Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
University of Birmingham
Procurement Division - Finance Office, Aston Webb Building, Edgbaston
Birmingham
B312LR
Contact
Paul Markham
Telephone
+44 1214158807
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKG31 - Birmingham
Companies House
RC000645
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofbirmingham/aspx/Home
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofbirmingham/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/universityofbirmingham/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
Online Distance Learning Services Framework
Reference number
FRAM555/22
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80300000 - Higher education services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The University of Birmingham is one of the UK's largest providers of distance learning and we have bold ambitions to further grow our online learning portfolio and online student community. To support this ambition, we wish to engage with relevant suppliers who share our desire to develop and deliver high quality online learning experiences.
The intention is to establish a framework agreement with a suitably qualified supplier (or suppliers) who will be able to provide one or more services that will augment inhouse provision.
It is anticipated that services required may include, but not necessarily limited to, the following broad areas of provision:
· Market insight - access to data and analysis of the global market for online learning.
· Student acquisition - including marketing, recruitment, and enrolment.
· Course design and production - learning design and media production.
· Student support and retention services - front line support and triage of student queries.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG31 - Birmingham
Main site or place of performance
University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The University of Birmingham is one of the UK's largest providers of distance learning and we have bold ambitions to further grow our online learning portfolio and online student community. To support this ambition, we wish to engage with relevant suppliers who share our desire to develop and deliver high quality online learning experiences.
The intention is to establish a framework agreement with a suitably qualified supplier (or suppliers) who will be able to provide one or more services that will augment inhouse provision.
It is anticipated that services required may include, but not necessarily limited to, the following broad areas of provision:
· Market insight - access to data and analysis of the global market for online learning.
· Student acquisition - including marketing, recruitment, and enrolment.
· Course design and production - learning design and media production.
· Student support and retention services - front line support and triage of student queries.
We would therefore welcome the opportunity for potential suppliers of these services to help us refine these requirements and explore appropriate business models through a Competitive Procedure with negotiation.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
84
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Initial 7 year period with an option to extend for a further 3 years. (individual call offs as part of the framework may be for up to a 10 year period once awarded).
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
Competitive procedure with negotiation
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
In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years:
Initial 7 year period with an option to extend for a further 3 years. (individual call offs as part of the framework may be for up to a 10 year period once awarded).
Rationale is based on return on investment for the supplier(s) concerned and the University. It is standard within the market for call off contracts of this nature to be for a much longer period than 4 years.
four.1.4) Information about reduction of the number of solutions or tenders during negotiation or dialogue
Recourse to staged procedure to gradually reduce the number of solutions to be discussed or tenders to be negotiated
four.1.5) Information about negotiation
The contracting authority reserves the right to award the contract on the basis of the initial tenders without conducting negotiations
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.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
2 December 2022
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
16 January 2023
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
Country
United Kingdom