Official UK procurement notice
2024 - Chevening and Marshall Scholarship Programmes
Authority: British Council (Local council)·Consortium: 2 public authorities
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionhe 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 publishedLot #1The opportunity is for the possible supplier to work effectively and efficiently with…AwardedPublished 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.
What it takes to wini
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 morei
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).
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
- 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.
- 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)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0478a4Find a Tender
- 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- Submission deadline29 Jul 2024, 17:00 BST
- Bids opened29 Jul 2024, 17:00 BST
- Contract starts1 Oct 2024, 00:00 BST
- Bids must remain valid until28 Oct 2024, 23:59 GMT
- Notice published13 Aug 2025, 14:37 BST
Notice history
2 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 13 Aug 2025- Status changed to complete13 Aug 2025, 14:37 BST
- Buyer details updated13 Aug 2025, 14:37 BST
Published amendments (1 · 0 deadline changes)
| When | What | Before | After | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | TextTitle · II.1.1 | 2024 - Chevening and Marshall Scholarship Programmes | 2024 - 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| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5bids | — | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeConsortium members and other public bodies
- British CouncilContracting authorityBody governed by public lawRegistered Charity
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- The High CourtReview body
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Diversity Travel LimitedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Economic and financial selection criteria
- Technical selection criteria