Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Queen's University Belfast
Procurement Office, University Road
Belfast
BT7 1NN
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKN - Northern Ireland
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/queensuniversitybelfast/aspx/Home
Buyer's address
https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/FinanceDirectorate/visitors/procurement/
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
QUB/2524/24 Contract for Northern Ireland Tour Operator
Reference number
QUB/2524/24
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 63500000 - Travel agency, tour operator and tourist assistance services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The University invites tenders from experienced Northern Ireland Tour Operators who will provide end-to-end planning and delivery of impactful and immersive tourism and cultural experiences for university groups.The North America team at Queen's has overarching responsibility for delivering the University's international student recruitment targets and servicing a wide variety of university partnerships in Canada and the USA. A number of these partners send large groups of students or staff to Queen’s and Belfast for programming and cultural immersion throughout the academic year. The University is keen to ensure professional delivery of Northern Ireland cultural programming and touring for partner institutions through the appointment of a Tour Operator.
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: £350,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 63500000 - Travel agency, tour operator and tourist assistance services
- 63512000 - Sale of travel tickets and package tours services
- 63510000 - Travel agency and similar services
- 63515000 - Travel services
- 63516000 - Travel management services
- 63514000 - Tourist guide services
- 63511000 - Organisation of package tours
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKN0 - Northern Ireland
Main site or place of performance
Northern Ireland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The University invites tenders from experienced Northern Ireland Tour Operators who will provide end-to-end planning and delivery of impactful and immersive tourism and cultural experiences for university groups.The North America team at Queen's has overarching responsibility for delivering the University's international student recruitment targets and servicing a wide variety of university partnerships in Canada and the USA. A number of these partners send large groups of students or staff to Queen’s and Belfast for programming and cultural immersion throughout the academic year. The University is keen to ensure professional delivery of Northern Ireland cultural programming and touring for partner institutions through the appointment of a Tour Operator.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 60
Price - Weighting: 40
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
2 years, with options to extend by up to a further 36 months.
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
- No tenders or no suitable tenders/requests to participate in response to open procedure
Explanation:
One tender was received in response to the Open procedure, however, the bidder was unable to meet the minimum selection criteria and was deemed to be non-compliant
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
Contract No
QUB/2524/24
Title
Contract for Northern Ireland Tour Operator
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
13 June 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Brack Tours Ireland
11 Tamarisk Lawns, Kilnamanagh Dublin 24
Kilnamanagh
D24 YVA8
Country
Ireland
NUTS code
- IE061 - Dublin
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Brack Tours Northern Ireland
6 Margaret Street, Newry, Co Down BT34 1DF
Newry
BT34 1DF
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKN08 - Newry, Mourne and Down
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £350,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £350,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Queen's University Belfast
University Road
Belfast
BT7 1NN
Country
United Kingdom