Online Distance Learning Partner for University of Sussex

The University of Sussex wishes to enter into a collaborative partnership for the provision of online distance learning in order to develop new student markets.

United Kingdom-Brighton: Adult-education services at university level

2016/S 091-163621

Contract notice

Services

Directive 2004/18/EC

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1)Name, addresses and contact point(s)

University of Sussex
Procurement Office, Sussex House, Falmer
For the attention of: Steve Barber
BN1 9RH Brighton
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 1273678437
E-mail: steve.barber@sussex.ac.uk

Further information can be obtained from: The above mentioned contact point(s)

Specifications and additional documents (including documents for competitive dialogue and a dynamic purchasing system) can be obtained from: The above mentioned contact point(s)

Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to: The above mentioned contact point(s)

I.2)Type of the contracting authority

Other

I.3)Main activity

Education

I.4)Contract award on behalf of other contracting authorities

The contracting authority is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities: no

Section II: Object of the contract

II.1)Description

II.1.1)Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority:

Online Distance Learning Partner.

II.1.2)Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance

Services
Service category No 24: Education and vocational education services

NUTS code UKJ21

II.1.3)Information about a public contract, a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system (DPS)

The notice involves a public contract

II.1.4)Information on framework agreement

II.1.5)Short description of the contract or purchase(s)

The University of Sussex wishes to enter into a collaborative partnership for the provision of online distance learning in order to develop new student markets, both nationally and internationally. The proposed offering would allow international students to obtain a UK validated degree from a prestigious university without the expense of living and studying in the UK. Our intention is that the courses provided will be based on a distinct and innovative product, focus on postgraduate awards, and draw upon the University’s research strengths. The Sussex offer will be aimed at the professional market and will be initially based on part-time masters’ degrees which run across 2 years.
We are seeking to appoint a provider with whom we will enter into a commercial partnership to deliver a first class ‘University of Sussex’ product. This will be achieved by working with us to develop a service delivery model that will include marketing and brand positioning, student recruitment, admissions management, provision of and ongoing support of a Virtual Learning Environment, academic support, project management and ongoing administration.
It is envisaged that following a Competitive Dialogue process that the University will enter into a long term partnership with the successful bidder.

II.1.6)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

80430000

II.1.7)Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The contract is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA): no

II.1.8)Lots

This contract is divided into lots: no

II.1.9)Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: yes

II.2)Quantity or scope of the contract

II.2.1)Total quantity or scope:

Commercial partner to support Online Distance Learning.
Estimated value excluding VAT:
Range: between 15 000 000 and 30 000 000 GBP

II.2.2)Information about options

II.2.3)Information about renewals

II.3)Duration of the contract or time limit for completion

Starting 1.2.2017. Completion 31.1.2027

Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information

III.1)Conditions relating to the contract

III.1.1)Deposits and guarantees required:

III.1.2)Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions governing them:

III.1.3)Legal form to be taken by the group of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded:

III.1.4)Other particular conditions

III.2)Conditions for participation

III.2.1)Personal situation of economic operators, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: As per PQQ.

III.2.2)Economic and financial ability

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: As per PQQ.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required: As per PQQ.

III.2.3)Technical capacity

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met:
As per PQQ.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required:
As per PQQ.

III.2.4)Information about reserved contracts

III.3)Conditions specific to services contracts

III.3.1)Information about a particular profession

Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession: no

III.3.2)Staff responsible for the execution of the service

Legal persons should indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff responsible for the execution of the service: no

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1)Type of procedure

IV.1.1)Type of procedure

competitive dialogue

IV.1.2)Limitations on the number of operators who will be invited to tender or to participate

Envisaged number of operators: 5
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates: As per criteria set out in the PQQ.

IV.1.3)Reduction of the number of operators during the negotiation or dialogue

Recourse to staged procedure to gradually reduce the number of solutions to be discussed or tenders to be negotiated yes

IV.2)Award criteria

IV.2.1)Award criteria

The most economically advantageous tender in terms of the criteria stated in the specifications, in the invitation to tender or to negotiate or in the descriptive document

IV.2.2)Information about electronic auction

An electronic auction will be used: no

IV.3)Administrative information

IV.3.1)File reference number attributed by the contracting authority:

VFM590.
Please download the PQQ and Descriptive D

IV.3.2)Previous publication(s) concerning the same contract

IV.3.3)Conditions for obtaining specifications and additional documents or descriptive document

Time limit for receipt of requests for documents or for accessing documents: 31.5.2016
Payable documents: no

IV.3.4)Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

15.6.2016 – 12:00

IV.3.5)Date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates

1.7.2016

IV.3.6)Language(s) in which tenders or requests to participate may be drawn up

English.

IV.3.7)Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

IV.3.8)Conditions for opening of tenders

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.1)Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: no

VI.2)Information about European Union funds

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

VI.3)Additional information

In order to respond to this Notice bidders will need to register and/or log on to the In-tend portal at https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsussex

To view the advertised tender click on current tenders.
To express an interest select View Tender Details in the top right hand corner. Then click on Express Interest.
When registering, bidders should only register their company once, although you can register multiple contacts.
If you have any difficulty in uploading a response please contact the In-Tend Help Desk on 0844 2728810.
All communication regarding this opportunity must be conducted via the In-tend portal.
After registration bidders will be able to download a Descriptive Document and Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ. The PQQ response should be uploaded via the In-Tend portal by 12:00 noon on Wednesday, 15.6.2016.

VI.4)Procedures for appeal

VI.4.1)Body responsible for appeal procedures

VI.4.2)Lodging of appeals

VI.4.3)Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained

VI.5)Date of dispatch of this notice:

10.5.2016

Design and Development of Learning Management System

Supply of Distance Learning Materials 2016

Tender for Online Course Delivery

Distance Learning Management Training Contract