Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Queen's University Belfast
Purchasing Office, University Road
Belfast
BT7 1NN
UK
Contact person: Jackie Glackin
Telephone: +44 2890973026
E-mail: procurement@qub.ac.uk
Fax: +44 2890971390
NUTS: UKN06
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.qub.ac.uk
Address of the buyer profile: www.qub.ac.uk/po
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://www.in-tendhost.com/queensuniversitybelfast/aspx/Home
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://www.in-tendhost.com/queensuniversitybelfast/aspx/Home
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at:
https://www.in-tendhost.com/queensuniversitybelfast/aspx/Home
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
QUB/2742/25 Student Recruitment South Asia
Reference number: QUB/2742/25
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79600000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
In January 2025, the University announced its plans to become the first Russell Group University to open a campus in GIFT City, India. Queen’s commitment over an initial five-year period cements Queen’s position as a leading global university committed to fostering international collaborations.The University has a strong established presence in India and the existing team there also services surrounding countries including Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, within the context of student recruitment primarily. The University is now inviting tenders from Economic Operators who can provide comprehensive services across the three service strands outlined below. For clarity, Economic Operators must demonstrate their ability to deliver all three service strands as part of an integrated solution. Strand 1: Delivery of International Student Recruitment outcomes (to UK campus)Strand 2: Delivery of Domestic Student Recruitment outcomes (to GIFT City campus)Strand 3: Implementation and
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79600000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
IN
Main site or place of performance:
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
In January 2025, the University announced its plans to become the first Russell Group University to open a campus in GIFT City, India. Queen’s commitment over an initial five-year period cements Queen’s position as a leading global university committed to fostering international collaborations.The University has a strong established presence in India and the existing team there also services surrounding countries including Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, within the context of student recruitment primarily. For information, there are currently circa 800 students enrolled at Queen’s from the markets outlined above, across all study levels. The University is now inviting tenders from Economic Operators who can provide comprehensive services across the three service strands outlined below. For clarity, Economic Operators must demonstrate their ability to deliver all three service strands as part of an integrated solution. Further information is provided in sections 3 -5 below. Strand 1: Delivery of International Student Recruitment outcomes (to UK campus)Strand 2: Delivery of Domestic Student Recruitment outcomes (to GIFT City campus)Strand 3: Implementation and Management of Queen’s Graduate Jobs India initiativeQueen’s University Belfast is seeking to establish a long-term partnership contract management approach where there is a shared ambition to support the delivery of the University’s broader South Asia strategy, with a focus on student recruitment outcomes. The successful supplier must be fully independent of, and not affiliated to, any local university or student recruitment agency. The University would like to engage with a supplier who can provide highly qualified and professional staffing solutions, tax, HR and financial services that are fully compliant with local regulations. The successful economic operator must have demonstrable experience of working with a Russell Group or comparable UK Higher Education institution, specifically within the context of international student recruitment, including comprehensive knowledge of the Higher Education sectors, both in the UK and India. The successful economic operator must also possess experience within the Indian market landscape, demonstrating an in-depth knowledge of its corporate and industrial sectors, with a well-established network across key stakeholders.
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: 65
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
The contract will be subject to renewal in 59 months assuming all extension options have been exercised
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
The contract is for an initial period of 12 months with options to extend by up to a further 53 months
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:
Please refer to tender documentation
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
Open procedure
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 000-013671
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
25/03/2025
Local time: 16:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
25/03/2025
Local time: 16:15
Place:
Queen's University Belfast
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published:
59 months assuming all extension options have been exercised
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Queen's University Belfast
Belfast
UK
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
This authority will incorporate a standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to Tenderers. That notification will provide full information on the award decision. The standstill period, which will be for a minimum of 10 calendar days, provides time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract is entered into.The Public Contract Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
21/02/2025