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Contract Award Notice

Online Programme Delivery Partner

  • First published: 19 March 2022
  • Last modified: 19 March 2022
  • Record interest

     

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The buyer is not using this website to administer the notice.

To record your interest or obtain additional information or documents please find instructions within the Full Notice Text. (NOTE: Contract Award Notices and Prior Information Notices do not normally require a response)

Contents

Summary

OCID:
Published by:
Queen Margaret University
Authority ID:
AA81252
Publication date:
19 March 2022
Deadline date:
-
Notice type:
Contract Award Notice
Has documents:
No
Has SPD:
No
Has Carbon Reduction Plan:
N/A

Abstract

Queen Margaret University has as one of its strategic objectives the provision of an attractive, relevant and market responsive academic portfolio. We aim to achieve this through offering students a choice of methods of learning that are appropriate to students’ circumstances and make the best use of digital technologies to support that learning. Specifically, the University aims to extend its reach in domestic and international markets through delivering some of its core academic programmes in a high quality, accessible and affordable online mode.

To enable it to deliver on this objective, the University intends to engage an experienced online programme delivery partner to support the University in adapting and delivering in an online mode those of its programmes for which there is latent high demand for such an offer. In doing so, the partner will support the University in its ambition to increase its student enrolments and tuition fee revenue.

The University requires a partner that has proven marketing, student recruitment, technical and pedagogical expertise and experience in the field of online higher education, including a track record in the UK. We seek a partner with a proven delivery model that meets the needs of students both in terms of flexible access to their chosen degree programme, utilising a carousel model of module and programme delivery that works across international time zones, and that enables a high quality online student experience that meets their academic needs.

We expect that partner to:

- Operate a financial model whereby the partner provide all required upfront financial investment for launching the online degrees, including covering the cost of marketing, student recruitment, student retention, appropriate technology, and support for University staff in converting their modules and programmes into an online mode

- Operate a financial model whereby there is a 50/50 tuition fee revenue share with the University

- Lead the project management of the marketing, development and launch of the online programmes and be in a position to market, adapt and develop a programme for online launch quickly

- Provide market research intelligence, both domestic and international, to inform the University’s selection of its programmes for adaptation for delivery in an online mode, including the identification of potential new programmes with market potential where the University has the relevant expertise, and to inform recommended tuition fee levels

- Effectively market those programmes selected for online development

- Play the lead role in pre-enrolment student engagement and initial application sifting, ensuring students are suitably prepared for the demands of online learning

- Have a standard operating procedure that includes directly supporting academic staff to adapt their modules and programmes for online delivery and that, in so doing, develops the University’s staff understanding of the principles of high quality online pedagogy and learning design

- Have a model of online delivery and support that proactively maximises student retention, including through the use of data analytics and direct student support and intervention

- Offer a virtual learning environment that is intuitive for staff and student users and that supports effective learning design and high quality student engagement, as well as the option of the University using its existing VLE to deliver the selected online programmes

- Offer and support a smooth integration with the relevant University systems including Admissions and Student Records

-Allow Queen Margaret to retain the intellectual property rights for its modules and programmes developed as part of the partnership

Full notice text

Contract award notice

Results of the procurement procedure

Section I: Contracting entity

I.1) Name and addresses

Queen Margaret University

Queen Margaret University Way

Musselburgh

EH21 6UU

UK

E-mail: kmurray1@qmu.ac.uk

NUTS: UKM73

Internet address(es)

Main address: http://www.qmu.ac.uk/

Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00364

I.2) Joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

I.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

I.5) Main activity

Education

Section II: Object

II.1) Scope of the procurement

II.1.1) Title

Online Programme Delivery Partner

Reference number: QMU-21056

II.1.2) Main CPV code

80000000

 

II.1.3) Type of contract

Services

II.1.4) Short description

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, wishes to engage an experienced online programme delivery partner to support the University in adapting and delivering in an online mode those of its programmes for which there is latent high demand for such an offer. In doing so, the partner will support the University in its ambition to increase its student enrolments and tuition fee revenue.

The University requires a partner that has proven marketing, student recruitment, technical and pedagogical expertise and experience in the field of online higher education, including a track record in the UK. We seek a partner with a proven delivery model that meets the needs of students both in terms of flexible access to their chosen degree programme, utilising a carousel model of module and programme delivery that works across international time zones, and that enables a high quality online student experience that meets their academic needs.

We expect that partner to provide all required upfront financial investment for launching the online degrees and to operate a financial model whereby there is a 50/50 tuition fee revenue share with the University and to provide all necessary market research intelligence with regards to programme selection and tuition fee levels.

