Provision of a Part-Time Distance Learning Online MA in Air Power Studies

This requirement will be for an Masters (MA) web-based course designed specifically to be fully compatible with the demands of Service life, including operational deployments. The MA is will be part-time, 2 ½ years in length and is delivered entirely online.

Integral to the study of air power is a grounding in the history of contemporary warfare (not solely air power but to include land, maritime and joint experiences) from 1945 to the present day. There will be 2 compulsory air power modules within the course, including the development of air power in the 1945 to 1989 period and a more contemporary module covering the whole post-cold-war era up to 2015.

Students will also take four core modules covering a range of security, defence, international relations (IR) and strategic studies subjects. One of these modules should be elective and chosen by the student from a range of subjects.

The course should culminate in a dissertation of 12 - 15,000 words on an air power related subject of the candidate's choice and agreed by DDefS and the University. The Contractor is to provide all course materials and academic content for delivery by the 1 September 2016 but for review by the 15 August 2016.

The Contractor will also put in place a hosted, web-based infrastructure to facilitate on-line student’s discussion groups. Access to all course materials, content and discussion forums will be made available online, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.

Each student will have an academic tutor/supervisor who will act as the student's academic POC. Contract Start Date 10 May 2016, with the design and development of the course to be ready for delivery from the 1 September 2016.

The requirement is for a firm price contract covering three core MA in Air Power online course intake periods 1 October 2016 to 28 February 2021 with two further MA in Air Power online course intake option periods 1 October 2019 to 28 February 2023. The Authority will use the PQQ responses to create a shortlist of Tenders who are eligible to participate; fulfil any minimum economic, financial, professional and technical standards; and best meet in terms of capacity and capability the selection criteria set out in the PQQ.

Full details of the method for choosing the tenderers will be set out in the PQQ. Please be advised that the top 6 highest scores from suppliers will be invited to tender, providing they meet the overall percentage pass mark of 60% and do not score any lower than 2 in any individual question within the PQQ. If the supplier scores below 2 or receives a fail in any of the questions then they will automatically fail the evaluation and will not be invited to participate any further.All selected suppliers who are invited to tender after the PQQ evaluation will then be evaluated by means of the most economically advantageous tender in terms of the criteria stated within the invitation to tender documents.