---
title: "Tackling Bogus Degree provision and Degree Fraud in England"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-5e7167c9-adc9-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-5e7167c9-adc9-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-5e7167c9-adc9-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-5e7167c9-adc9-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED"
published: "2018-03-21"
---

# Tackling Bogus Degree provision and Degree Fraud in England

Buyer: UK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-5e7167c9-adc9-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b

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## Summary

The procurement process titled "Tackling Bogus Degree provision and Degree Fraud in England" is initiated by UK Shared Business Services Limited, representing the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS). The procurement is classified under the research and development consultancy services category, with a total contract value of £50,000. The procurement stage is currently at the Award phase, with the contract period commencing on 17 March 2016 and concluding on 17 March 2017. The primary focus of this tender is on addressing issues related to bogus degree providers, referred to as degree mills, which target the reputation of the UK's higher education sector. The delivery address for the project is located in London, United Kingdom, and the initial tender period ended on 10 March 2016.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities for firms specialising in consultancy services related to education quality assurance, legal compliance, and research. Businesses that can provide innovative solutions for monitoring and tackling degree fraud will be particularly well-suited to compete for this contract. As degree mills continue to pose challenges in the UK and globally, companies with expertise in identifying fraudulent practices and strengthening the integrity of educational credentials are likely to find this procurement a valuable prospect to enhance their market presence.

## Notice

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) is seeking a contractor for the delivery of services to enhance the Department's activities to tackle bogus degree provision and degree fraud in England. BIS is responsible for promoting and protecting the reputation of the UK higher education (HE) sector. An important part of this work is concerned with dealing with issues that arise from activities carried out by bogus degree providers, also known as degree mills. In order to seek to better protect the reputation of the UK HE sector, the Department commissioned a service in 2015 for an initial one year period to expand its activities in this area by taking a more proactive approach to tackling degree mills and also the related area of degree fraud. The Department is now looking to continue the service for another one year period. BIS is responsible for maintaining lists of recognised UK degree course providers. This comprises institutions who have their own degree awarding powers (known as Recognised Bodies) as well as institutions who deliver degree courses that are awarded by a 'Recognised Body' through validated or franchised arrangements. Under sections 214-216 of the Education Reform Act 1988, it is an offence for a body to award a UK degree or offer a UK degree course unless that body is already recognised and officially listed. BIS has no direct enforcement role (this being the responsibility of Trading Standards Departments). BIS's role is to advise the public about legitimate degree providers and to liaise with the enforcement authorities where appropriate where bogus degree providers appear to be operating in the UK. Degree mills have been a growing concern, not just here in the UK, but worldwide. Their expansion has been fuelled by the World Wide Web. This has enabled degree mills to take on a virtual presence and to give the appearance of an actual HE institution even though no such institution actually exists. The strong reputation of the UK HE sector means that the UK is a target for bogus operators who purport to operate a UK based "university". Degree fraud is a closely related area. The "qualifications" offered by bogus providers tend to be used by applicants seeking to gain employment under false pretences. This has the potential to disadvantage students with genuine qualifications who are competing for labour market opportunities with candidates with false qualifications because employers have not made the necessary checks. Additional information: As part of the strategic alliance between UK Shared Business Services Ltd (UK SBS) and Crown Commercial Service (CCS), UK SBS can use the CCS eSourcing Suite for future procurements. If you have not yet registered on the eSourcing Suite, this can be done online at https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk by following the link 'Register for CCS eSourcing'. Please note that, to register, you must have a valid DUNS number (as provided by Dun and Bradstreet) for the organisation which you are registering, who will be entering into a contract if invited to do so. Once you have registered on the eSourcing Suite, a registered user can express an interest for a specific procurement. This is done by emailing Expressionofinterest@crowncommercial.gov.uk. Your email must clearly state: the name and reference for the procurement you wish to register for; the name of the registered Bidder; and the name and contact details for the registered individual sending the email. Crown Commercial Service will process the email and then enable the Bidder to access the procurement online via the e-Sourcing Suite. The registered user will receive a notification email to alert them once this has been done. The Sourcing documents can then be accessed on the eSourcing Suite at: https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk using the instructions detailed in the Specification documents within Contracts Finder. As a user of the e-Sourcing Suite you will have access to Emptoris email messaging service which facilitates all messages sent to you and from you in relation to any specific RFX event. Please note it is your responsibility to access these emails on a regular basis to ensure you have sight of all relevant information. For technical assistance on use of the e-Sourcing Suite please contact Crown Commercial Service Helpdesk : Telephone: 0345 010 3503 Training documents to support Bidders utilise Emptoris CCS eSourcing are available in the Contracts Finder Tender documents section.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/daa1dbeb-c1ee-4ecf-8047-37c160d6cf70 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not applicable |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 21 Mar 2018 |
| Submission deadline | 10 Mar 2016 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 16 Mar 2016 |
| Contract period | 17 Mar 2016 - 17 Mar 2017 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £50,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £50,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED |
| Locality | SWINDON |
| Post town | Swindon |
| Postcode | SN2 1FF |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire |
| ITL 3 | TLK71 Swindon |
| Local authority | Swindon |
| Electoral ward | Rodbourne Cheney |
| Westminster constituency | Swindon North |
| Delivery location | TLI London |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | HIGHER EDUCATION CAREERS SERVICE UNIT |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
- 80 - Education and training services
- 98 - Other community, social and personal services

### Codes

- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
- 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 98100000 - Membership organisation services

## Release History

- 21 Mar 2018 at 12:24 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/daa1dbeb-c1ee-4ecf-8047-37c160d6cf70
- 18 Nov 2016 at 20:17 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/14c5a2f6-dd21-45a5-9a40-e8a2257ce0e6

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/daa1dbeb-c1ee-4ecf-8047-37c160d6cf70
  21st March 2018 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/14c5a2f6-dd21-45a5-9a40-e8a2257ce0e6
  29th February 2016 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/465341c8-fefa-49d9-ba32-b0b8f74b272d
  Bidder - Logging into Emptoris for the first time
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/4b279bbd-8ec7-473a-bf54-02ad7b5a188b
  AW5.2 Price Schedule
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/2c9acf42-e31d-41ad-abde-a35fa17f2c9f
  PS16023 ITQ Questions
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/89a8220e-296f-4513-a5be-c87ff0ee1f7a
  Terms and Conditions S1 - Services purchasing low value
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/65b64c1e-1da0-45a4-90ef-41caea4d6aa8
  Bidder Training
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/a1fd1889-7a2c-4b0b-9b1f-29978ba45067
  PS16023 ITQ
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/f6fe2b0d-7b66-4e82-a29b-e7980c32a797
  Bidder - Logging into Emptoris for the first time
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/b3c8dc3d-cb38-44e9-ba8c-7fe948cc649f
  AW5.2 Price Schedule
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/1c8ca7d1-752b-4e2c-add8-e1fb4903fe1c
  PS16023 ITQ Questions
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/4b0bac14-a1f3-4747-b9cb-e236feec0470
  Terms and Conditions S1 - Services purchasing low value
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/48c7a5c8-e471-4521-967f-3341e2229caa
  Bidder Training
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/349cce49-fd8a-45f1-9684-280d02ae8079
  PS16023 ITQ

## Notice URLs

- https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-5e7167c9-adc9-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-5e7167c9-adc9-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b.json.