Award

Peer Mentoring Platform

  • Coventry University

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2021/S 000-026802

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-02f01f

Published 26 October 2021, 3:59pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Coventry University

PRIORY STREET

COVENTRY

CV15FB

Contact

Thomas Hasson

Email

ad7747@coventry.ac.uk

Telephone

+44 7392096531

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKG33 - Coventry

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.coventry.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

Peer Mentoring Platform

Reference number

PD-747-TH

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 48000000 - Software package and information systems

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

On 21st July 2021, Coventry University placed a contract notice [PD-631-VCM] on the University's procurement portal seeking tenders from potential suppliers using the closed procedure for a Peer Mentoring Partner.

Coventry University sought a supplier to assist it with the provision of a University-wide Peer Mentoring platform, incorporating systems requirements, cultural adoption, role development, processes and technology which would play a core role in Coventry University's EdTech ecosystem.

Coventry University and Vygo have worked together since 2019 to streamline and digitise peer connections through the Vygo Student Support platform. Through the COVID-19 Pandemic, Peer Mentoring has provided opportunities through peer-to-peer connections leveraging a truly asynchronous support model.

The university acknowledges this area of interest is niche and as such undertook initial market research to locate potential suppliers and as part of the initial tender invited what were identified as the top suppliers to submit. This pre-market engagement resulted in only one submission.

Extensive work has been undertaken during this period to to embed Peer Mentoring at the beginning of the students' journey and leverage our New Academic Year model. This led, in May 2021, to the creation of the 'Transition+' model whereby every student has the opportunity for every new student to be paired with a mentor when joining the University.

The Vygo platform brings a distinctive approach to Peer Mentoring. In light of the ongoing global pandemic, and a general movement in higher education towards offering digital teaching and learning, Coventry University has identified a need for incorporating systems requirements, cultural adoption, and transformation services specifically tailored to the Platform, to transform the peer supported delivered on the Platform so that they are suitable for synchronous or asynchronous delivery via the Platform.

As the Platform is provided by Vygo and the Services required are specific to Vygo's Platform, Coventry University considers that Vygo is the only supplier in the market who could effectively deliver the Services. Procuring the Services from a different supplier at this stage would cause significant disruption to Coventry University's peer mentoring offering, which remains a fundamental offering in light of the ongoing global pandemic. Coventry University does not consider that another supplier would be able to meet its requirements in respect of the Services considering the specificity of its requirements in relation to the Vygo Platform, and the fact that the functionality of the Platform, and detailed knowledge thereof, is integral to the effective delivery of the Services.

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: £1,050,000

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 48000000 - Software package and information systems

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKG - West Midlands (England)

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

On 21st July 2021, Coventry University placed a contract notice [PD-631-VCM] on the University's procurement portal seeking tenders from potential suppliers using the closed procedure for a Peer Mentoring Partner.

Coventry University sought a supplier to assist it with the provision of a University-wide Peer Mentoring platform, incorporating systems requirements, cultural adoption, role development, processes and technology which would play a core role in Coventry University's EdTech ecosystem.

Coventry University and Vygo have worked together since 2019 to streamline and digitise peer connections through the Vygo Student Support platform. Through the COVID-19 Pandemic, Peer Mentoring has provided opportunities through peer-to-peer connections leveraging a truly asynchronous support model.

The university acknowledges this area of interest is niche and as such undertook initial market research to locate potential suppliers and as part of the initial tender invited what were identified as the top suppliers to submit. This pre-market engagement resulted in only one submission.

Extensive work has been undertaken during this period to to embed Peer Mentoring at the beginning of the students' journey and leverage our New Academic Year model. This led, in May 2021, to the creation of the 'Transition+' model whereby every student has the opportunity for every new student to be paired with a mentor when joining the University.

The Vygo platform brings a distinctive approach to Peer Mentoring. In light of the ongoing global pandemic, and a general movement in higher education towards offering digital teaching and learning, Coventry University has identified a need for incorporating systems requirements, cultural adoption, and transformation services specifically tailored to the Platform, to transform the peer supported delivered on the Platform so that they are suitable for synchronous or asynchronous delivery via the Platform.

As the Platform is provided by Vygo and the Services required are specific to Vygo's Platform, Coventry University considers that Vygo is the only supplier in the market who could effectively deliver the Services. Procuring the Services from a different supplier at this stage would cause significant disruption to Coventry University's peer mentoring offering, which remains a fundamental offering in light of the ongoing global pandemic. Coventry University does not consider that another supplier would be able to meet its requirements in respect of the Services considering the specificity of its requirements in relation to the Vygo Platform, and the fact that the functionality of the Platform, and detailed knowledge thereof, is integral to the effective delivery of the Services.

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Negotiated without a prior call for competition

  • No tenders or no suitable tenders/requests to participate in response to restricted procedure

Explanation:

On 21st July 2021, Coventry University placed a contract notice [PD-631-VCM] on the University's procurement portal seeking tenders from potential suppliers using the closed procedure for a Peer Mentoring Partner.

Coventry University sought a supplier to assist it with the provision of a University-wide Peer Mentoring platform, incorporating systems requirements, cultural adoption, role development, processes and technology which would play a core role in Coventry University's EdTech ecosystem.

Coventry University and Vygo have worked together since 2019 to streamline and digitise peer connections through the Vygo Student Support platform. Through the COVID-19 Pandemic, Peer Mentoring has provided opportunities through peer-to-peer connections leveraging a truly asynchronous support model.

The university acknowledges this area of interest is niche and as such undertook initial market research to locate potential suppliers and as part of the initial tender invited what were identified as the top suppliers to submit. This pre-market engagement resulted in only one submission.

Extensive work has been undertaken during this period to to embed Peer Mentoring at the beginning of the students' journey and leverage our New Academic Year model. This led, in May 2021, to the creation of the 'Transition+' model whereby every student has the opportunity for every new student to be paired with a mentor when joining the University.

The Vygo platform brings a distinctive approach to Peer Mentoring. In light of the ongoing global pandemic, and a general movement in higher education towards offering digital teaching and learning, Coventry University has identified a need for incorporating systems requirements, cultural adoption, and transformation services specifically tailored to the Platform, to transform the peer supported delivered on the Platform so that they are suitable for synchronous or asynchronous delivery via the Platform.

As the Platform is provided by Vygo and the Services required are specific to Vygo's Platform, Coventry University considers that Vygo is the only supplier in the market who could effectively deliver the Services. Procuring the Services from a different supplier at this stage would cause significant disruption to Coventry University's peer mentoring offering, which remains a fundamental offering in light of the ongoing global pandemic. Coventry University does not consider that another supplier would be able to meet its requirements in respect of the Services considering the specificity of its requirements in relation to the Vygo Platform, and the fact that the functionality of the Platform, and detailed knowledge thereof, is integral to the effective delivery of the Services.

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/concession

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

26 October 2021

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

Coventry University

Coventry

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKG3 - West Midlands
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £315,000

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £1,050,000


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Coventry University

Coventry

Country

United Kingdom