Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Aston University
Aston Triangle
BIRMINGHAM
B47ET
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKG31 - Birmingham
Companies House
RC000904
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
Provision of Online Graduate and Postgraduate Educational Services
Reference number
946
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80300000 - Higher education services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This is a services contract for the provision of online educational services at graduate and post graduate level.
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: £230,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG31 - Birmingham
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This is a services contract for the provision of online educational services at graduate and post graduate level.
These services include acting as a college of Aston University by:
- Creating and adapting Aston University materials in order to ensure that they are appropriate for online teaching;
- Delivering online teaching in respect of courses from undergraduate to doctorate level;
- Marketing the courses to prospective students;
- Providing an admissions service; and
- Providing student support services.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
The University sought to appoint a provider through which to secure its online education offering.
The University's objective requirements for its provider included (1) the provision of online education services; and (2) the ability to make a significant (multimillion pound) upfront investment in infrastructure to support the contract. The University is of the view that that there is no reasonable commercial alternative through which to achieve its online education offering. It also considers that its requirements are driven by commercial positions and are not aimed at the artificial narrowing of competition.
Recognising that its requirements were more extensive than many online education contracts, the University directly engaged with the market to ascertain the market's ability to meet the University's requirements and its appetite for doing so. Following that engagement the University identified only one party who had the capability to deliver the requirements and who was willing to contract with the University on this basis. Indeed, the engagement did not reveal any other provider with a viable solution and who would be willing to put forward the significant multi-million pound upfront investment for the infrastructure required under the contract.
Therefore, following a review of the commercial case put forward, the University has made the commercial decision to enter into the contract with OES, who satisfies all of the criteria under Regulation 57 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
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
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
15 December 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Online Education Services Limited
Manchester
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKD34 - Greater Manchester South West
Companies House
10942893
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £230,000,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Aston University
Birmingham
Country
United Kingdom