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Courier Services DHL

THE OPEN UNIVERSITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

13 Oct 2026 at 12:05

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Open University buys courier services to deliver student materials internationally and on some domestic routes where Royal Mail and Yodel are unsuitable, with additional courier work for the wider university when required. Deliveries span the UK, Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories, and destinations across Europe and the rest of the world. The requirement is for parcel and document transport rather than general postal services: suppliers need to move learning materials to students across a very broad geographic footprint, as well as support other university courier needs. The buyer is The Open University, based in Milton Keynes. This is a service contract for courier operations (CPV 64120000).

The procurement is complete and DHL International (UK) Limited was selected for the contract. The award date was 5 October 2026. The contract runs from 5 October 2026 to 10 January 2028. Its awarded value is £145,000. The University used a selective procedure to call off from a framework agreement. The tender deadline was 4 October 2026. The requirement was not divided into lots. The stated suitability assessment says the contract is not suitable for SMEs or voluntary, community and social enterprises. The published procurement information does not set out an evaluation basis, so the available outcome identifies the selected supplier and contract value but not how bids were scored or compared.

This award demonstrates demand for a courier provider able to deliver student learning materials internationally and on selected domestic routes, including destinations across a large number of countries and territories. A credible competitor would need broad geographic reach and reliable arrangements for getting parcels to students where the University’s usual Royal Mail and Yodel services do not fit the need. The provider must also be able to handle wider University courier requirements when called upon. The award went to a large supplier through a call-off from a framework agreement, indicating that framework access and the operational capacity to serve a geographically dispersed customer are relevant strengths for this specific requirement. The contract’s stated SME and VCSE suitability assessment is negative.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Courier Services DHL

Notice Description

International, and some domestic, courier services to ensure student material reaches our students where Royal Mail and Yodel services are not appropriate. Also courier services for the wider OU where required.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-9b75f168-26fe-41d2-8700-3148a36285c1
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/34b069be-3132-4eb7-b12f-871340019dcc
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Call-off from a framework agreement
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

64 - Postal and telecommunications services

CPV Codes

64120000 - Courier services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£145,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£145,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
5 Oct 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
5 Oct 2026 - 10 Jan 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE OPEN UNIVERSITY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MILTON KEYNES
Postcode
MK7 6AA
Postcode Area
Milton Keynes
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ12 Milton Keynes
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Milton Keynes
Electoral Ward
Monkston
Westminster Constituency
Milton Keynes Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

DHL International (UK) Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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