Find a TenderPast planning noticePreliminary market engagement notice
Published 23 May 2025, 14:02 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Online Learning at Sussex

Official notice

Authority: University of Sussex (Education)

ServicesAbove threshold
Planned pipeline valueValue not publishedpipeline notice, not a live tender
Tender notice expected 31 Mar 2026from the planned procurement notice
Contract term 10 yrsends 5 Oct 2037 · starts 6 Oct 2027

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The University of Sussex (Sussex) is preparing to seek a partner for the provision of Online Programme Management (OPM) Services, with the current contract set to expire on 5 October 2027 and the new contract commencing on 6 October 2027.

Under the existing arrangement, Sussex has collaborated with a partner to deliver a portfolio of Masters-level degree courses accessible to students both nationally and internationally via online distance learning.

The current contract encompasses a range of services across three core areas.

  • Marketing and Recruitment: Market Research and Strategy, Lead Generation, Inquiry Management, Admissions Support, Application Processing, Reporting and Analysis.
  • Course Development and Delivery Model: Course Design and Development, Content Creation, Platform Integration, Technical Support, Continuous Improvement, Compliance and Reporting.
  • Student Support: Induction and Orientation, Ongoing Support, Monitoring and Communication, Reporting.

As the end of the current collaboration approaches, Sussex is actively reviewing its strategy for online learning. The University's strategic aims are to establish a sustainable, high-quality online provision aligned with the University's strategic priorities, enhancing our institutional reputation globally. The provision will be future-ready in terms of modularity, flexibility, and compliance with regulatory frameworks such as the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.

Further details regarding this engagement are available in the Instruction Document, which can be accessed via the e-sourcing portal, Proactis:

supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/account/login ↗

While participation in this engagement is not mandatory for involvement in any future procurement process, responses received will help inform the Contracting Authority about the level of market interest. Additionally, feedback from this engagement may help shape the final service requirements and inform the design of the forthcoming procurement strategy, ensuring it reflects both institutional priorities and sector best practice.

CPV: Administrative educational services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1Planned 10 yrs
Contract period: 6 Oct 2027 – 5 Oct 2037 (10 yrs)
Delivery: South East

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Past planning notice
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
23 May 2025, 14:02 BST
Last source update
2 Oct 2025, 13:48 BST
Authority reference
US_25021
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-061725
Latest notice
Preliminary market engagement notice (UK2)
Classification (CPV)
Administrative educational services
Delivery area
South East (UKJ2)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0522d3 Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

23 May 2025 → 6 Oct 2027 · 5 dates
  1. Planning notice published
    23 May 2025, 14:02 BST
  2. Latest notice published390 days ago
    2 Oct 2025, 13:48 BST
  3. Market engagement299 days ago
    31 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT

    The purpose of this engagement is for Sussex to gauge potential interest and obtain information from the market which will help inform and shape its service requirements.

    Further details regarding this engagement are available in the Instruction Document, which can be accessed via the e-sourcing portal, Proactis:

    supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/account/login ↗

    Should you experience any difficulties registering or accessing the portal, please contact the Proactis helpdesk using the link below:

    suppliersupport.proactisservicedesk.com ↗

    The initial stage of the engagement asks interested parties to complete an online questionnaire on or before 23 October 2025 at 10.00am.

    Please note the engagement period end date has been set as end of December 2025 to allow for the possibility of the further engagement which will be coordinated through the e-sourcing portal, Proactis.

  4. Tender notice expected210 days ago
    31 Mar 2026, 23:59 BST
  5. Today
    27 Oct 2026
  6. Contract startsin 342 days
    6 Oct 2027, 00:00 BST

Notice history

2 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 23 May 2025
  1. Pipeline notice published
    23 May 2025, 14:02 BST
    UK1
  2. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    2 Oct 2025, 13:48 BST
    UK2

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Pipeline notice
Awards (0)
No award published
Contracts (0)
No contract published
Bid statistics
No aggregate bid statistics published

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX(THE)

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-COH: RC000672 · GB-PPON: PWVT-1568-HWWM Sussex House, Falmer, Brighton, South East, BN1 9RHContact email

Official documents & specifications (2)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure