Award

Prospective Student Engagement and Conversion Service for Keele University

THE UNIVERSITY OF KEELE

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

16 Dec 2025 at 13:58

Tender

20 Feb 2025 at 15:28

Summary of the contracting process

The University of Keele has completed a procurement process for a Prospective Student Engagement and Conversion Service, focusing on marketing services. This process, governed by public law, was initiated as an open procedure under the CELEX scheme. The contract is set to commence on 1st July 2025, running for twenty-seven months with possible extensions up to September 2029. Situated in Keele, Staffordshire, within region UKG24, the University's tender stage was finalised with an award to QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. The procurement process adhered to strict evaluation criteria including quality and price, and the award decision status is active as of 16th December 2025, with a signed contract worth approximately £1.374 million.

This tender presents substantial business growth opportunities within the marketing industry, particularly for companies skilled in student engagement and conversion methodologies. Businesses well-suited to compete in this tender process are those with robust management structures and personnel capable of delivering high conversion rates and a favourable return on investment. The open procurement method implies broader accessibility, allowing diverse marketing agencies to participate by submitting electronic tenders until the set deadline of 31st March 2025. The ongoing demand for innovative engagement approaches can foster expansion for businesses specializing in marketing and educational services. This contract offers potential long-term collaboration with Keele University while aligning with compliance to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, reinforcing opportunities for sustained business relationships.

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Notice Title

Prospective Student Engagement and Conversion Service for Keele University

Notice Description

Tenders are invited from interested parties for the Contract for the provision of a Prospective Student Engagement and Conversion Service for Keele University in accordance with the Tender Specification in Section 2 of the Invitation to Tender (ITT). The services required are fully described in the Tender Specification. All Tenderers are required to submit a compliant tender response in accordance with the tender requirements as set out in the Tender Specification. All tender responses will be subject to the Tender Evaluation Methodology as set out in the ITT.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Main reasons for the decision not to sub-divide the contract into lots: Given the need for one Service Provider to co-ordinate the delivery of all of the services required, the contract has not been subdivided into lots. The contract will run for an initial period of twenty-seven months from 1st July 2025 to 30th September 2027 with options to extend for a further two twelve-month periods, reviewed annually, with a final end date of 30th September 2029. The decision of whether to take up the extension options will be down to the absolute discretion of the University. The estimated total value of the contract over its duration (including the extension options if these are taken up) is PS1.9 million excluding VAT.

Options: Options to extend for a further two twelve-month periods, reviewed annually, with a final end date of 30th September 2029.

Renewal: Options to extend for a further two twelve-month periods, reviewed annually, with a final end date of 30th September 2029.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04e544
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083400-2025
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

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


CPV Codes

79342000 - Marketing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,900,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,900,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£1,374,890 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
31 Mar 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
16 Sep 20255 months ago
Contract Period
30 Jun 2025 - 30 Sep 2027 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE UNIVERSITY OF KEELE
Contact Name
Darren Pearce
Contact Email
d.pearce@keele.ac.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1782734124

Buyer Location

Locality
KEELE, STAFFORDSHIRE,
Postcode
ST5 5NB
Post Town
Stoke-on-Trent
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG2 Shropshire and Staffordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG24 Staffordshire CC
Delivery Location
TLG24 Staffordshire CC

Local Authority
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Electoral Ward
Keele
Westminster Constituency
Newcastle-under-Lyme

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

QS QUACQUARELLI SYMONDS

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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