Find a TenderAwarded
Published 1 Jul 2024, 10:21 BST

Official UK procurement notice

2024 - Chevening and Marshall Scholarship Programmes

Official notice

Authority: British Council (Local council)·Consortium: 2 public authorities

ServicesOpen procedure
Published estimate£3,000,000≈ £3.3m / year
Submissions closed 29 Jul 2024awarded 1 Dec 2024
Awarded to Diversity Travel
Contract term 11 moends 31 Aug 2025 · starts 1 Oct 2024

What is being bought

Published requirement description

he opportunity is for the possible supplier to work effectively and efficiently with Chevening and Marshall Scholarship awardees and other relevant parties (e.g. applicants, Programme Officers, Commissioners etc.) to book suitable flights from the awardees home country to the UK and back, adhering to the Chevening and Marshall travel policies.The purpose and scope of this ITT and supporting documents are to explain in further detail the requirements and the process for submitting a tender proposal. The British Council is delivering the Chevening and Marshall scholarship programmes on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The Chevening programme (www.chevening.org ↗) was founded in 1983 and brings approximately 1,400 postgraduate students from over 160 countries and territories to study one-year taught Masters programmes at UK universities each academic year. Chevening also runs a small number of fellowship programmes in the UK for mid-career professionals.

CPV: Travel agency and similar services · Travel services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1The opportunity is for the possible supplier to work effectively and efficiently with…Awarded 11 moPublished value£3,000,000

The opportunity is for the possible supplier to work effectively and efficiently with Chevening and Marshall Scholarship awardees and other relevant parties (e.g. applicants, Programme Officers, Commissioners etc.) to book suitable flights from the awardees home country to the UK and back, adhering to the Chevening and Marshall travel policies. The purpose and scope of this ITT and supporting documents are to explain in further detail the requirements and the process for submitting a tender proposal. The British Council is delivering the Chevening and Marshall scholarship programmes on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The Chevening programme (www.chevening.org ↗) was founded in 1983 and brings approximately 1,400 postgraduate students from over 160 countries and territories to study one-year taught Masters programmes at UK universities each academic year. Chevening also runs a small number of fellowship programmes in the UK for mid-career professionals from eligible countries (www.chevening.org/fellowships ↗). Scholars and fellows are selected by British Embassies and High Commissions overseas as part of a rigorous and competitive process; around 65,000 applications are received each year and are reviewed by independent reading committees before being invited to interview. The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission (MACC) was founded in 1953 and supports up to 50 US citizens per year to pursue one or two-year Masters programmes at UK universities (www.marshallscholarship.org ↗). Marshall applicants have to be endorsed by their US university to be able to apply; approximately 1,000 applications are received each year and around 150 interviews are conducted by eight regional selection committees. Both programmes provide full funding for award recipients, including a monthly stipend to cover living costs, tuition fees, immigration-related costs, study-related allowances and inward and outward travel to the UK. The programmes are funded by taxpayers and partner organisations and therefore need to demonstrate value for money across all aspects of delivery.

Contract period: 1 Oct 2024 – 31 Aug 2025 (11 mo)
Delivery: UK
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
Quality: 50%Price: 40%Social value: 10%
Published sub-criteria (4)
  • Quality: 40%
  • Methodology and Approach: 10%
  • Commercial: 40%
  • Social Value: 10%
Published award criteria (4)
  • Social Value: 10
  • Quality: 40
  • Methodology and Approach: 10
  • Commercial: 40
Conditions of participation1
  • Suitability

    In accordance with Regulations 57, 58 and 60 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, applicants will be assessed in accordance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015, on the basis of information provided in response to the Selection Questionnaire.

What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.

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

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
No (one-off requirement)
First published
1 Jul 2024, 10:21 BST
Last source update
13 Aug 2025, 14:37 BST
Award evaluation window
29 Jul 2024 – …
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-048442
Classification (CPV)
Travel agency and similar servicesTravel services
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0478a4 Find a Tender
Review and risk notes
Review procedure

The British Council will incorporate a standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. That notification will provide full information on the award decision. The standstill period, which will be for a minimum of 10 calendar days, provides time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract is entered into.

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
29 Jul 2024, 17:00 BST
Submission channel
{"written"}
Accepted languages
en
Bids opened
29 Jul 2024, 17:00 BST

Timeline

29 Jul 2024 → 13 Aug 2025 · 5 dates
  1. Submission deadline
    29 Jul 2024, 17:00 BST
  2. Bids opened
    29 Jul 2024, 17:00 BST
  3. Contract starts
    1 Oct 2024, 00:00 BST
  4. Bids must remain valid until
    28 Oct 2024, 23:59 GMT
  5. Notice published
    13 Aug 2025, 14:37 BST

Notice history

2 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 13 Aug 2025
  1. Status changed to complete
    13 Aug 2025, 14:37 BST
  2. Buyer details updated
    13 Aug 2025, 14:37 BST
Published amendments (1 · 0 deadline changes)
WhenWhatBeforeAfterShift
—TextTitle · II.1.12024 - Chevening and Marshall Scholarship Programmes2024 - Chevening and Marshall Scholarship Programmes - Travel Services

1 amendment published without a description.

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £3,000,0001 contract exc. VAT
Bids received 5
Contracts signed 1latest 1 Dec 2024
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Diversity Travel£3,000,000 †—Awarded

Contracts

  • Contract 048442-2025-1 · Diversity Travel

    Signed
    1 Dec 2024
    Value
    £3,000,000
    Period
    … – 31 Aug 2025
    Status
    active

Bid statistics published by the authority

BidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
5bids———

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

2 public bodies on the notice

BRITISH COUNCIL(THE)

Contracting authorityLocal CouncilBody governed by public lawRegistered Charity GB-CHC: 209131 1 Redman Place, Stratford,, London, London, E201JQContact email

Consortium members and other public bodies

Dispute resolution & review bodies

  • The High CourtReview body London

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

Official documents & specifications (2)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

  • Economic and financial selection criteriatenderEconomic and financial selection criteria
  • Technical selection criteriatenderTechnical selection criteria