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
Telephone
+44 1443482386
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKL - Wales
Internet address(es)
Main address
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