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Student Assistance and Support Services

APUC Limited

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

25 Sep 2026 at 12:26

Award Notice
TenderUpdate

25 May 2026 at 10:21

Tender Notice
Tender

29 Apr 2026 at 15:27

Tender Notice
Planning

15 Dec 2025 at 15:05

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

APUC Limited procured student assistance and support services for Scotland’s higher and further education sector. The requirement covered two service areas: a full student support service and an online student wellbeing tool. The full service combines one-to-one counselling by video, telephone and in person with an out-of-hours student helpline, available around the clock or as required, by telephone and/or online. The wellbeing tool provides an online peer-support portal, creative tools, courses, web-based therapy and a student knowledge hub with wellbeing advice and self-help resources. The services are intended to support students’ mental health and wellbeing across Scottish colleges and universities. The work is delivered in Scotland.

The procurement has been awarded through an open procedure and established a framework with up to six participants. Three suppliers were selected for the full student support service: HealthHero Solutions Limited (formerly Validium), Uwill and Health Assured. Three were selected for the student wellbeing tool: Togetherall, Spectrum Life and TalkLife. Each contract is valued at £100,000; both were signed on 3 August 2026. The stated contract period for each lot is 1,080 days, with an option for one 12-month extension. Bids were due by 10 June 2026, following an amendment for additional time. Evaluation weighted technical quality at 60% and price at 40%. The original procurement estimate was £800,000.

This framework shows demand for both staffed student support and digital wellbeing provision across Scotland’s higher and further education institutions. Credible suppliers need to deliver counselling through video, telephone and face-to-face channels, alongside responsive helpline coverage and/or a digital platform with peer support, courses, therapy and practical self-help resources. For the full-service lot, counsellors and personnel attending institutions or interacting with students must hold PVG Scheme membership. Key personnel must have recognised counselling or psychotherapy qualifications, or the specified chartered psychology credentials and registrations. Suppliers also need robust and sustainable supply-chain controls, prompt subcontractor payment practices, suitable insurance and evidence of financial standing. Framework performance reporting requires regular institution-level spend data. The awards demonstrate that both specialist and broader providers competed successfully.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Student Assistance and Support Services

Notice Description

The Authority was seeking Contractor(s) for the provision of student assistance and support services to the Scottish HE/FE sector (https://www.apuc-scot.ac.uk/?#!/members). These services include: counselling sevices, student support helpline and online mental health and wellbeing support.

Lot Information

Full Student Support Service

This lot will combine: - Counselling on a one-on-one basis given via SVC, telephone and in a face-to-face setting; - Student support helpline (out of hours, 24/7 or as required) via telephone and/or online methods); - Online mental health and wellbeing support: online peer to peer web portal, offering creative tools, courses and web-based therapy and online knowledge hub for students including, but not limited to, advice on wellbeing and self-help practises.

Renewal: 1 x 12 month extension.

Student Wellbeing Tool

Provision of online mental health and wellbeing support: online peer to peer web portal, offering creative tools, courses and web-based therapy and online knowledge hub for students including, but not limited to, advice on wellbeing and self-help practises.

Renewal: 1 x 12-month extension.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f5ef
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090959-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85312300 - Guidance and counselling services

85312320 - Counselling services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£800,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£100,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
1 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
2 Mar 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
3 years - 30/04/2029.

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
APUC Limited
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
STIRLING
Postcode
FK8 2DZ
Postcode Area
Falkirk and Stirling
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM0 Eastern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM02 Perth and Kinross, and Stirling
Delivery Location
TLM77 Perth and Kinross, and Stirling
Local Authority
Stirling
Electoral Ward
Stirling East
Westminster Constituency
Stirling and Strathallan

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
6
Supplier Names

HealthHero Solutions Limited (formerly Validium)

Uwill Inc

Health Assured

Togetherall

Spectrum.Life

TalkLife

Further Information

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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