---
title: "Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-030aaf"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-030aaf"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-030aaf.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-030aaf.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER"
published: "2022-02-15"
---

# Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-030aaf

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-030aaf)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-030aaf.json)

## Summary

The University of Manchester is currently involved in the procurement process for the renewal of its Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), specifically the Blackboard Learn SaaS solution. This procurement falls under the category of educational software and is classed as a goods procurement. The process is in the Award stage, having been completed on 15th February 2022, with a total contract value of £2,700,000. The contract spans a period starting in November 2022 and includes an option to extend for an additional year. Delivery of services will take place at the University of Manchester, located in Manchester, UK.

This tender presents an excellent opportunity for businesses specializing in educational technology, software development, and IT services to expand their reach. Given that this specific contract is for the renewal of an existing service, businesses prepared to transition teams and existing data may find themselves uniquely positioned to bid in any forthcoming competitive tendering processes anticipated later in 2022. Companies that can demonstrate expertise in VLE solutions and a deep understanding of the educational sector's needs will likely stand out in future procurement activities for similar contracts.

## Notice

Renewal of Blackboard Learn SaaS.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal of Blackboard Learn SaaS.

Options: 3 year contract to commence November 2022, with the option to extend for a further 1 x 12 month period

### Procurement Information

* The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason: * absence of competition for technical reasons The continuity of a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is business-critical to the University and renewal of the Blackboard Learn SaaS solution is essential to our student experience. Change to a new environment is not possible at this stage but the University does anticipate undertaking a procurement exercise for a replacement during the calendar year 2022 * Student Experience. Due to Covid there has been considerable disruption to the student experience and it is essential that we have minimal disruption in the short term to ensure the continuity of the online components of teaching and learning. * We are currently undertaking a review of our requirements from a wide range of teaching and support staff across the University. The recommendations of this review is anticipated to be Spring 2022 and will be essential to shaping the specification as part of a competitive tendering process. * Given the time-frame for the review, and the expected length of time to conduct competitive tendering, it is not feasible that a future VLE supplier could be identified much before November 2022, when our existing Blackboard contract expires. * Sufficient time will be required to implement and configure the chosen solution and to migrate all existing course and student/staff data (c. 8,000 courses, 50,000 users). A reasonable estimate for this activity is 2-3 years, during which we will need to retain access to all Blackboard data in order to comply with data retention regulations.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004279-2022 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 15 Feb 2022 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 13 Jan 2022 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £2,700,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER |
| Locality | MANCHESTER |
| Post town | Manchester |
| Postcode | M13 9PL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD3 Greater Manchester |
| ITL 3 | TLD33 Manchester |
| Local authority | Manchester |
| Electoral ward | Hulme |
| Westminster constituency | Manchester Rusholme |
| Delivery location | TLD3 Greater Manchester |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | BLACKBOARD INTERNATIONAL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 48 - Software package and information systems

### Codes

- 48190000 - Educational software package

## Release History

- 15 Feb 2022 at 13:23 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004279-2022
- 31 Jan 2022 at 08:48 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002637-2022
- 13 Jan 2022 at 15:32 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001047-2022

## Notice URLs

- http://www.procurement.manchester.ac.uk/
- https://in-tendhost.co.uk/manchesteruniversity/

## 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-h6vhtk-030aaf. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-030aaf.json.