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Disability Support Service

University of Salford

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

12 Aug 2026 at 15:32

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

22 Jul 2026 at 11:23

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

12 Jun 2025 at 15:21

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Salford is procuring disability inclusion and student support services for its students in Salford. The requirement covers eight lots of higher education, health and social care support. Services include Educational Psychology assessments for specific learning difficulties; non-medical helper support in taught sessions; specialist study skills and mentoring; support for Deaf, deaf and hard-of-hearing students, including British Sign Language interpretation; support for visually impaired students, including sighted guiding and mobility training; and specialist mentoring and study skills for apprentices. The apprenticeship lots also cover neurodiversity screening and needs assessments, identifying barriers, reasonable adjustments and support across academic, workplace and assessment settings. Suppliers may therefore target individual assessment, specialist support, mentoring, accessibility or apprenticeship-support requirements.

The procurement has reached tender: the University invited offers through an open procedure. Enquiries were due by 1 September 2026 at 12:00, and tenders by 15 September 2026 at 12:00. The planned award decision date is 30 October 2026. All lots are intended to run from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2029, with up to two one-year extensions, potentially continuing to 31 December 2031. The estimated gross values are £548,886 for Educational Psychology assessments; £999,234 for Band 1 and 2 support; £108,900 for study skills and mentoring; £386,658 for Deaf support; £0 for visually impaired support; £558,570 for apprentice support; £918 for neurodiversity screening; and £127,830 for apprentice needs assessments. Evaluation is 60% technical, 20% commercial, 10% sustainability and 10% community benefits.

The opportunity suits small and medium-sized suppliers with established capability in disability support, student services, educational assessment or specialist learning support. Relevant expertise includes assessing dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties; delivering structured non-medical help, note-taking and practical assistance; providing specialist study skills and mentoring; and supporting Deaf or hard-of-hearing students through specialist note-taking, British Sign Language interpretation and related communication services. Suppliers serving visually impaired students may provide sighted guiding, mobility training and orientation support. Providers working with apprentices should understand academic and workplace settings, reasonable adjustments and support planning, while assessment specialists may be suited to neurodiversity screening or apprenticeship needs assessments. Organisations can pursue the requirements most closely matching their specialist workforce and service model, with every lot identified as suitable for SMEs.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Disability Support Service

Notice Description

This is an Invitation to tender for the provision of several support services for The University of Salford Students as outlined in the following lots: * Lot 1: Educational Psychology assessments to identify specific learning difficulties. Provision of Educational Psychology assessments to identify and diagnose Specific Learning Difficulties (including dyslexia) for students in a higher education setting, using an evidence based approach (which may include observation, standardised testing and interviews) to identify strengths and support needs. * Lot 2: Band 1 and 2 non-medical helper support. Band 1 and 2 support workers assist students with additional needs and disabilities to access and engage with their studies. Support is typically delivered in taught sessions and may include notetaking, practical assistance and support with anxiety management, as appropriate. * Lot 3: Band 4 non-medical helper support, Specialist Study Skills, and Specialist Mentor support. One-to-one support delivered outside taught sessions to help students with additional needs to navigate their academic journey. Specialist mentors support students to develop strategies that promote independence and wellbeing, while specialist study skills tutors help students meet course requirements and build academic confidence. * Lot 4: Bands 3- 4 non-medical helper support, Specialist D/deaf support. In-class and out-of-class specialist support to enable d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing students to access and engage with their studies. This may include specialist notetaking, British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation and other specialist support professionals to facilitate communication. * Lot 5: Bands 1- 4 non-medical helper support, Specialist VI Support for visually impaired students. In-class and out-of-class specialist support to enable visually impaired students to access and engage with their studies. This may include sighted guide support, mobility training and other Specialist Support Professionals to support orientation and navigation. * Lot 6: Band 4 non-medical helper support, Specialist Study Skills and Specialist mentor support for apprentices One-to-one support delivered outside taught sessions to help apprentices with additional needs to navigate their academic journey, workplace learning and wider apprenticeship requirements. Specialist mentors support apprentices to develop strategies that promote independence and wellbeing, while specialist study skills tutors help apprentices meet course requirements and build academic confidence across academic and workplace settings. * Lot 7: Neurodiversity screening assessments for apprentices Neurodiversity screening assessments for apprentices to identify indicators of neurodivergence, including specific learning difficulties and differences in attention, processing and communication, across academic and workplace settings. Assessments should identify strengths, barriers and support needs to inform reasonable adjustments, support planning and, where appropriate, liaison with relevant University and employer contacts. * Lot 8: Needs assessments for apprenticeship students Needs assessments for apprenticeship students to identify disability-related support requirements, barriers to participation and adjustments required to support engagement with learning, workplace activity and assessment. Assessments should provide clear recommendations to inform support planning, reasonable adjustments and specialist support across academic and workplace elements of the apprenticeship, including off-the-job training, on-programme learning and end-point assessment, as appropriate. Please access the full tender information via the following link https://in-tendhost.co.uk/salford/aspx/Home.

