Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
The Open University
Procurement Services, Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6BP
UK
Telephone: +44 1908274066
E-mail: finance-tenders@open.ac.uk
NUTS: UKJ12
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/openuniversity
Address of the buyer profile: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/openuniversity/BuyerProfiles
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/openuniversity
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
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
Integrated Communication/RES/PRO/2025
Reference number: OUPA11226
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79416000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Open University (OU) is seeking a supplier of integrated communication (Public Relations) services to support the organisation Marketing and Communications teams under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 Restricted Procedure.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
3 400 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKJ12
Main site or place of performance:
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Open University is seeking a supplier of integrated communication (Public Relations) services to support the organisations Marketing and Communications teams.The restricted procurement procedure under the terms of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 requires potential bidders to complete a Standard Supplier Selection Questionnaire in the first instance. The five (5) highest scoring bidders will be invited to the invitation to tender stage. The contract is for an initial period of two (2) years and may be extended by the OU by two further twelve (12) month periods up to a maximum of four years in total. Further details are contained in the procurement documents, via the URL link detailed in this notice.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
The contract is for an initial period of two (2) years and may be extended by the OU for two further periods of twelve (12) months at its discretion.
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Envisaged number of candidates: 5
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates:
The responses to the SQ will be evaluated and the top 5 highest scoring bidders will be invited to tender for the contract. The SQ evaluation criteria is contained in the procurement documents.
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
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
II.2.14) Additional information
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions:
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Restricted procedure
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement with a single operator.
Justification for any framework agreement duration exceeding 4 years: N/A
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
05/03/2025
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic payment will be used
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
The Open University
Walton Hall
MK7 6BT
UK
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
VI.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
The Open University
Walton Hall
MK7 6BT
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
03/02/2025