Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
University of Ulster
Block X Room X031, Cromore Road
Coleraine
BT52 1SA
Telephone
+44 2870123132
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKN - Northern Ireland
National registration number
NIC100166
Internet address(es)
Main 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
International Student Conversion including Admissions Support
Reference number
project_27572
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80300000 - Higher education services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
International Student Conversion including Admissions Support
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: £900,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79411100 - Business development consultancy services
- 79500000 - Office-support services
- 79512000 - Call centre
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKN - Northern Ireland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The University is seeking to establish a contract with a Contractor for the provision of
conversion services including admission support and processing for prospective
international students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The Contractor shall engage with and support prospective students, applicants and offer holders via targeted, personalised communications to optimise conversion at each stage of the potential student’s application journey.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Methodology for Implementation and Service Delivery / Weighting: 21
Quality criterion - Name: Management and Reporting / Weighting: 8.4
Quality criterion - Name: Contract Management / Weighting: 8.4
Quality criterion - Name: Offer Conversion / Weighting: 14
Quality criterion - Name: Admissions Support and Processing / Weighting: 14
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 4.2
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The contract will be for two (2) years initially, with an option to extend for any periods up to and including twenty-four (24) 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
two.2.14) Additional information
The estimated total value stated above in Section II.1.7 includes the initial 2-year contract period and the option to extend the contract for any periods up to and including 24 months.
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: 2023/S 000-014550
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
1 August 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Uni-Quest Ltd
77 Sidney Street
Sheffield
S1 4RG
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
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: £900,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £900,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
It is anticipated the contract will commence on 1 August 2023.
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
The University incorporated a minimum 10 calendar days standstill period at the point information on award of the contract was communicated to all tenderers. The standstill period provided time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract was entered into. The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 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 (Northern Ireland).