Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2019-03-26
Buyer: University of Northampton
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Restricted procedure
CPV classification: 48160000
Estimated value: 1000000 GBP
Submission deadline: 2019-04-29
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: The University of Northampton is seeking to acquire a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) solution (live, test and staging). It is envisaged that the contract length will be 5 years with the option to extend at the discretion of the University for a further 5 additional 1 year extensions. With a contract start date of August 2019 The current VLE has been a key product at the University supporting learning and teaching and is the key backbone of NILE (Northampton Integrated Learning Environment) and is fed directly from the Student Record System (QLS) to ensure access for all students. Courses are structured on NILE and this provides content, communication and engagement functionality to provide the University blend of virtual and face to face support which underpins University Active Blended Learning (ABL).
The University of Northampton is seeking to acquire a virtual learning environment solution (live, test and staging) for the following 5 years with a possibility of 5 additional 1 year extensions. The VLE has been a key product at the University since 2002. It has been the key product supporting learning and teaching during this time and been the subject of several reviews to confirm that it continues to meet the core objectives of the institution. The current license expires in August 2020, and this tender allows Northampton to evaluate the market against the University requirements. NILE (Northampton Integrated Learning Environment) is the name provided to the VLE and this is fed directly from the Student Record System (QLS) to ensure access for all students. Courses are structured on NILE and this provides content, communication and engagement functionality to provide the University blend of virtual and face to face support which underpins University Active Blended Learning (ABL). During 2017/18 academic year, we had a head count of 16 800 students which equates to 9953 FTE. In addition, we have around 1 000 staff of which approximately 500 are academic. Supplementary systems add additional functionality to NILE such as Turnitin (originality checking and additional marking tools); Kaltura (video streaming); Wordpress (static web content), Publishers (ebook content), Talis (Library system integration) and Xerte (Learning Object development). NILE forms a key part of the Northampton student digital experience with the majority of assessments now being supported through the product, along with in course communication delivered along with all virtual engagement.
The contract may be extended entirely at the University discretion for further 5 additional 1 year extensions.
Tender is published on https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofnorthampton/. Register your organisation, once accepted you can access the tender documents. Contract value in II.1.5 and II.2.6 is an estimate based on 200 000 GBP per year for contract length.The University envisages entering a 5 year contract with the option to extend entirely at the University discretion for further 5 x 1 year extensions.
The University reserves the right to cancel or amend the tendering process at any stage, not to award the contract in whole or in part and does not bind itself to accept any tender. The University shall not be liable in any circumstances for any costs or expenses incurred by any prospective service provider in responding to this notice or in tendering for the proposed contract.
The procurement process will incorporate a standstill period at the point that notification of the proposed award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. That notification will provide information on the award decision as is required by Regulation 86 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.


Award value: 1000000