Find a TenderClosed
Published 9 May 2025, 09:27 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Innovative, value adding VLE Systems and Associated Services

Official notice

Authority: APUC Ltd (Public body)

Framework agreement2 lotsServicesOpen procedureMax 1 lot per supplier
Sectors: IT Services & Software (72) Delivery: UK
Framework ceiling (notional)£45,000,000total for 2 lots · framework ceiling, not attributable revenue
Submissions closed 27 May 2025
Lots 2max 1 won per supplier

What is being bought2 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

Framework for Virtual Learning Environment Management Solutions and Associated Services for Universities and Colleges in Scotland and the UK, including provision of all software and any associated licensing. Potential Services include, but are not limited to:

System Implementation; Migration Support; Support and Maintenance; Hosting. Required solutions should have the capability to operate effectively across multi-campus environments. The framework agreement includes:

Lot1 - Proprietary VLE Systems

Lot2 - Moodle VLE Services including: Support, Hosting and Development

The agreement will be open to the members of Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC Limited) and other UK procurement consortia as listed further below.

  • Recurrence: 48 months

CPV: Database software package · Educational software package · IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support · Software package and information systems · Software support services

How this framework works

From the published notice
Places
up to 12 suppliers

Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure

2 lots · all with a published value · win at most 1 of them · evaluation weights differ by lot
Lot #1Proprietary VLE Systems and Associated ServicesRenewalPublished value£33,000,000

Framework for VLE Solutions and Associated Services for Universities and Colleges in Scotland: Lot 1, Proprietary VLE Systems,

including provision of all "commoditised off the shelf"(COTS)software and any associated licensing. Potential Services include, but are not

limited to:

System Implementation; Migration Support; Support and Maintenance; Hosting. Required solutions should have the capability to operate

effectively across multi-campus environments.

This framework agreement is available to participation from Full and Associate Members, and future members, within the UK higher

education regional purchasing consortia as follows:

Advanced Procurement Universities and Colleges (APUC Ltd) and associated members listed in Appendix E.

www.apuc-scot.ac.uk ↗

Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC);

www.supc.ac.uk/about-us/our-members… ↗

London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC);

www.lupc.ac.uk/member-list ↗

North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium (NEUPC);

www.neupc.ac.uk/our-members ↗

North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium (NWUPC);

www.nwupc.ac.uk/our-members ↗

Higher Education Purchasing Consortium, Wales (HEPCW).

www.hepcw.ac.uk/members/ ↗

Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC)

www.thecpc.ac.uk ↗ Additional information: Up to six participants may be appointed to Lot1, Proprietary VLE.

Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. All exclusion grounds; Refer to Procurement Documents and PCS-T for more information

Delivery: UK · Scotland and the UK.
Extensions: Two periods of twelve months each at the sole discretion of the Authority.Variant bids: not allowed
Lot #2Moodle VLE Services: Support, Hosting & DevelopmentRenewalPublished value£12,000,000

Framework for Innovative, value adding VLE Solutions and Associated Services for Universities and Colleges in Scotland and the UK: Lot1, Proprietary VLE Solutions and Associated Services; Lot 2, Development, Hosting and Support of Moodle VLE Solutions and Associated Services.

Potential Services include, but are not limited to:

System Implementation; Migration Support; Support and Maintenance; Hosting; Configuration, customisation and development if required by Institutions. Solutions should have the capability to operate effectively across multi-campus environments.

This framework agreement is available to participation from Full and Associate Members, and future members, within the UK higher education regional purchasing consortia as follows:

Advanced Procurement Universities and Colleges (APUC Ltd) and associated members listed in Appendix E.

www.apuc-scot.ac.uk ↗

Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC);

www.supc.ac.uk/about-us/our-members… ↗

London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC);

www.lupc.ac.uk/member-list ↗

North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium (NEUPC);

www.neupc.ac.uk/our-members ↗

North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium (NWUPC);

www.nwupc.ac.uk/our-members ↗

Higher Education Purchasing Consortium, Wales (HEPCW).

www.hepcw.ac.uk/members/ ↗

Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC)

www.thecpc.ac.uk ↗ Additional information: Up to six participants may be appointed to Lot2, Moodle VLE Services.

Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. All exclusion grounds; Refer to Procurement Documents and PCS-T for more information

Delivery: UK · Scotland and the UK.
Extensions: Two periods of twelve (12) months at the sole discretion of the Authority.Variant bids: not allowed

What it takes to win
i

How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
How bids were scored

Lots publish different evaluation splits; there is no single procedure weighting.

