes
Main site or place of performance
Milton Keynes
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This is a voluntary ex ante transparency notice for the Open University's intention to award a contract.
The Open University (OU) intends to award a contract for 2 years with an option of further annual extensions up a maximum of five years in total for the maintenance of its current alumni, donor, and business engagement customer relationship management system (Current application STRATUM).
The STRATUM application is owned, supplied and supported exclusively by ClearCourse, a company which specialises in software membership and external relationship management.
The OU has identified that this is currently the only viable option to deliver major external compliance requirements and meet income generation targets in the areas of industry research and philanthropy, whilst maintaining the current core business that is achievable within the OU's capital and revenue budget and staff capacity.
Since the system was installed some years ago, the OU has made substantial investment in STRATUM terms of process, infrastructure, staff skills and capabilities. The suite of software provides a range of capabilities developed specifically for the OU, including a research management system, legacy management system and preference centre. Upgrades have provided a staff and alumni portal which is driven from the data held in the STRATUM database and in, further development of online giving pages and payment system for alumni has also recently taken place. The STRATUM application has also required the OU to make additional substantial investment in terms of integrations into the rest of the OU's technical estate (which is complex and contains a number of bespoke legacy systems), the finance system and a separate data warehouse.
The OU has identified that for reasons of technical complexity, compatibility, continuity, the need to minimise disruption to core business and the need to introduce greater resilience for existing systems, that only the products, services and support provided by ClearCourse are capable of meeting the OU's requirement.
It is envisaged that the maximum value of the contract will be 500,000 GBP.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Initial 2 year term with an option of further annual extensions up a maximum of five years in total.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
This is a voluntary ex ante transparency notice for the Open University's intention to award a contract.
The Open University (OU) intends to award a contract for 2 years with an option of further annual extensions up a maximum of five years in total for the maintenance of its current alumni, donor, and business engagement customer relationship management system (Current application STRATUM).
The STRATUM application is owned, supplied and supported exclusively by ClearCourse, a company which specialises in software membership and external relationship management.
The OU has identified that this is currently the only viable option to deliver major external compliance requirements and meet income generation targets in the areas of industry research and philanthropy, whilst maintaining the current core business that is achievable within the OU's capital and revenue budget and staff capacity.
Since the system was installed some years ago, the OU has made substantial investment in STRATUM terms of process, infrastructure, staff skills and capabilities. The suite of software provides a range of capabilities developed specifically for the OU, including a research management system, legacy management system and preference centre. Upgrades have provided a staff and alumni portal which is driven from the data held in the STRATUM database and in, further development of online giving pages and payment system for alumni has also recently taken place. The STRATUM application has also required the OU to make additional substantial investment in terms of integrations into the rest of the OU's technical estate (which is complex and contains a number of bespoke legacy systems), the finance system and a separate data warehouse.
The OU has identified that for reasons of technical complexity, compatibility, continuity, the need to minimise disruption to core business and the need to introduce greater resilience for existing systems, that only the products, services and support provided by ClearCourse are capable of meeting the OU's requirement.
It is envisaged that the maximum value of the contract will be 500,000 GBP.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
OUPA10613
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
26 March 2024
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
ClearCourse Membership Services Limited
107 Cheapside, London, England, EC2V 6DN
London
EC2V 6DN
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
Companies House
01811900
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £550,000
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £550,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
N/A
N/A
Country
United Kingdom