Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Aston University
RC000904
Aston Triangle
BIRMINGHAM
B47ET
UK
E-mail: legalservices@aston.ac.uk
NUTS: UKG31
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.aston.ac.uk
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
Provision of Online Graduate and Postgraduate Educational Services
Reference number: 946
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80300000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
This is a services contract for the provision of online educational services at graduate and post graduate level.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
230 000 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKG31
II.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.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
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
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The works, supplies or 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.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
Section V: Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
15/12/2023
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Online Education Services Limited
10942893
Manchester
UK
NUTS: UKD34
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 230 000 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Aston University
Birmingham
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
22/12/2023