II.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

II.1.7) Total value of the procurement

Value excluding VAT: 40 000 000.00  GBP

II.2) Description

II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

80430000

79340000

II.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS code:

UKM73


Main site or place of performance:

This contract will be performed online and remotely rather than a physical location.

II.2.4) Description of the procurement

Queen Margaret University has as one of its strategic objectives the provision of an attractive, relevant and market responsive academic portfolio. We aim to achieve this through offering students a choice of methods of learning that are appropriate to students’ circumstances and make the best use of digital technologies to support that learning. Specifically, the University aims to extend its reach in domestic and international markets through delivering some of its core academic programmes in a high quality, accessible and affordable online mode.

To enable it to deliver on this objective, the University intends to engage an experienced online programme delivery partner to support the University in adapting and delivering in an online mode those of its programmes for which there is latent high demand for such an offer. In doing so, the partner will support the University in its ambition to increase its student enrolments and tuition fee revenue.

The University requires a partner that has proven marketing, student recruitment, technical and pedagogical expertise and experience in the field of online higher education, including a track record in the UK. We seek a partner with a proven delivery model that meets the needs of students both in terms of flexible access to their chosen degree programme, utilising a carousel model of module and programme delivery that works across international time zones, and that enables a high quality online student experience that meets their academic needs.

We expect that partner to:

- Operate a financial model whereby the partner provide all required upfront financial investment for launching the online degrees, including covering the cost of marketing, student recruitment, student retention, appropriate technology, and support for University staff in converting their modules and programmes into an online mode

- Operate a financial model whereby there is a 50/50 tuition fee revenue share with the University

- Lead the project management of the marketing, development and launch of the online programmes and be in a position to market, adapt and develop a programme for online launch quickly

- Provide market research intelligence, both domestic and international, to inform the University’s selection of its programmes for adaptation for delivery in an online mode, including the identification of potential new programmes with market potential where the University has the relevant expertise, and to inform recommended tuition fee levels

- Effectively market those programmes selected for online development

- Play the lead role in pre-enrolment student engagement and initial application sifting, ensuring students are suitably prepared for the demands of online learning

- Have a standard operating procedure that includes directly supporting academic staff to adapt their modules and programmes for online delivery and that, in so doing, develops the University’s staff understanding of the principles of high quality online pedagogy and learning design

- Have a model of online delivery and support that proactively maximises student retention, including through the use of data analytics and direct student support and intervention

- Offer a virtual learning environment that is intuitive for staff and student users and that supports effective learning design and high quality student engagement, as well as the option of the University using its existing VLE to deliver the selected online programmes

- Offer and support a smooth integration with the relevant University systems including Admissions and Student Records

-Allow Queen Margaret to retain the intellectual property rights for its modules and programmes developed as part of the partnership

II.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion: Delivery Team / Weighting: 25

Quality criterion: Implementation Approach and Project Management / Weighting: 25

Quality criterion: IT System Integration / Weighting: 25

Price / Weighting:  25

II.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

II.2.13) Information about European Union funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1) Description

IV.1.1) Type of procedure

Competitive procedure with negotiation

IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

IV.2) Administrative information

IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number in the OJ S:

2021/S 000-023268

Section V: Award of contract

Contract No: QMU-21506

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

V.2 Award of contract

V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

07/02/2022

V.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 4

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 3

Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 3

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 1

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 4

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Higher Ed Partners Ltd.

31 HILL STREET

LONDON

W1J 5LS

UK

Telephone: +44 7790542770

NUTS: UK

The contractor is an SME: Yes

V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:

Total value of the contract/lot: : 40 000 000.00  GBP

V.2.5) Information about subcontracting

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.3) Additional information

(SC Ref:687529)

VI.4) Procedures for review

VI.4.1) Review body

Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court

Edinburgh

UK

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice

18/03/2022

Coding

Commodity categories

ID Title Parent category
80430000 Adult-education services at university level Adult and other education services
79340000 Advertising and marketing services Market and economic research; polling and statistics
80000000 Education and training services Education

Delivery locations

ID Description
100 UK - All

Alert region restrictions

The buyer has restricted the alert for this notice to suppliers based in the following regions.

ID Description
There are no alert restrictions for this notice.

About the buyer

Main contact:
kmurray1@qmu.ac.uk
Admin contact:
N/a
Technical contact:
N/a
Other contact:
N/a

Further information

Date Details
No further information has been uploaded.

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