Conditions of participation2
  • Economic & financial standing

    The Single Procurement Document (SPD) Section 4B refers.

    Minimum: Section 4B.5 specifies the minimum levels of insurance which are as follows: Employer's (Compulsory) Liability Insurance, GBP 5Million Public and Product Liability Insurance, GBP 5Million Professional Indemnity GBP 2Million Cyber Insurance or equivalent Section 4B.6 of the SPD re…
  • Technical & professional ability

    Section 4C.1.2 of the SPD requests at least one relevant example of previous experience from suppliers tendering for this framework contract and/or services carried out within the last three years.

    Section 4C.4, Supply Chain Management and Prompt Payment question, must also be completed.

    Minimum: Section 4C.1.2 of the SPD requests at least one relevant example of previous experience from suppliers tendering for this framework contract and/or services carried out within the last three years. For a Pass at 4C.1.2 of the SPD, Tenderers must have a solution in place within an…
What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 30–40 points depending on the lot. Read the split per lot below.
  • “Innovative, value adding VLE Systems and Associated Services” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 12 suppliers, not a single contract.

Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Closed
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Framework agreement
Who may use this agreement
Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
Yes · 48 months
First published
9 May 2025, 09:27 BST
Last source update
9 May 2025, 09:27 BST
Award evaluation window
20 May 2025 – …
Authority reference
ITS1065 AP
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-019931
Classification (CPV)
Database software packageEducational software packageIT services: consulting, software development, Internet and supportSoftware package and information systemsSoftware support services
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-050216 Find a Tender
Contract terms
Performance terms

SUBMISSION OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION

Prior to the commencement of the Framework Agreement, the Contractor will provide the Authority with contact details of the Management Information contact who will be provided with a template spreadsheet/reporting schedule along with a username and password for the management information website www.ucsp.ac.uk ↗

The Contractors must provide the information on a quarterly basis, within 10 working days.

Publisher note: The following should be submitted prior to award. It is for information only and will not be scored: (Appendix A) - Form of Tender, (Appendix B) - FOI disclaimer (Appendix D) - APUC Supply Chain Code of Conduct, (Appendix J) - GDPR Assurance Assessment SCM Responsible Procurement Supply Chain Evaluation Tool: Section 1 SCM RP is the Authority's designated tool for contracted suppliers to keep up-to-date essential information on their company, which allows the Authority to get an insight into their company’s general standing, commitment to preventing modern slavery and addressing climate change, as well as their pledge to fair and decent working practices for their staff. Tenderers must confirm that they will commit to completing SCM RP Section 1 on award. It is for information only and will not be scored but is a requirement of this tender and will be included in the contractual terms. The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 28882. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343 The Contracting Authority does not intend to include a sub-contract clause as part of community benefits (as per Section 25 of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014) in this contract for the following reason: This is a specialist multi-supplier framework within which sub-contracting opportunities are limited. Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/ A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows: Provision of training opportunities to staff and students, apprenticeships and potential investment in Institution local communities. (SC Ref:794330)

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: Public Contracts Scotland · Who buys & how to bid on PCS
Supplier login requiredLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free single registration for Scotland; PCS-Tender (Jaggaer) for full bidding
Appointment period ends
27 May 2025, 12:00 BST
Submission channel
{"electronicSubmission"}
Accepted languages
en
Bid validity
90 days from the deadline
Bids opened
20 May 2025, 17:00 BST
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

9 May 2025 → 27 May 2025 · 3 dates
  1. Notice published
    9 May 2025, 09:27 BST
  2. Bids opened
    20 May 2025, 17:00 BST
  3. Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown
    27 May 2025, 12:00 BST

Notice history

1 event · 2 releases on Find a Tender
  1. Deadline moved to 27 May 2025, 12:00 BST
    9 May 2025, 09:27 BST
    +7 days · was 20 May 2025, 17:00 BST
Published amendments (1 · 1 deadline change)
WhenWhatBeforeAfterShift
—DeadlineTime limit · IV.2.220 May 202527 May 2025+7 d
—Bid openingConditions for opening of tenders · IV.2.720 May 202527 May 2025+7 d

Additional week granted due to bidder clarifications.

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

2 public bodies on the notice

APUC Limited

Contracting authorityPublic bodyBody governed by public lawEducation Unit 27, Stirling Business Centre, Wellgreen, Stirling, Scotland, FK8 2DZContact email, phone Published organisation website ↗

Other public bodies

  • European UnionFunder

Dispute resolution & review bodies

  • Stirling Sherriff CourtReview body Stirling

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.