Award

Provision of Out of hours support for the computing and distribution Helpdesk

OPEN UNIVERSITY(THE)

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

16 Dec 2024 at 11:43

Award

15 Feb 2023 at 12:05

Summary of the contracting process

The Open University (OU) has awarded a contract for the provision of out-of-hours support for their Student Computing and Distribution Helpdesk (SCDHD) to Norman Managed Services, a company based in Newcastle upon Tyne. The procurement, categorised under telephone-answering services (CPV code 79510000), is part of the services sector and involves maintaining 24/7 support for students through various channels. The contract was signed on 20th April 2023, valued at GBP 550,000, and is set to extend for a period of three years, following a previous tender in 2022 that resulted in non-compliant bids. The procurement method used was limited, due to the absence of competition for technical reasons, ensuring continuity of the sensitive support services provided by Norman Managed Services.

This tender presents significant opportunities for growth for businesses equipped to handle highly sensitive and technical support services in the education sector. Companies with expertise in managing complex helpdesk operations and a proven track record in the Higher Education domain are well-suited to compete. Norman Managed Services' successful integration into the OU's OOH support highlights the importance of industry experience and the ability to offer cost-effective, comprehensive, 24/7 student support solutions. This contract underlines the potential for SMEs possessing specialised skills to secure long-term, high-value public procurement contracts.

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Notice Title

Provision of Out of hours support for the computing and distribution Helpdesk

Notice Description

The Open University's Student Computing and Distribution Helpdesk (SCDHD) are appointing an 3rd party to provide out of hours (OOH) support.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The OU Helpdesk receives contact from students providing both technical and non-technical support when using any module software or University programmes, as well as monitoring for any welfare or safeguarding concerns. The OU has now extended support of students to 24/7 via different channels

Options: 2 x 12 months

Procurement Information

Following a tender in 2022, which resulted in two non-compliant bids, the OU entered into an interim agreement with Norman. The OU now wishes to contract with Norman for a longer period of 3 years, on the grounds of absence of competition due to technical reasons. Norman Managed Services have successfully supported the OU over the past 12 months with an out-of-hours Helpdesk. They have become an integral part of how the OU supports students. The OU Helpdesk receives contact from students providing both technical and nontechnical support when using any module software or University programmes, as well as monitoring for any welfare or safeguarding concerns. The support provided in this area is extremely sensitive and Norman supports a range of other Universities and other Higher Education organisations, giving them experience in dealing directly with the complexity that this service can bring. The services provided by Norman has also given the OU the ability to benefit from the widespread expertise gained by Norman over the past 17 years that they have been operating. The OU has now extended support of students to 24/7 via different channels through a combined service of in-house OU Helpdesk and Norman. This increase in service for OU students has been achieved at lower cost.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-03a5da
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040416-2024
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

79510000 - Telephone-answering services

79512000 - Call centre

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£875,000 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Dec 20241 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
15 Feb 20233 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
OPEN UNIVERSITY(THE)
Contact Name
Procurement Team
Contact Email
fbs-procurement@open.ac.uk, finance-tenders@open.ac.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1908655814

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
TLC2 Northumberland, and Tyne and Wear, TLJ12 Milton Keynes

Local Authority
Milton Keynes
Electoral Ward
Monkston
Westminster Constituency
Milton Keynes Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

NORMAN MANAGED SERVICES

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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