Find a TenderAwarded
Published 16 Apr 2025, 16:53 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Award for the Provision of In- Country Presence South- Asia, Nigeria & Malaysia (GCU)

Official notice

Authority: Glasgow Caledonian University (Education)

3 lotsServicesOpen procedureMax 3 lots to bid
Awarded value£894,6483 contracts · exc. VAT
Submissions closed 16 May 2025awarded 19 Sept 2025
Awarded to QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited, Illume Student Advisory Services3 awards

What is being bought3 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

The University is seeking a Contractor(s) for the provision of In-Country Presence in the South Asia region (excluding Pakistan), Nigeria and South East Asia.

The Directorate of Future Students, Marketing and Communications key function is to develop, manage and execute the University’s marketing and recruitment strategy, enabling the University to achieve student recruitment targets (all degree levels) from UK and international markets, as well as more broadly build and bolster our brand position and levels of recognition.

CPV: Business development consultancy services

Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure

3 lots · no lot values published · a supplier may bid for at most 3 of them · same evaluation weights on every lot
Lot #1Award for In- Country Presence in South Asia ( excluding Pakistan)Awarded

The University has identified the need for continued South Asia regional presence to support recruitment targets and associated objectives.

The South Asia region has been identified through market intelligence and experience as a region with potential to contribute significantly to these targets over the next three years. The priority markets in this region for GCU are India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. We require the regional presence in South Asia to support recruitment and conversion activities in these priority markets.

We require an in regional presence to provide effective, measurable and proven strategic recruitment and conversion support. Based on research and previous experience of the HE sectors; this presence should be in a city hub in India that fits well with our course portfolio and provides the institution with competitive advantage. (i.e. either Mumbai and Delhi). We are requesting recommendations as how best to resource this.

The contractor must have capacity and resources in South Asia region to efficiently facilitate the attainment of international targets.

Delivery: Scotland
Variant bids: not allowed
Lot #2Award for In- Country Presence in NigeriaAwarded

Nigeria has been a top recruitment market for GCU for many years. We require an in-country presence to continue to maximise recruitment opportunities for GCU postgraduate courses and to also grow the appeal of GCU undergraduate courses in the market.

The in-country presence will build relationships with key sponsors and visit on a regular basis and participate in local events.

The regional presence also needs to provide market insights and intelligence that contributes to maximising recruitment opportunities and mitigating risks. In addition to this operational function the University also require full cycle reporting and reflection on engagement to maximise efficiencies.

We require an in regional presence to provide effective, measurable and proven strategic recruitment and conversion support. Based on research and previous experience of the HE sectors; this presence should be in a city hub in Nigeria that fits well with our course portfolio and provides the institution with competitive advantage. We are requesting recommendations as how best to resource this.

The contractor must have capacity and resources in Nigeria to efficiently facilitate the attainment of international targets.

Delivery: Scotland
Variant bids: not allowed
Lot #3Award for In-Country Presence in South East AsiaAwarded

As GCU begins to enter new priority diversification markets in South East Asia, we are seeking an experienced partner capable of supporting GCU in building, acquiring and maintaining market share over time.

Five of our priority diversification markets are in South East Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Philippines). All these markets are at market entry or development stage for GCU, with currently very low enrolment numbers.

An in-country presence will serve as the local liaison, fostering consistent communication and relationships with GCU agent network, prospective students and offer holders. By leveraging the local knowledge and cultural understanding, the in-country presence will recommend recruitment and conversion plans to resonate with the target audiences. The representative will conduct information sessions, participate in education fairs, and engage with local schools to actively promote GCU's programmes.

The regional presence will provide market insights and intelligence that contributes to maximising recruitment opportunities and mitigating risk in this region. This is crucial for GCU to make informed decisions and adapt its strategies in the dynamic South East Asian region. In addition to this operational function the University also require full cycle reporting and reflection on engagement to maximise efficiencies.

Delivery: Scotland
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 · same split on all 3 lots
Quality: 66%Price: 30%Environmental: 4%
Published sub-criteria (8)
  • Service Delivery – Methodology: 30%
  • Service Delivery – Key Personnel: 13%
  • Service Delivery – Continuous Improvement and Innovation: 10%
  • Management Information/Reporting: 8%
  • Business Continuity: 5%
  • price: 30%
  • Sustainable Procurement – University Values: 2%
  • Sustainable Procurement – Fair Work Practices: 2%
Published award criteria (8)
  • Service Delivery – Methodology: 30
  • Service Delivery – Key Personnel: 13
  • Service Delivery – Continuous Improvement and Innovation: 10
  • Management Information/Reporting: 8
  • Business Continuity: 5
  • Sustainable Procurement – University Values: 2
  • Sustainable Procurement – Fair Work Practices: 2
  • Price: 30
Conditions of participation1
  • Economic & financial standing

    Please refer to question within 4B.5 of the SPD and Economic and Financial standing section of the Contract Notice

    Bidders must confirm they can provide the following supporting evidence prior to award:

    • Employer’s (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = 5 Million GBP
    • Professional Liability Insurance = 1 Million GBP
    • Public Liability Insurance = 5 Million GBP

    Please refer to question within 4B.6 of the SPD and Economic and financial standing section of the Contract Notice

    The successful Contractor will be required to provide 2 years audited accounts, or equivalent if awarded the Contract.

    Information provided for Part III and IV will be assessed on a Pass/Fail basis, where:

    Pass = meets requirements as stated in Contract Notice

    Fail = does not meet requirements as stated in Contract Notice

    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.

What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 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 · publisher note attached
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
16 Apr 2025, 16:53 BST
Last source update
2 Oct 2025, 11:01 BST
Award evaluation window
16 May 2025 – …
Authority reference
GCU-MKT-2025-001
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-061592
Classification (CPV)
Business development consultancy services
Delivery area
Scotland (UKM82)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05045e Find a Tender

Publisher note: (SC Ref:811531)

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
Submission deadline
16 May 2025, 12:00 BST
Submission channel
{"electronicSubmission"}
Accepted languages
en
Bids opened
16 May 2025, 12:00 BST
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

16 May 2025 → 2 Oct 2025 · 4 dates
  1. Submission deadline
    16 May 2025, 12:00 BST
  2. Bids opened
    16 May 2025, 12:00 BST
  3. Bids must remain valid until
    16 May 2025, 23:59 BST
  4. Notice published385 days ago
    2 Oct 2025, 11:01 BST

Notice history

1 event · 2 releases on Find a Tender
  1. Status changed to complete
    2 Oct 2025, 11:01 BST

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 3
Awarded value £894,6483 contracts exc. VAT
Bids received 31
Contracts signed 3latest 19 Sept 2025

Contracts

Bid statistics published by the authority

LotBidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
1 · Award for In- Country Presence in South Asia ( excluding Pakistan)11bids · 11 electronic · 11 from abroad0——
2 · Award for In- Country Presence in Nigeria11bids · 11 electronic · 11 from abroad0——
3 · Award for In-Country Presence in South East Asia9bids · 9 electronic · 9 from abroad0——

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Glasgow Caledonian University

Contracting authorityEducationBody governed by public lawEducation 70 Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, Scotland, G4 0BAContact email, phone Published organisation website ↗

Dispute resolution & review bodies

  • Glasgow Sheriff CourtReview body Glasgow

Bidders & participating suppliers

2 commercial parties on the notice

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.