Tender

Provision of support services for TRAC and understanding academic and financial sustainability of the UK higher education sector

OFFICE FOR STUDENTS

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

07 May 2026 at 09:38

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

11 Mar 2026 at 15:24

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Office for Students, a central government public authority based in Bristol, has initiated a tendering process for the provision of support services aimed at enhancing the financial sustainability and understanding of the higher education sector in the UK. The procurement is under the title "Provision of support services for TRAC and understanding academic and financial sustainability of the UK higher education sector". This open procedure falls within the financial management consultancy services category and carries a substantial value of £2,500,000. Interested parties must submit their tenders by 3rd June 2026, with the award period concluding on 7th July 2026. The contract is expected to commence on 20th July 2026 and has the possibility of extension, with its maximum duration reaching until September 2030.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in financial consultancy services, particularly those experienced in the education sector and capable of providing strategic support functions. The procurement process is especially suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs), encouraging participation from a diverse range of suppliers. Companies capable of providing high-quality services at competitive prices stand to benefit from the strategic importance and financial scope of this contract, which not only contributes to business growth but also supports the sustainability of the UK's higher education sector.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of support services for TRAC and understanding academic and financial sustainability of the UK higher education sector

Notice Description

The Office for Students, on behalf of the UK wide Regulators and Funders Financial Sustainability Group (RFG) is seeking to identify a contractor capable of delivering support services to the Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) Development Group (TDG) and UK higher education sector stakeholders (including UK higher education funding and regulatory bodies) and providing a central support function for TRAC.

Planning Information

See the questionnaire hosted in Delta. The OfS is interested in suppliers views on the proposed up coming procurement process, to put in place a contract for the provision of support services for TRAC and understanding academic and financial sustainability of the UK higher education sector. Suppliers are asked to complete the questionnaire and return it by Friday 27 March.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-066777
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041789-2026
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, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79412000 - Financial management consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,083,333 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,083,333 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 May 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
3 Jun 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
15 Apr 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
19 Jul 2026 - 14 Sep 2028 2-3 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
OFFICE FOR STUDENTS
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 8SR
Post Town
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
TLK1 Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Stoke Gifford
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-066777-2026-05-07T10:38:10+01:00",
    "date": "2026-05-07T10:38:10+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-066777",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PYZM-6681-RPZP",
            "name": "Office for Students",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PYZM-6681-RPZP"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Westward House, Lime Kiln Close, Stoke Gifford",
                "locality": "Bristol",
                "postalCode": "BS34 8SR",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKK12"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Sarah Phillips",
                "email": "procurement@officeforstudents.org.uk",
                "telephone": "+44 1179317317"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PYZM-6681-RPZP",
        "name": "Office for Students"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "See the questionnaire hosted in Delta. The OfS is interested in suppliers views on the proposed up coming procurement process, to put in place a contract for the provision of support services for TRAC and understanding academic and financial sustainability of the UK higher education sector. Suppliers are asked to complete the questionnaire and return it by Friday 27 March.",
                "dueDate": "2026-03-27T23:59:59+00:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "021888-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021888-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-03-11T15:24:04Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "PRN2511",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Provision of support services for TRAC and understanding academic and financial sustainability of the UK higher education sector",
        "description": "The Office for Students, on behalf of the UK wide Regulators and Funders Financial Sustainability Group (RFG) is seeking to identify a contractor capable of delivering support services to the Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) Development Group (TDG) and UK higher education sector stakeholders (including UK higher education funding and regulatory bodies) and providing a central support function for TRAC.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79412000",
                        "description": "Financial management consultancy services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKK1",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 2500000,
            "amount": 2083333.33,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-07-20T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2028-09-14T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2030-09-14T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "active",
                "value": {
                    "amountGross": 2500000,
                    "amount": 2083333.33,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "price",
                            "name": "Price",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 24,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Quality",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 76,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true,
                    "vcse": true
                },
                "renewal": {
                    "description": "Extension for a further 2 years."
                }
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-04-15T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "status": "active",
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
        "coveredBy": [
            "GPA"
        ],
        "submissionMethodDetails": "https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/A4WD538S5Q",
        "submissionTerms": {
            "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ]
        },
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-06-03T11:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "awardPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-07-07T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            },
            {
                "id": "041789-2026",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK4",
                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041789-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-05-07T10:38:10+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en"
}