Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
University Of Edinburgh
Charles Stewart House, 9-16 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1HT
Contact
Elliot Freeman
Telephone
+44 1316502508
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00107
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
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
Third Party Admissions System
Reference number
EC1028
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 75121000 - Administrative educational services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The University is looking to work with a commercial partner to support admissions decision-making, with scope to consider verification and conversion support. This work would cover the next three admissions cycles, with the first intake being September 2025.
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: £600,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80300000 - Higher education services
- 72316000 - Data analysis services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The University of Edinburgh seeks to enhance the Future Student experience both in speed of decision turnaround and in the qualitative experience of all applicants whether they receive an offer or not. This is to support our delivery of institutional student population strategic objectives, and to ensure our future student experience is in line with our world class standing. The University is looking to work with a commercial partner to support admissions decision-making, with scope to consider verification and conversion support. This work would cover the next three admissions cycles, with the first intake being September 2025. The third-party admissions service should support to admissions teams at the University of Edinburgh, to provide more concentrated and flexible support in peak periods, and allow for University of Edinburgh Admissions staff to focus on specialist, value-added activity. This should also enable offer making to be delivered in a timely manner. This would likely include:
- Identification and completion of missing data;
- Identification of ineligible applicants;
- Identification of applicants who are highly competitive and should be considered further by admissions teams; and
- Requesting documentation post-offer, to confirm whether the applicant has met their conditions of offer.
This would primarily be undertaken by staff from the supplier, who are trained by the University of Edinburgh. These staff will be granted access the University’s systems to support this activity. This will include the use of the University’s student records system, EUCLID (SITS). Access is cloud based through multi factor authentication and a VPN should be utilised for any work undertaken off campus. Information will be shared through Microsoft 365 products and supplier staff will be invited to relevant admissions team meetings to ensure accurate and successful completion of work to SLAs.
Data protection standards must be met to ensure safety and security of applicant data.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 80
Price - Weighting: 20
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
One 12-month extension option available to the University.
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
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: 2024/S 000-024106
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
EC1028
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
9 December 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 5
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 4
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 5
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 5
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited
1 Tranley Mews, Fleet Road, London NW3 2DG UNITED KINGDOM
London
NW32DG
Telephone
+44 2031483056
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £600,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
(SC Ref:785008)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court
27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
Country
United Kingdom