---
title: "UK SBS PS16240 Islamic Finance Advice to support development of Alternative Student Finance"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-e7490bb1-a07f-4b7e-8072-f618f2c2e41d"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-e7490bb1-a07f-4b7e-8072-f618f2c2e41d"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e7490bb1-a07f-4b7e-8072-f618f2c2e41d.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e7490bb1-a07f-4b7e-8072-f618f2c2e41d.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED"
published: "2017-11-02"
---

# UK SBS PS16240 Islamic Finance Advice to support development of Alternative Student Finance

Buyer: UK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-e7490bb1-a07f-4b7e-8072-f618f2c2e41d

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## Summary

The UK Shared Business Services Limited, through the Department for Education (DfE), is conducting an open tender titled "UK SBS PS16240 Islamic Finance Advice to support development of Alternative Student Finance." The procurement process is currently in the Award stage, with bids having closed on 7th March 2017. This contract, which falls under the Financial and insurance services category, involves consultancy services to assist in the design and implementation of Alternative Student Finance models, particularly utilising the Takaful approach. The contract period spans from 10th April 2017 to 9th April 2019, with the awarded value set at £96,000.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in Islamic finance consultancy, particularly those familiar with educational finance structures. Consulting firms and experts in financial management who can demonstrate knowledge in non-interest-based financing techniques would be well-suited to participate in future similar tenders. Additionally, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) may find advantageous opportunities in providing tailored solutions that align with the DfE's objectives to expand access to higher and further education for Muslim students.

## Notice

**THE CLOSING DATE FOR THIS TENDER IS 07th MARCH 2017, PLEASE DO NOT APPLY DIRECT TO THE BUYER** The Department for Education (DFE) is running an open tender for experts in Islamic Finance to support the design and delivery of Alternative Student Finance (ASF). DfE are responsible for ASF policy development and the legislation required to enable its provision. DfE will delegate the functions required to deliver ASF, as it does for the current student loans system. There is a concern that the system outlined above could deter some prospective students who feel unable to use interest-bearing loans for religious reasons, particularly some Muslim students, from participation in higher and some further education. To ensure participation and choice are open to all the Government is currently legislating, subject to Parliament, in order to be able to offer an alternative model of student finance. The concept of alternative student finance was widely supported during public consultation in 2014 (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/sharia-compliant-student-finance). In May 2016 the Higher Education and Research Bill was introduced, and it is currently before Parliament. It seeks to amend the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 to provide the Secretary of State with the power, for the first time, to offer "alternative payments" alongside her existing powers to offer grants and loans. There is significant work to be done on the design and implementation of the alternative student finance model in order to be able to launch it for students. The consultants we are seeking will be required to provide verbal and written advice, recommendations and validation of output to ensure that ASF, based on the Takaful model, meets the criteria set out in this document and can be delivered in good time. The consultant(s) will need to be able to: * work with policy makers in DfE and operational delivery experts in partner organisations to find solutions to the challenges of delivering ASF * provide oral and written advice and recommendations on design and delivery * be available to troubleshoot when problems materialise and provide options for resolution where applicable * travel to, attend and partake in workshops and meetings in London, Glasgow, Darlington and elsewhere , and participate in telephone conferences * build support in the Muslim community and lead work to secure appropriate acceptance and approval * provide verbal and written comments having reviewed proposed documentation (such as text on GOV.UK, letters regarding ASF, contract etc.) Additional information: UK Shared Business Services eSourcing 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/674719f5-5b26-43e5-8824-4d71d362dde7 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure (below threshold) |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 2 Nov 2017 |
| Submission deadline | 7 Mar 2017 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 19 Sep 2017 |
| Contract period | 30 Oct 2017 - 30 Oct 2019 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £96,000 |
| 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 | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | ISLAMIC FIANNCE COUNCIL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 66000000 - Financial and insurance services
- 79200000 - Accounting, auditing and fiscal services
- 79412000 - Financial management consultancy services

## Release History

- 2 Nov 2017 at 15:40 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/674719f5-5b26-43e5-8824-4d71d362dde7
- 21 Feb 2017 at 11:05 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/7622cf04-1ef4-4f5a-a6c0-99537edc702c

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/674719f5-5b26-43e5-8824-4d71d362dde7
  2nd November 2017 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/7622cf04-1ef4-4f5a-a6c0-99537edc702c
  21st February 2017 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/3178c818-ea8c-49b2-92ab-a4139176377b
  PS16240 AW5.2 Price Schedule Professional Services rate card
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/632d97e2-64a4-4624-896b-0c1c6ac3bc44
  PS16240 ITQ Invitation to Quote questions
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/a85ba759-0f04-421d-b9b1-3807b695098a
  PS16240 ITQ Invitation to Quote
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/9d9bbf68-2efa-47d6-99a5-4b726fc5122f
  PS16240 S1 - Services purchasing contract
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/587d9e4b-ee6c-4d18-8a17-380c51bce070
  Bidder - Logging into Emptoris for the first time V1.0
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/84f487ce-6c01-4137-a35b-f69d206655a6
  Bidder Training V1.0

## Notice URLs

- https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
- https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/sharia-compliant-student-finance

## 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-e7490bb1-a07f-4b7e-8072-f618f2c2e41d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e7490bb1-a07f-4b7e-8072-f618f2c2e41d.json.