Award

Student Accommodation

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH WALES

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

21 May 2025 at 09:05

Award

11 Apr 2025 at 11:52

Summary of the contracting process

The University of South Wales has awarded a contract for student accommodation services to UNITE STUDENTS LIMITED, with a contract value of £1,042,096. This contract supports student recruitment at the Cardiff campus by securing hall-style rooms in Cardiff from a PBSA provider. The procurement process was conducted without prior publication of a call for competition, justified by the short-term nature of the contract and the absence of viable alternatives. The procurement method used was limited, reflecting the unique circumstances of the market response. The contract was signed on 15 May 2025, following a standstill period which ended on 22 April 2025.

This tender presents an opportunity for businesses specialising in student accommodation services to understand the requirements and constraints faced by public institutions like the University of South Wales. The emphasis on secure and value-focused room options for students indicates a viable market for providers in the hotel accommodation services category, especially those able to meet short-term contracts in urban centres like Cardiff. Businesses well-suited to compete in such tenders are typically large-scale accommodation service providers with flexible contract capabilities and a strategic focus on educational institutions. As the contracting authority reviews its processes for future procurements, businesses can prepare to engage in potential longer-term contracts that might be more technically feasible.

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Notice Title

Student Accommodation

Notice Description

Student Accommodation through a Nominations Agreement.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The University of South Wales requires rooms to be secured in support of student recruitment at our Cardiff campus. The requirement is for hall style rooms in Cardiff with a PBSA provider (purpose built student accommodation provider) to secure value rooms for Cardiff students.

Procurement Information

In September 2024, the Contracting Authority issued a speculative notice to the market regarding a short term (1 year) contract for Student Accommodation providers. The service provider was the only person to respond to the speculative notice, as the short term nature of the contract was not technically viable for other service providers. Having a longer-term contract is not an option for the contracting authority, meaning another provider delivering the contract was a near technical impossibility. It is therefore only possible to award this contract to the provider, as there was an absence of competition.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-050164
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023607-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services


CPV Codes

55110000 - Hotel accommodation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£1,042,096 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 May 20259 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
8 Apr 202510 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH WALES
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@southwales.ac.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1443482386

Buyer Location

Locality
PONTYPRIDD
Postcode
CF37 1DL
Post Town
Cardiff
Country
Wales

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL51 Central Valleys and Bridgend
Delivery Location
TLL22 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan

Local Authority
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Electoral Ward
Treforest
Westminster Constituency
Pontypridd

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

UNITE STUDENTS

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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