---
title: "Online Programme Delivery Partner"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000664810"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000664810"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000664810.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000664810.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "QUEEN MARGARET UNIVERSITY"
published: "2022-03-18"
---

# Online Programme Delivery Partner

Buyer: QUEEN MARGARET UNIVERSITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000664810

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## Summary

Queen Margaret University, located in Musselburgh, has recently completed a tender for the position of an Online Programme Delivery Partner. This procurement, initiated through a selective competitive procedure with negotiation, seeks a supplier equipped with strong marketing, student recruitment, and technical expertise in online higher education. The project began its tender phase on September 20, 2021, and has culminated in an award made on February 7, 2022, with a contract value of £40 million, set to support the university's ambition to enhance student enrolments and tuition fee revenues through innovative online programme offerings.

This tender represents an excellent opportunity for businesses specialising in online education and programme delivery, particularly those who have a proven track record in the UK higher education sector. Companies with expertise in student recruitment, marketing strategies tailored for online environments, and the capability to conduct comprehensive market research could greatly benefit from this initiative. The expected collaborative model, which includes upfront financial investment and equal revenue sharing with the university, makes this a compelling venture for small and medium-sized enterprises eager to engage in innovative educational solutions that transcend traditional boundaries.

## Notice

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, wishes to engage an experienced online programme delivery partner to support the University in adapting and delivering in an online mode those of its programmes for which there is latent high demand for such an offer. In doing so, the partner will support the University in its ambition to increase its student enrolments and tuition fee revenue. The University requires a partner that has proven marketing, student recruitment, technical and pedagogical expertise and experience in the field of online higher education, including a track record in the UK. We seek a partner with a proven delivery model that meets the needs of students both in terms of flexible access to their chosen degree programme, utilising a carousel model of module and programme delivery that works across international time zones, and that enables a high quality online student experience that meets their academic needs. We expect that partner to provide all required upfront financial investment for launching the online degrees and to operate a financial model whereby there is a 50/50 tuition fee revenue share with the University and to provide all necessary market research intelligence with regards to programme selection and tuition fee levels.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Queen Margaret University has as one of its strategic objectives the provision of an attractive, relevant and market responsive academic portfolio. We aim to achieve this through offering students a choice of methods of learning that are appropriate to students' circumstances and make the best use of digital technologies to support that learning. Specifically, the University aims to extend its reach in domestic and international markets through delivering some of its core academic programmes in a high quality, accessible and affordable online mode. To enable it to deliver on this objective, the University intends to engage an experienced online programme delivery partner to support the University in adapting and delivering in an online mode those of its programmes for which there is latent high demand for such an offer. In doing so, the partner will support the University in its ambition to increase its student enrolments and tuition fee revenue. The University requires a partner that has proven marketing, student recruitment, technical and pedagogical expertise and experience in the field of online higher education, including a track record in the UK. We seek a partner with a proven delivery model that meets the needs of students both in terms of flexible access to their chosen degree programme, utilising a carousel model of module and programme delivery that works across international time zones, and that enables a high quality online student experience that meets their academic needs. We expect that partner to: - Operate a financial model whereby the partner provide all required upfront financial investment for launching the online degrees, including covering the cost of marketing, student recruitment, student retention, appropriate technology, and support for University staff in converting their modules and programmes into an online mode - Operate a financial model whereby there is a 50/50 tuition fee revenue share with the University - Lead the project management of the marketing, development and launch of the online programmes and be in a position to market, adapt and develop a programme for online launch quickly - Provide market research intelligence, both domestic and international, to inform the University's selection of its programmes for adaptation for delivery in an online mode, including the identification of potential new programmes with market potential where the University has the relevant expertise, and to inform recommended tuition fee levels - Effectively market those programmes selected for online development - Play the lead role in pre-enrolment student engagement and initial application sifting, ensuring students are suitably prepared for the demands of online learning - Have a standard operating procedure that includes directly supporting academic staff to adapt their modules and programmes for online delivery and that, in so doing, develops the University's staff understanding of the principles of high quality online pedagogy and learning design - Have a model of online delivery and support that proactively maximises student retention, including through the use of data analytics and direct student support and intervention - Offer a virtual learning environment that is intuitive for staff and student users and that supports effective learning design and high quality student engagement, as well as the option of the University using its existing VLE to deliver the selected online programmes - Offer and support a smooth integration with the relevant University systems including Admissions and Student Records -Allow Queen Margaret to retain the intellectual property rights for its modules and programmes developed as part of the partnership

Renewal: Renewals are subject to the successful delivery of the project and favourable student recruitment.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR443922 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Competitive procedure with negotiation |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 18 Mar 2022 |
| Submission deadline | 20 Oct 2021 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 7 Feb 2022 |
| Contract period | 2 May 2022 - 1 May 2032 |
| Recurrence | After initial contract period, if no optional extension invoked. |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £40,000,000 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | QUEEN MARGARET UNIVERSITY |
| Locality | MUSSELBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH21 6UU |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM11 East Lothian and Midlothian |
| Local authority | East Lothian |
| Electoral ward | Musselburgh |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh East and Musselburgh |
| Delivery location | TLM73 East Lothian and Midlothian |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | HIGHER ED PARTNERS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 79340000 - Advertising and marketing services
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80430000 - Adult-education services at university level

## Release History

- 18 Mar 2022 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR443922
- 20 Sep 2021 at 00:00 - Tender - OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP427817

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP427817
  Online Programme Delivery Partner - Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, wishes to engage an experienced online programme delivery partner to support the University in adapting and delivering in an online mode those of its programmes for which there is latent high demand for such an offer. In doing so, the partner will support the University in its ambition to increase its student enrolments and tuition fee revenue. The University requires a partner that has proven marketing, student recruitment, technical and pedagogical expertise and experience in the field of online higher education, including a track record in the UK. We seek a partner with a proven delivery model that meets the needs of students both in terms of flexible access to their chosen degree programme, utilising a carousel model of module and programme delivery that works across international time zones, and that enables a high quality online student experience that meets their academic needs. We expect that partner to provide all required upfront financial investment for launching the online degrees and to operate a financial model whereby there is a 50/50 tuition fee revenue share with the University and to provide all necessary market research intelligence with regards to programme selection and tuition fee levels.
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR443922
  Online Programme Delivery Partner - Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, wishes to engage an experienced online programme delivery partner to support the University in adapting and delivering in an online mode those of its programmes for which there is latent high demand for such an offer. In doing so, the partner will support the University in its ambition to increase its student enrolments and tuition fee revenue. The University requires a partner that has proven marketing, student recruitment, technical and pedagogical expertise and experience in the field of online higher education, including a track record in the UK. We seek a partner with a proven delivery model that meets the needs of students both in terms of flexible access to their chosen degree programme, utilising a carousel model of module and programme delivery that works across international time zones, and that enables a high quality online student experience that meets their academic needs. We expect that partner to provide all required upfront financial investment for launching the online degrees and to operate a financial model whereby there is a 50/50 tuition fee revenue share with the University and to provide all necessary market research intelligence with regards to programme selection and tuition fee levels.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.qmu.ac.uk/
- http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/court-locations/edinburgh-sheriff-court-and-justice-of-the-peace-court
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000664810
- https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.html

## 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-r6ebe6-0000664810. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000664810.json.