What is happening? In 2022, a project was started to review our learning management system LEARN (D2L Brightspace) to better understand how the platform may or may not be meeting the needs and expectations of our campus community. As per Policy 17 – Quotations and Tenders, a renewal of the D2L Brightspace contract, or the signing of a new contract with an alternate LMS provider, requires the University to initiate a publicly advertised competitive bidding process. This legal requirement ensures fair market competition for all potential vendors. Through this past winter, the University partnered with the Ontario Education Collaborative Marketplace (OECM), a trusted not-for-profit collaborative sourcing partner for Ontario’s education sector, broader public sector, and other not-for-profits, in a competitive LMS open-procurement process.
Is there any impact to LEARN for the fall 2023 term? No. Currently, LEARN remains the University’s supported LMS tool and will continue to be used for the fall term.
Why did Waterloo partner with OECM? The partnership supplements the market research we were conducting through the LMS review and provides opportunities to minimize costs associated with initiating our own procurement process, while generating savings and efficiencies on products and services available through the Marketplace.
What is the status of this process? OECM is evaluating proposals submitted by vendors to select the optimal LMS solution(s) for Ontario higher education institutions, according to the requirements and evaluations provided by those in this partnership. We are currently awaiting these results before moving forward.
Additional information will be communicated when available. Please visit the LMS Review project page to learn more about this work.
Questions or concerns? Please contact Pam Fluttert, fluttert@uwaterloo.ca.