Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
University Of Edinburgh
Charles Stewart House, 9-16 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1HT
UK
Contact person: Ross Sharp
Telephone: +44 1316502759
E-mail: rsharp4@ed.ac.uk
NUTS: UKM75
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.ed.ac.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00107
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
International Student Recruitment - In Country
Reference number: EC1080
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79600000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The University is seeking a Contractor(s) for the provision of In-Country Presence by establishing staff based in key recruitment regions — South Asia and South East Asia.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
825 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79600000
79000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM75
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The University of Edinburgh wishes to conduct an open tender to appoint a third-party provider capable of hosting staff working on our behalf overseas.
The University intends to enhance its international student recruitment activity by establishing an in-country presence within key recruitment markets in South Asia and South East Asia. As part of this initiative, the University will deploy individuals working on our behalf to operate within these regions and requires external support to facilitate their effective establishment and ongoing operations.
This contract is being funded by the University’s Strategic Fund and at present, is only available for the initial 18-month term of the contract. However, it is the intention of The International and Postgraduate Recruitment Team (IRPT) to apply for a subsequent round. If successful, it is at this point the extension period will be enacted.
The budget for the initial 18-month contract term is 375,000 GBP (excluding VAT). Subject to additional funding being secured for a further two years, a further 450,000 GBP (excluding VAT) may be made available, provided the University secures such funding and enacts the extension period. This additional funding is not guaranteed at this stage. If all extensions are enacted, the total contract value would be 825,000 GBP.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 70
Price
/ Weighting:
30
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
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:
2025/S 000-076059
Section V: Award of contract
Contract No: EC1080
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
20/03/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 8
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 8
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 5
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 8
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Grok Global Services
535 Dean St
Brooklyn, New York
11217
US
NUTS: US
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 825.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
(SC Ref:827233)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sherrif Court
27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH11LB
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
23/03/2026