Award

Similarity Detection Systems

  • University of Ulster

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2022/S 000-018128

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-034d77

Published 4 July 2022, 12:37pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

University of Ulster

Block X Room X031, Cromore Road

Coleraine

BT52 1SA

Email

s.hanson@ulster.ac.uk

Telephone

+44 2870124227

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKN0 - Northern Ireland

National registration number

NIC100166

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.ulster.ac.uk

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

Similarity Detection Systems

Reference number

Project_27032

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 48190000 - Educational software package

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

Similarity Detection Systems

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: £168,446

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKN - Northern Ireland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Purchase of Turnitin Software which is used to detect plagiarism and is also a fundamental part of the Electronic Management of Student Assessments at Ulster University.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: N/A / Weighting: N/A

Price - Weighting: N/A

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

It is anticipated the contract will be for three (3) years with no options to extend.

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

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

two.2.14) Additional information

The estimated total value stated above in Section II.1.7 is for the full three (3) year contract period.


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Negotiated without a prior call for competition

  • The products involved are manufactured purely for the purpose of research, experiment, study or development
  • 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:

(1) Prevention of loss of historical University data

The Turnitin solution is embedded within the entire digital learning infrastructure throughout the University. lt is not technically feasible to consider another solution without a significant loss of historical information that enables the functionality of plagiarism detection throughout the University.

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

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

4 July 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

Turnitin UK

6-8 Charlotte Square

Newcastle Upon Tyne

NE1 4XF

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKC - North East (England)
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: £168,446

five.2.5) Information about subcontracting

The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

The University shall instruct a mandatory 10 day standstill period commencing on Tuesday 5th July 2022 ending at midnight Monday 18th July 2022 and will not enter into a contract until after this standstill period finishes.

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland

Royal Courts of Justice, Chichester Street

Belfast

BT1 3JY

Country

United Kingdom

six.4.3) Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures

Any proceedings alleging that the University is in breach of its duties under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 must be started in the High Court of Northern Ireland, in accordance with the time limits set out in those Regulations. The University will not enter into the contract before the end of a period of at least 10 days beginning with the day after the date on which this voluntary transparency notice is published in the Official Journal.