Lot Information

Lot 1: Educational Psychology assessments to identify specific learning difficulties.

Provision of Educational Psychology assessments to identify and diagnose Specific Learning Difficulties (including dyslexia) for students in a higher education setting, using an evidence based approach (which may include observation, standardised testing and interviews) to identify strengths and support needs.

Renewal: The Contract shall commence on the date to be advised by the Authority in the Contract Award Document issued to the Contractor in due course (the "Commencement Date") and (subject to clauses 5.3 and 5.4 in the ITT) is intended to continue for an initial period of 3 years from the Commencement Date (the "Initial Term"). The Contract may be extended beyond the Initial Term on a maximum of 2 [two] occasions, for a period of up to 1 (one) year on each occasion (each a "Renewal Period") at the Authority's sole discretion, by the Authority giving the Contractor not less than 1 (one) months' notice prior to the expiry of the Initial Term or the Renewal Period (as applicable).

Lot 2: Band 1 and 2 non-medical helper support.

Band 1 and 2 support workers assist students with additional needs and disabilities to access and engage with their studies. Support is typically delivered in taught sessions and may include notetaking, practical assistance and support with anxiety management, as appropriate.

Renewal: The Contract shall commence on the date to be advised by the Authority in the Contract Award Document issued to the Contractor in due course (the "Commencement Date") and (subject to clauses 5.3 and 5.4 in the ITT) is intended to continue for an initial period of 3 years from the Commencement Date (the "Initial Term"). The Contract may be extended beyond the Initial Term on a maximum of 2 [two] occasions, for a period of up to 1 (one) year on each occasion (each a "Renewal Period") at the Authority's sole discretion, by the Authority giving the Contractor not less than 1 (one) months' notice prior to the expiry of the Initial Term or the Renewal Period (as applicable).

Lot 3: Band 4 non-medical helper support, Specialist Study Skills, and Specialist Mentor support.

One-to-one support delivered outside taught sessions to help students with additional needs to navigate their academic journey. Specialist mentors support students to develop strategies that promote independence and wellbeing, while specialist study skills tutors help students meet course requirements and build academic confidence.

Renewal: The Contract shall commence on the date to be advised by the Authority in the Contract Award Document issued to the Contractor in due course (the "Commencement Date") and (subject to clauses 5.3 and 5.4 in the ITT) is intended to continue for an initial period of 3 years from the Commencement Date (the "Initial Term"). The Contract may be extended beyond the Initial Term on a maximum of 2 [two] occasions, for a period of up to 1 (one) year on each occasion (each a "Renewal Period") at the Authority's sole discretion, by the Authority giving the Contractor not less than 1 (one) months' notice prior to the expiry of the Initial Term or the Renewal Period (as applicable).

Lot 4: Bands 3- 4 non-medical helper support, Specialist D/deaf support.

In-class and out-of-class specialist support to enable d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing students to access and engage with their studies. This may include specialist notetaking, British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation and other specialist support professionals to facilitate communication.

Renewal: The Contract shall commence on the date to be advised by the Authority in the Contract Award Document issued to the Contractor in due course (the "Commencement Date") and (subject to clauses 5.3 and 5.4 in the ITT) is intended to continue for an initial period of 3 years from the Commencement Date (the "Initial Term"). The Contract may be extended beyond the Initial Term on a maximum of 2 [two] occasions, for a period of up to 1 (one) year on each occasion (each a "Renewal Period") at the Authority's sole discretion, by the Authority giving the Contractor not less than 1 (one) months' notice prior to the expiry of the Initial Term or the Renewal Period (as applicable).

Lot 5: Bands 1- 4 non-medical helper support, Specialist VI Support for visually impaired students.

In-class and out-of-class specialist support to enable visually impaired students to access and engage with their studies. This may include sighted guide support, mobility training and other Specialist Support Professionals to support orientation and navigation. No price data available.

Renewal: The Contract shall commence on the date to be advised by the Authority in the Contract Award Document issued to the Contractor in due course (the "Commencement Date") and (subject to clauses 5.3 and 5.4 in the ITT) is intended to continue for an initial period of 3 years from the Commencement Date (the "Initial Term"). The Contract may be extended beyond the Initial Term on a maximum of 2 [two] occasions, for a period of up to 1 (one) year on each occasion (each a "Renewal Period") at the Authority's sole discretion, by the Authority giving the Contractor not less than 1 (one) months' notice prior to the expiry of the Initial Term or the Renewal Period (as applicable).

