VEAT Notice Intention to award a 12-month extension to an existing public services contract for the provision of Prospective Student Engagement and Conversion Services for the University of Keele

Concepts

• education and training
• staffordshire
• recruitment services
• prospective student engagement
• conversion services
• university
• an existing public services contract
• the existing service provision
• keele
• a tender service website

Location

Keele

Description

Intention to award a 12-month extension to an existing public services contract for the provision of Prospective Student Engagement and Conversion Services for the University of Keele. The contract extension will cover the period 1st October 2024 to 30th September 2025.

Total Quantity or Scope

During the 12 month extension period to the existing contract, the University will undertake an advertised competitive tendering process to award a new three-year contract for the provision of Prospective Student Engagement and Conversion Services commencing on 1st October 2025 and running until 30th September 2028. The Contract Notice for the procurement of the new three-year contract will be published on the Find a Tender Service website no later than February 2025. The University reserve the option to commercially appraise the benefit of bringing the existing service provision in-house.

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 80000000 - Education and training services
• 79600000 - Recruitment services

Indicators

Legal Justification

UniQuest is unique in providing a thoughtful and tailored managed student conversion and engagement service for UK higher education institutions (HEIs) to improve the quality, quantity and diversity of both domestic and International students. UniQuest is now supporting over 45 universities in the UK, Europe, and North America - consistently delivering YOY results to satisfied partners. UniQuest is best placed to continue to service Keele's prospective students across the student journey as proven in 2023 when Keele achieved the Best Enquiry Experience by utilising the services underpinned by UniQuest. UniQuest performs the services by utilising specialised technology, sector expertise from the people they employ to optimise the best student journey for Keele. The 12 month extension to the existing contract will be carried out under a change control notice for the purpose of allowing the University to meet the critical need for continuity of service provision and enable time for the University to undertake an advertised competitive tendering process to award a new three-year contract for the provision of Prospective Student Engagement and Conversion Services commencing on 1st October 2025 and running until 30th September 2028. The Contract Notice for the procurement of the new three-year contract will be published on the Find a Tender Service website no later than February 2025. The University reserve the option to commercially appraise the benefit of bringing the existing service provision in-house.