Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
The University of Keele
Procurement Office, Directorate of Finance, Innovation Centre 1, Keele University Science and Innovation Park,
Keele, Staffordshire,
ST5 5NB
Contact
Darren Pearce
Telephone
+44 1782734124
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKG24 - Staffordshire CC
Companies House
Company number RC000655
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofkeele/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
Prospective Student Engagement and Conversion Service for Keele University
Reference number
KU/697/DP/SM/2025
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79342000 - Marketing services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Tenders are invited from interested parties for the Contract for the provision of a Prospective Student Engagement and Conversion Service for Keele University in accordance with the Tender Specification in Section 2 of the Invitation to Tender (ITT).
The services required are fully described in the Tender Specification.
All Tenderers are required to submit a compliant tender response in accordance with the tender requirements as set out in the Tender Specification.
All tender responses will be subject to the Tender Evaluation Methodology as set out in the ITT.
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: £1,374,890.34
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG24 - Staffordshire CC
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Main reasons for the decision not to sub-divide the contract into lots: Given the need for one Service Provider to co-ordinate the delivery of all of the services required, the contract has not been subdivided into lots.
The contract will run for an initial period of twenty-seven months from 1st July 2025 to 30th September 2027 with options to extend for a further two twelve-month periods, reviewed annually, with a final end date of 30th September 2029. The decision of whether to take up the extension options will be down to the absolute discretion of the University.
The estimated total value of the contract over its duration (including the extension options if these are taken up) is £1.9 million excluding VAT.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Proposed Management Structure and Key Personnel for the Contract for the provision of a Prospective Student Engagement and Conversion Service for Keele University / Weighting: 200 marks
Quality criterion - Name: Approach and Methodology for the delivery of the Contract for the provision of a Prospective Student Engagement and Conversion Service for Keele University / Weighting: 300 marks
Quality criterion - Name: Conversion Rates and Return on Investment under the Contract for the provision of a Prospective Student Engagement and Conversion Service for Keele University / Weighting: 200 marks
Price - Weighting: 300 marks
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Options to extend for a further two twelve-month periods, reviewed annually, with a final end date of 30th September 2029.
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: 2025/S 000-006327
Section five. Award of contract
Title
Prospective Student Engagement and Conversion Service for Keele University
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
17 September 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 3
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
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
Companies House
Company number 02563879
Internet address
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,374,890.34
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court of England and Wales
Royal Courts of Justice, Strand,
London,
WCA2 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
The University of Keele
Procurement Office, Directorate of Finance, Innovation Centre 1, Keele University Science and Innovation Park,
Keele, Staffordshire,
ST5 5NB
Telephone
+44 1782734124
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
Any review proceedings should be promptly brought to the attention of the Chief Financial Officer of the University at the address provided above and will be dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ('PCRs 2015').
Any review proceedings must be brought within the timescales specified by the applicable law, including, without limitation, the PCRs 2015. In accordance with the PCRs 2015, the University will incorporate a minimum 10-calendar day standstill period from the date information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers.
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
The University of Keele
Procurement Office, Directorate of Finance, Innovation Centre 1, Keele University Science and Innovation Park,
Keele, Staffordshire,
ST5 5NB
Telephone
+44 1782734124
Country
United Kingdom