Lot 6: Band 4 non-medical helper support, Specialist Study Skills and Specialist mentor support for apprentices

One-to-one support delivered outside taught sessions to help apprentices with additional needs to navigate their academic journey, workplace learning and wider apprenticeship requirements. Specialist mentors support apprentices to develop strategies that promote independence and wellbeing, while specialist study skills tutors help apprentices meet course requirements and build academic confidence across academic and workplace settings.

Renewal: The Contract shall commence on the date to be advised by the Authority in the Contract Award Document issued to the Contractor in due course (the "Commencement Date") and (subject to clauses 5.3 and 5.4 in the ITT) is intended to continue for an initial period of 3 years from the Commencement Date (the "Initial Term"). The Contract may be extended beyond the Initial Term on a maximum of 2 [two] occasions, for a period of up to 1 (one) year on each occasion (each a "Renewal Period") at the Authority's sole discretion, by the Authority giving the Contractor not less than 1 (one) months' notice prior to the expiry of the Initial Term or the Renewal Period (as applicable).

Lot 7: Neurodiversity screening assessments for apprentices

Neurodiversity screening assessments for apprentices to identify indicators of neurodivergence, including specific learning difficulties and differences in attention, processing and communication, across academic and workplace settings. Assessments should identify strengths, barriers and support needs to inform reasonable adjustments, support planning and, where appropriate, liaison with relevant University and employer contacts.

Renewal: The Contract shall commence on the date to be advised by the Authority in the Contract Award Document issued to the Contractor in due course (the "Commencement Date") and (subject to clauses 5.3 and 5.4 in the ITT) is intended to continue for an initial period of 3 years from the Commencement Date (the "Initial Term"). The Contract may be extended beyond the Initial Term on a maximum of 2 [two] occasions, for a period of up to 1 (one) year on each occasion (each a "Renewal Period") at the Authority's sole discretion, by the Authority giving the Contractor not less than 1 (one) months' notice prior to the expiry of the Initial Term or the Renewal Period (as applicable).

Lot 8: Needs assessments for apprenticeship students

Needs assessments for apprenticeship students to identify disability-related support requirements, barriers to participation and adjustments required to support engagement with learning, workplace activity and assessment. Assessments should provide clear recommendations to inform support planning, reasonable adjustments and specialist support across academic and workplace elements of the apprenticeship, including off-the-job training, on-programme learning and end-point assessment, as appropriate.

Renewal: The Contract shall commence on the date to be advised by the Authority in the Contract Award Document issued to the Contractor in due course (the "Commencement Date") and (subject to clauses 5.3 and 5.4 in the ITT) is intended to continue for an initial period of 3 years from the Commencement Date (the "Initial Term"). The Contract may be extended beyond the Initial Term on a maximum of 2 [two] occasions, for a period of up to 1 (one) year on each occasion (each a "Renewal Period") at the Authority's sole discretion, by the Authority giving the Contractor not less than 1 (one) months' notice prior to the expiry of the Initial Term or the Renewal Period (as applicable).

Planning Information

The Disability Inclusion Service (DIS) within Student Support at the University of Salford will be issuing a tender for the provision of services required to support our students under the following Lots • Lot1 - Educational Psychology assessments to identify specific learning difficulties • Lot2 - Band 1 and 2 non-medical helper support • Lot3 -Band 4 non-medical helper support, Specialist Study Skills and Specialist Mentor support • Lot4 - Band 4 non-medical helper support, Specialist D/deaf support • Lot5 - Band 4 non-medical helper support, Specialist Study Skills and Specialist Mentor support for Apprentices • Lot6 - Neurodiversity screening assessments for Apprentices • Lot7 - Student needs assessments for Apprentices • Lot8 - Band 4 non-medical helper support, Specialist VI Support for visually impaired students • Lot9 -Transportation for students to and from campus (taxis) The DIS team will conduct a comprehensive review of all current service providers and will therefore initiate a tender process for the provision of the aforementioned services in November 2025. We require a consistent and robust service capable of meeting the diverse and evolving needs of all our students. As part of this process, the university reserves the right to withdraw or amend any of the above areas before publication of the tender. To discuss any of the above please contact Tanith Halstead (T.Halstead@salford.ac.uk)

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0547db
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076901-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

80300000 - Higher education services

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,730,996 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,730,996 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
15 Sep 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
1 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
University of Salford
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SALFORD
Postcode
M5 4WT
Postcode Area
Manchester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD34 Greater Manchester South West
Delivery Location
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Local Authority
Salford
Electoral Ward
Ordsall
Westminster Constituency
Salford

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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