The Provision of Online Programme Management Services for Southampton's Global Online Programmes

The University of Southampton (UoS) has a strategic objective to increase the number of high-quality online courses offered to both UK and international students over the next five years. The University has extensive institutional experience and expertise in the delivery and creation of online education. Online courses and resources both advance and support our education strategy in delivering vibrant, transformative, and high-quality online experiences. They have the capacity to reach and attract new global audiences beyond our campuses.

The purpose of this procurement is to secure a long-term Online Programme Management partner (OPM). The University has received proposals from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities (The Winchester School of Arts (WSA) in particular) and the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences to further develop Online programmes by entering the Fully Online Education Market. These programmes will form the first programmes to be developed under the proposed contract.

The University also wishes to expand this across the wider University portfolio in a managed way, over a period of years.

The University is seeking to engage a provider with a strong track record of successful online programme management.

To achieve this, the following activities summarise what is considered within scope for the provider:

• Development of existing course content from existing programmes to online delivery mode (in addition to those programmes that have been identified by the University, we welcome recommendation on additional immediate opportunities)
• Responsibility for the provision of high quality market intelligence and planning to inform the development of a portfolio of high-quality and highly attractive programmes.
• Delivery of the programmes through the OPM VLE technology platform
• Responsibility for Marketing and Recruitment (Contact centre)
• Responsibility for supporting students during the application stage
• Responsibility for supporting enrolment activities for students recruited to the online programs
• Engagement and partnership with UoS academic staff to develop high-quality programme materials in line with existing curriculum.
• Identification of innovation that could be included within the curriculum.
• Engagement with UoS support staff to ensure programmes are delivered
• Potentially to provide online tutors to support students in their studies.
• Technology hosting including responsibility for technical development/maintenance of delivery platforms, and dealing with technical support issues from students
• Student retention and pastoral support
• Sign-post students to UoS policies and procedures
• Be responsible for ensuring the quality and standards of programmes are in line with the University's collaborative provision framework.

To summarise, the successful provider will be expected to demonstrate how they will achieve the following requirements. These areas of discussion may form part of the quarterly Contract Review meeting, or be addressed less formally, as and when required by the client:

• A minimum of 15 programmes to be live with enrolled students within three years of commencement of contract,
• Identification of a further 15 highly competitive programmes to be completed by the end of the first year of partnership.
• Suitably qualified and experienced teaching and support staff and quality of student experience
• Pro-active and positive management of the relationship with the University to ensure effective communication, pre-empting of issues, and working in partnership to resolve them;
• Delivery of the expected benefits and ROI to the University and support of our goals and objectives in market, and to be proactive in this respect.
• Provide feedback and market intelligence where required, to inform future strategy;
• Support effective financial and operational planning through sharing of strategic data.

Procurement Process:

This procurement process is being conducted using the Competitive Dialogue procedure; consisting of the selection stage, dialogues and Invitation to Tender stages.

Contract Period:

The University proposes to enter into a Contract for twelve years - this will be the maximum contract period, including any potential extensions with the successful tenderer(s).

This will comprise of an initial contract period of ten years with an option to extend by a further two years subject to satisfactory performance and at the discretion of the University.

Contract Value:

The University's anticipates that the value of the Contract Opportunity, subject to this procurement including any optional extension periods will be between £100,000,000 and £150,000,000 GBP (excluding VAT). Additional information: E-Tendering Portal: The University is utilising an electronic tendering tool, In-Tend (intendhost.co.uk ↗ universityofsouthampton) to manage this procurement and to communicate with potential suppliers and/or tenderers (as appropriate).

All documentation in relation to this tender can be downloaded from In-Tend.

Potential suppliers/tenderers are advised that there will be no hard copy documents issued and all communications with the University, including the submission of Selection Stage and/or Invitation to Tender responses will be conducted via In-Tend.

Regular monitoring of the portal is the responsibility of the potential supplier/tenderer.

If you are not already registered as a supplier with the University of Southampton, you will need to register in In-Tend in order to access the procurement documentation.

Once you have logged in as a supplier: click on 'Tenders'; locate the relevant project; and click 'View Details'. Once you are in the project screen, you will be able to register your organisation against the project and access all documentation by clicking 'Express Interest'.

Potential suppliers/tenderers are advised that formal expressions of interest in the project must be by way of completion and…