Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment

{
  "awards": [
    {
      "aboveThreshold": true,
      "contractPeriod": {
        "endDate": "2031-06-30T23:59:59+01:00",
        "startDate": "2025-07-01T00:00:00+01:00"
      },
      "documents": [
        {
          "datePublished": "2025-06-04T20:56:23+01:00",
          "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
          "documentType": "awardNotice",
          "format": "text/html",
          "id": "030063-2025",
          "noticeType": "UK5",
          "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030063-2025"
        }
      ],
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      "items": [
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            {
              "description": "Educational software package",
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            {
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              "scheme": "CPV"
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          ],
          "deliveryAddresses": [
            {
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              "countryName": "United Kingdom",
              "region": "UK"
            }
          ],
          "id": "1",
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      "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
      "milestones": [
        {
          "dueDate": "2025-06-16T23:59:59+01:00",
          "id": "1",
          "status": "scheduled",
          "type": "futureSignatureDate"
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      ],
      "relatedLots": [
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      "status": "pending",
      "suppliers": [
        {
          "id": "GB-PPON-PRBP-7423-NZQZ",
          "name": "Blackboard International B.V."
        }
      ],
      "value": {
        "amount": 1164100.33,
        "amountGross": 1396920.4,
        "currency": "GBP"
      }
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  ],
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PZTZ-8956-MMQT",
    "name": "Buckinghamshire New University"
  },
  "date": "2025-06-04T20:56:23+01:00",
  "id": "030063-2025",
  "initiationType": "tender",
  "language": "en",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-054328",
  "parties": [
    {
      "address": {
        "country": "GB",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "High Wycombe",
        "postalCode": "HP11 2JZ",
        "region": "UKJ13",
        "streetAddress": "Queen Alexandra Road"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "veronica.fatemi@bucks.ac.uk",
        "name": "Veronica Fatemi"
      },
      "details": {
        "classifications": [
          {
            "description": "Public authority - sub-central government",
            "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE"
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        ],
        "url": "https://www.bucks.ac.uk/"
      },
      "id": "GB-PPON-PZTZ-8956-MMQT",
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PZTZ-8956-MMQT",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "name": "Buckinghamshire New University",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ]
    },
    {
      "address": {
        "country": "NL",
        "countryName": "Netherlands",
        "locality": "Amsterdam",
        "postalCode": "3821 AL",
        "region": "NL",
        "streetAddress": "Databankweg 20"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "proposals@anthology.com"
      },
      "details": {
        "scale": "large",
        "url": "http://www.anthology.com",
        "vcse": false
      },
      "id": "GB-PPON-PRBP-7423-NZQZ",
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PRBP-7423-NZQZ",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "name": "Blackboard International B.V.",
      "roles": [
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  ],
  "tag": [
    "award",
    "contract"
  ],
  "tender": {
    "description": "Buckinghamshire New University (\"University\") has been using the Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment (\"VLE\") since 2012, with the technology now profoundly integrated across the University\u0027s students and staff teaching and learning activities.\nThis renewal will ensure continuity of services, access to support and updates, and the ability to scale and optimise usage based on future requirements. Given the University\u0027s long-standing investment in and integration with Blackboard VLE, renewing the Blackboard subscription is crucial to maintaining operational efficiency and supporting ongoing digital transformation initiatives.",
    "documents": [
      {
        "description": "Not published",
        "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
        "id": "conflictOfInterest"
      }
    ],
    "id": "BNU-2412-305",
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "scheme": "UKPGA",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
    },
    "lots": [
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        "status": "complete",
        "suitability": {
          "sme": true
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      }
    ],
    "procurementMethod": "direct",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
    "procurementMethodRationale": "The award of the contract is permitted in accordance with Section 41 and Paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 to the Procurement Act 2023 on the basis that:\n(a) Additional or repeat services;\nThe public contract concerns the supply of services by the existing supplier which are intended as an extension to, or partial replacement of, existing services in circumstances where-\n(a)\ta change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving services that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing services, and\n(b)\tthe difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance.\nOf particular note: \nThe University has used the Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)  since 2012. The continuity of a VLE is business-critical to the University and renewal of the Blackboard ALLY for Learn SaaS solution is essential to our student and staff teaching and learning experience. \nThis renewal will ensure continuity of services  to students and staff, access to support and updates, and the ability to scale and optimise usage based on future requirements. A change of supplier would result in incompatibility and disproportionate technical and operational difficulties and costs.\nThe University does not currently have the resources to undertake the implementation of a new VLE system due to several existing, business critical IT projects. Blackboard is considered to be a stable platform and therefore is a low priority for limited IT resource. The cost of change for a VLE would also be very high given the impact on 9,000+ students and c.1500 members of staff. In addition, a 12 month+ implementation period with considerable consultancy cost and retraining is not economically viable at this moment in time. For these reasons the University has decided to re-contract for a further six years with Blackboard International B.V. for the provision of the Blackboard system.",
    "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
      {
        "id": "additionalRepeatExtensionPartialReplacement"
      }
    ],
    "status": "complete",
    "title": "Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment"
  }
}