---
title: "Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Licence Renewal"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06c147"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06c147"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c147.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c147.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "BATH SPA UNIVERSITY"
published: "2026-07-01"
---

# Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Licence Renewal

Buyer: BATH SPA UNIVERSITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06c147

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c147.json)

## Summary

Bath Spa University has completed a direct contract award for the renewal of its Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Licence through a tender process with the ID BSU/2025/010. This initiative, dated 1st July 2026, focuses on acquiring a SaaS Licence for Blackboard Ultra, inclusive of storage and course catalogue. With a contract period spanning from 1st August 2026 to 31st July 2031, this process falls under the services category and covers several regions across the United Kingdom. The award was granted to Blackboard International B.V., highlighting the importance of continuity in service and technical alignment with existing infrastructure. The procurement method was a direct award, justified by the need to avoid technical difficulties and extra costs associated with switching suppliers. Key procurement dates mark a scheduled signature by 13th July 2026, emphasizing the imminent transition into the contract period.

This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses specializing in educational software and related service provisions, although the direct nature of the award limits the competition. Despite this, entities that offer complementary services or seek partnerships with large-scale suppliers like Blackboard International might find growth opportunities by aligning with incumbent suppliers within the SaaS and educational technology sector. The contract's flexibility, allowing changes in licence user numbers and storage requirements, caters well to agile software firms capable of adapting to varying demands in educational settings. This establishes a conducive environment for businesses focusing on digital learning solutions to engage indirectly with the ongoing digital transformation strategies of educational institutions like Bath Spa University.

## Notice

SaaS Licence Renewal for Virtual Learnin Environment (VLE), Blackboard Ultra including Storage and Course Catalogue.

### Procurement Information

A direct award of Blackboard Ultra for a five-year term on the basis that a change of supplier would result in disproportionate technical difficulties, significant operational disruption, and avoidable additional cost. The current Virtual Learning Environment is deeply embedded within core teaching, learning, and assessment systems. Transitioning to an alternative supplier would require substantial system reconfiguration, data migration, and staff retraining, introducing material delivery risk and placing considerable strain on internal resources. This risk is heightened by the number of concurrent digital and infrastructure projects currently underway. A supplier change would adversely impact delivery timelines, create duplication of effort, and increase the likelihood of service disruption for both staff and students. A transition would also result in diseconomies of scale, including duplicated implementation costs, parallel system support, and loss of efficiencies associated with the existing platform and established expertise. The proposed five-year agreement ensures continuity and stability of service while supporting delivery of wider strategic objectives. It also represents value for money, delivering a cost saving across the longer contract term.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061750-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 1 Jul 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 29 Jun 2026 |
| Contract period | 31 Jul 2026 - 31 Jul 2031 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £1,098,004 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | BATH SPA UNIVERSITY |
| Locality | BATH |
| Post town | Bath |
| Postcode | BA2 9BN |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England |
| ITL 3 | TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire |
| Local authority | Bath and North East Somerset |
| Electoral ward | Saltford |
| Westminster constituency | North East Somerset and Hanham |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

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

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 48 - Software package and information systems
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 48190000 - Educational software package
- 72268000 - Software supply services

## Release History

- 1 Jul 2026 at 12:46 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061750-2026
- 1 Jul 2026 at 12:29 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061730-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061750-2026
  1st July 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061730-2026
  1st July 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.blackboard.com/
- https://www.bathspa.ac.uk/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-06c147. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c147.json.