Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
OPEN UNIVERSITY(THE)
Milton Keynes
Contact
Procurement Team
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ12 - Milton Keynes
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/openuniversity/aspx/Home
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/openuniversity/aspx/Home
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/openuniversity/aspx/Home
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
The Open University learning content services/OPEN/PRO/2023
Reference number
OUPA11058
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79933000 - Design support services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The OU is looking for 3 key partners to take on the tasks outlined in Appendix 3 at scale during peak periods to alleviate internal pressures on capacity and ensure the timely provision of high-quality learning material to OU students. We expect to work with our vendor partners on identifying, developing and scaling ancillary and additional service lines that support and complement the core proposition service offering, thus improving the efficiency of the service and enabling the OU to achieve its wider strategic objectives.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £1,320,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79933000 - Design support services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ12 - Milton Keynes
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The primary business objective is to deliver the OU's bi-annual cycle of updates to module websites and supporting digital and print learning aids to required quality, time and cost standards. The OU requires vendor partners to provide it with flexibility in its capacity so that it can effectively handle peaks in demand that cannot be met by inhouse staff.
Additionally, we expect to work with our vendor partners on identifying, developing and scaling ancillary and additional service lines that support and complement the core proposition service offering, thus improving operational efficiency, achieving economies of scale and supporting the delivery of the OU's wider strategic aims and social mission.
Core service provision
As OU modules prepare to 'present' to a new cohort of students, their study website, hosted in the OU's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), and associated digital and print learning aids, require updating in accordance with student feedback on their learning experience, key assessment milestones for the new cohort's study dates, changes in the academic field and requirements for the correction or clarification of errors.
The vendor partner will need to work inside OU systems and liaise closely with the responsible OU Project Manager within Learner and Discovery Services (LDS), graphics and interactive media developers within LDS' Design, Development and Production (DDP) subunit, as well as with the Qualification/Curriculum Manager and academic authoring teams within the faculty whose module is being updated, performing requisite editorial, quality assurance, project coordination, graphic/interactive media assets update and rights clearance tasks as required by the project specification.
Breakdown of service lines
Core service provision: OU module updates, editorial
o Copyediting of any new text insertions of 50+ words
o Proofreading of updated sections of material, including sense checks for 'fit' with surrounding content and any internal cross-references
o Briefing IMD/GMD team on graphic/interactive media asset updates AND/OR origination/updates of graphics/interactive media assets
o Taking in corrections to XML source files, re-rendering and sending to OU stakeholders for approval
o Validation of XML with QC
o Checking and editing of closed captions and module
transcripts for any new assets via the OU's 3Play platform
o Web checks" - final QC of module websites, once all other updates complete, ahead of final 'presentation ready' signoff.
Ancillary services
Graphic media assets updates/origination/redraws
Interactive media assets updates/origination
Rights and permissions clearances
Copyedit and proofread
Structural editing
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £1,320,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
24
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
2 year initial agreement, with the option to extend for a further 2 x 12 months
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Framework agreement with several operators
Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement: 3
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
30 August 2023
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
30 August 2023
Local time
2:00pm
Information about authorised persons and opening procedure
Head of Procurement or delegated representatives within the Procurement Services team
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The Open University
Milton Keynes
Country
United Kingdom