United Kingdom-Bangor: Student Virtual Learning Environment

Type of document: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice
Country: United Kingdom
OJEU Ref: (2018/S 049-107929/EN)
Nature of contract: Supply contract
Procedure: Award of a contract without prior publication
Regulation of procurement: EU – with participation by GPA countries
Type of bid required: Not applicable

Voluntary ex ante transparency notice
Supplies
Directive 2014/24/EU

Directive 2014/24/EU

Section I: Contracting authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Official name: Prifysgol Bangor / Bangor University
Postal address: Finance Office, Cae Derwen, College Road
Town: Bangor
Postal code: LL57 2DG
Country: United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 1248388675
Email: n.h.day@bangor.ac.uk
Internet address(es):
Main address:
Address of the buyer profile:

I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Education

Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title: Student Virtual Learning Environment
II.1.2) Main CPV code: 48190000
II.1.3) Type of contract Supplies
II.1.4) Short Description:
Provision of a Student Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)and associated modules.
II.1.6) Information about lots
The contract is divided into lots: no
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement(excluding VAT)
Value:1
Currency:GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
Nuts code: UKL12
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Provision of a Student Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) system and associated modules.

II.2.5) Award criteria
II.2.11) Information about options
Options: no
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the Official Journal of the European Union in the cases listed below
(please complete point 2 of the Annex D)
IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement(GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: yes
IV.2) Administrative information

Section V: Award of contract/concession
V.2) Award of contract/concession
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract/concession award decision:2018-03-09
V.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: no
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Official name: Blackboard
Postal address: 175 Oxford Street
Town: London
Postal code: W1D 2JS
Country: United Kingdom
Nuts code:
The contractor is an SME: no

V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession(excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession:375000
Currency:GBP
for framework agreements – total maximum value for this lot
for contracts based on framework agreements, if required – value of contract(s) for this lot not included in
previous contract award notices

Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information:
(WA Ref:78788).
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Official name: Prifysgol Bangor / Bangor University
Postal address: Finance Office, Cae Derwen, College Road
Town: Bangor
Postal code: LL57 2DG
Country: United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 1248382057
Internet address:

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice:
2018-03-09

Other justification for the award of the contract without prior publication of a call for competition
in the Official Journal of the European Union
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive

3.Explanation
Please explain in a clear and comprehensive manner why the award of the contract without prior publication in the Official Journal of the European Union
is lawful, by stating the relevant facts and, as appropriate, the conclusions of law in accordance with the directive:
Bangor University wishes to award a contract for the renewal and maintenance of its VLE to Blackboard for 3 years. The application is owned, supplied and supported exclusively by Blackboard, a company that specialises in software for the Higher Education Sector. The University has made a substantial investment in the Blackboard System, in process, infrastructure, staff skills and capabilities since it was installed in 2004.
The University is looking to make a number of enhancements to its existing system to improve the student experience, as well as business processes and efficiency. Improvements to the system may include the purchase of additional modules and cloud based services along with relevant support and maintenance. This may also include consultancy services as required.
The University has identified that for reasons of compatibility with our Higher Educational partners – Y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol (Welsh Medium HE Partnership) and Central South University of Forestry and Technology (China), there is a requirement to maintain as much of the existing systems functionality as possible (including full Welsh language interfaces and provision), the products, services and support provided by Blackboard are the only ones capable of meeting the University’s requirements. Furthermore the University has determined that to change its provider at this time would oblige it to acquire supplies having different technical characteristics which would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in on-going operation, staff training and maintenance.
The contract will be let for a period of 3 years.