Award

OU Brand Tracking Services

OPEN UNIVERSITY(THE)

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

Award

09 Oct 2025 at 18:48

Award Notice
TenderAmendment

05 Dec 2024 at 09:39

Tender Notice
Tender

04 Dec 2024 at 17:39

Tender Notice
Planning

08 Oct 2024 at 09:06

Market Engagement Notice
Planning

03 Oct 2024 at 21:35

Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Open University has concluded the procurement process for its "OU Brand Tracking Services" contract, aimed at measuring brand awareness and perceptions among potential students across the UK, as well as current students, alumni, and employers. This contract falls under the market research services category and had a procurement process executed through a restricted procedure in line with the Public Contract Regulations 2015. The awarded contract, valued at GBP 904,000, commenced on 1st October 2025 and will continue until 1st October 2029, with services primarily delivered to Milton Keynes, England (postal code MK7 6AA). The process reached the award stage, with the winner being The Nursery Research and Planning Limited, a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME).

This tender provides significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in market research services, particularly those focusing on educational institutions. With an initial three-year contract potentially extendable to four years, businesses can benefit from long-term collaboration and financial intake. As the contract was awarded to an SME, similarly sized firms with robust capabilities in brand tracking and analytics, particularly those familiar with the nuances of educational brand positioning, could find similar opportunities fruitful for expanding their portfolio of government and public sector contracts.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

OU Brand Tracking Services

Notice Description

The Open University is seeking a supplier of brand tracking services to support the organisation in measuring awareness and perceptions of the Open University brand, competitor brands and evaluate the success of our specific campaigns amongst potential students in all UK nations. The contract may also include brand tracking services among other audiences such as current students, alumni and employers. 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 three (3) years and may be extended by the OU by one further twelve (12) month period 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.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-f655c951-8648-4ada-94ab-9b32d2980416
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/0c917bd3-ddd7-494f-8b55-5c35131a48fb
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Restricted procedure (above threshold)
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79310000 - Market research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£904,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£904,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
9 Jan 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
23 Oct 2024Expired
Award Date
30 Sep 20254 months ago
Contract Period
30 Sep 2025 - 1 Oct 2029 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
OPEN UNIVERSITY(THE)
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MILTON KEYNES
Postcode
MK7 6AA
Post Town
Milton Keynes
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ12 Milton Keynes
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Milton Keynes
Electoral Ward
Monkston
Westminster Constituency
Milton Keynes Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

THE NURSERY RESEARCH AND PLANNING

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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