Award

Student Accommodation

  • University of South Wales

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-014584

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-050164

Published 11 April 2025, 12:52pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

University of South Wales

University of South Wales,, Finance Dept, Llantwit Road

Pontypridd

CF37 1DL

Email

procurement@southwales.ac.uk

Telephone

+44 1443482386

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKL - Wales

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.southwales.ac.uk/

Buyer's address

https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0315

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

Student Accommodation

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 55110000 - Hotel accommodation services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Student Accommodation through a Nominations Agreement.

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: £1,042,096

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKL22 - Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The University of South Wales requires rooms to be secured in support of student recruitment at our Cardiff campus. The requirement is for hall style rooms in Cardiff with a PBSA provider (purpose built student accommodation provider) to secure value rooms for Cardiff students.

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No


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:

In September 2024, the Contracting Authority issued a speculative notice to the market regarding a short term (1 year) contract for Student Accommodation providers. The service provider was the only person to respond to the speculative notice, as the short term nature of the contract was not technically viable for other service providers. Having a longer-term contract is not an option for the contracting authority, meaning another provider delivering the contract was a near technical impossibility. It is therefore only possible to award this contract to the provider, as there was an absence of competition.

Due to the conflicting interests of the contracting authority and provider market (i.e. short term requirement v longer term contractual preference) there is a mandatory contractual requirement which prevents any additional providers from being viable. There is no reasonable alternative or substitute. The contract is based upon service need, and the provider is the only one which can meet this technical requirement. This award is justified under Reg 32 and the contract will be awarded on this basis in compliance with the Procurement Act 2023 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2024.

To ensure the viability of this service in the future, the Contracting Authority is reviewing its processes and specification to enable them to consider procuring for a longer term contract which may be better suited to the technical requirements of the market.

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

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

9 April 2025

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

UNITE STUDENTS LIMITED

The Core, 40 St. Thomas Street

Bristol

BS16JX

Telephone

+44 7525809477

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKK23 - Somerset
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: £1,042,096


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

The University is observing a 10 day standstill period before entering into the contract. This ends at midnight on 22nd April 2025.

(WA Ref:149777)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

High Court

Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

Telephone

+44 2079477501

Country

United Kingdom