Award

Third Party Admissions System

UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

10 Dec 2024 at 09:17

Tender

01 Aug 2024 at 10:13

Summary of the contracting process

The University of Edinburgh has initiated a public procurement process for a Third Party Admissions System, classified under administrative educational services. The procurement, based in Edinburgh (UKM75), is currently in the award stage following an open procedure with an active contract signed for £600,000 GBP with QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited on 9 December 2024. The project aims to enhance the university's admissions process over the next three cycles starting in September 2025. Key functions include applicant data verification, decision-making support, and documentation requests. This initiative aligns with the strategic objectives of improving the student experience and meeting high educational standards.

This tender offers considerable growth potential for businesses specialising in educational support services, data analysis, and administrative solutions. Companies with a strong technical capability and competitive pricing structure can benefit significantly. Ideal candidates are experienced in managing sensitive data securely, providing cloud-based services, and integrating with institutional systems like the University’s EUCLID (SITS). Furthermore, suppliers must have a solid track record of supporting large organisations during peak times. The tender supports University of Edinburgh's vision under its Strategy 2030, fostering long-term partnerships that contribute positively to education and community goals.

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Notice Title

Third Party Admissions System

Notice Description

The University is looking to work with a commercial partner to support admissions decision-making, with scope to consider verification and conversion support. This work would cover the next three admissions cycles, with the first intake being September 2025.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The University of Edinburgh seeks to enhance the Future Student experience both in speed of decision turnaround and in the qualitative experience of all applicants whether they receive an offer or not. This is to support our delivery of institutional student population strategic objectives, and to ensure our future student experience is in line with our world class standing. The University is looking to work with a commercial partner to support admissions decision-making, with scope to consider verification and conversion support. This work would cover the next three admissions cycles, with the first intake being September 2025. The third-party admissions service should support to admissions teams at the University of Edinburgh, to provide more concentrated and flexible support in peak periods, and allow for University of Edinburgh Admissions staff to focus on specialist, value-added activity. This should also enable offer making to be delivered in a timely manner. This would likely include: - Identification and completion of missing data; - Identification of ineligible applicants; - Identification of applicants who are highly competitive and should be considered further by admissions teams; and - Requesting documentation post-offer, to confirm whether the applicant has met their conditions of offer. This would primarily be undertaken by staff from the supplier, who are trained by the University of Edinburgh. These staff will be granted access the University's systems to support this activity. This will include the use of the University's student records system, EUCLID (SITS). Access is cloud based through multi factor authentication and a VPN should be utilised for any work undertaken off campus. Information will be shared through Microsoft 365 products and supplier staff will be invited to relevant admissions team meetings to ensure accurate and successful completion of work to SLAs. Data protection standards must be met to ensure safety and security of applicant data.

Options: One 12-month extension option available to the University.

Renewal: Following the initial 24-month period, the University will have the option to extend by a further 12-months, for a total possible contract duration of 36-months.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0486af
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039692-2024
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

72316000 - Data analysis services

75121000 - Administrative educational services

80300000 - Higher education services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£600,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£600,000 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Dec 20241 years ago
Submission Deadline
2 Sep 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
9 Dec 20241 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
UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
Contact Name
Elliot Freeman
Contact Email
elliot.freeman@ed.ac.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1316502508

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH1 1HT
Post Town
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM75 City of Edinburgh

Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

QS QUACQUARELLI SYMONDS

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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