Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Newcastle University
Newcastle University, Procurement Services, Kingsgate
Newcastle
NE1 7RU
Contact
Mr Dave Anderson
Telephone
+44 1912085360
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKC22 - Tyneside
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
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
(NU/1647) Supply of a Digital Exam System
Reference number
DN527361
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Newcastle University is looking for a digital exam system to support the provision of
authentic summative assessments in a secure digital environment.
Newcastle University has in the region of 28,000 students and 5,500 staff, who may use the
digital assessment system. Prior to the global pandemic the University’s centrally supported
digital exams service delivered 140 on campus digital exams each academic year, equating
to 20,000 student sittings. The largest cohort sitting an individual exam exceeds 400
students. On campus digital exam provision is expected to return to a similar level from
2021/22 academic year, should the public health situation allow.
Demand for on campus digital exams exceeds the scale of existing provision, and increasing
both capability and capacity is a strategic priority. The University’s ambition is to expand the
scale of on campus digital exam provision using a combination of delivery on university
owned PCs and student’s own devices, alongside diversifying the types of online assessment
that can be delivered in a secure exam setting.
The scope of this tender is for the supply and support of a digital exam system to be used by
all members of the University, including those located in our Branch Campuses in Malaysia
and Singapore. Digital exams will take place on campus.
Please note that tenders are only invited from bidders who have an existing off the shelf solution, deployed in an educational institutions of comparable size and scale (as detailed in the ITT documentation). We will not consider bespoke solutions.
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: £645,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC22 - Tyneside
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Newcastle University is looking for a digital exam system to support the provision of
authentic summative assessments in a secure digital environment.
Newcastle University has in the region of 28,000 students and 5,500 staff, who may use the
digital assessment system. Prior to the global pandemic the University’s centrally supported
digital exams service delivered 140 on campus digital exams each academic year, equating
to 20,000 student sittings. The largest cohort sitting an individual exam exceeds 400
students. On campus digital exam provision is expected to return to a similar level from
2021/22 academic year, should the public health situation allow.
Demand for on campus digital exams exceeds the scale of existing provision, and increasing
both capability and capacity is a strategic priority. The University’s ambition is to expand the
scale of on campus digital exam provision using a combination of delivery on university
owned PCs and student’s own devices, alongside diversifying the types of online assessment
that can be delivered in a secure exam setting.
The scope of this tender is for the supply and support of a digital exam system to be used by
all members of the University, including those located in our Branch Campuses in Malaysia
and Singapore. Digital exams will take place on campus.
Please note that tenders are only invited from bidders who have an existing off the shelf solution, deployed in an educational institutions of comparable size and scale (as detailed in the ITT documentation). We will not consider bespoke solutions.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical Merit and Functional Fit / Weighting: 40
Quality criterion - Name: Usability / Weighting: 20
Price - Weighting: 40
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The contract will commence on contract signature, with an implementation period up to 3rd September 2021. The solution will ‘go-live’ on 6th September 2021 and will run for an initial 24 months from the go-live date, ending on 5th September 2023.
If the performance fulfils the expectations of the University during the initial 24-month contract period, then a further 12-month contract may be awarded to run from 6 September 2023, subject to mutual agreement. A further two 12-month contracts may be awarded on the same basis, to give a maximum contract length of 5 years post go-live. Options will be taken up on or before 1st February 2023, 2024 and 2025 respectively.
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
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2021/S 000-004260
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
1
Lot No
1
Title
(NU/1647) Supply of a Digital Exam System
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
27 July 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 3
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 3
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 1
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 3
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Inspera AS
Cort Adelers gate 30
Oslo
Country
Norway
NUTS code
- NO - Norway
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £645,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The University will incorporate a standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. That notification will provide full information on the award decision. The standstill period, which will be for a minimum of 10 calendar days, provides time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract is entered into.
The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 No 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) within 30 days of knowledge or constructive knowledge of breach.