Planning

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 1 release in its history.

Planning

11 Mar 2026 at 15:24

Summary of the contracting process

The Office for Students, a central government public authority located in Bristol, UK, is preparing to award a contract for the provision of support services for the Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) and understanding the academic and financial sustainability of the UK higher education sector. The procurement process is currently in its planning stage, with a market engagement notice published on 11th March 2026. Interested suppliers have until 27th March 2026 to submit a questionnaire detailing their views on the proposed procurement, with the formal tender expected to be announced by 15th April 2026. The contract will commence on 15th September 2026 and extend through 14th September 2028, with potential for renewal, covering financial management consultancy services valued at £2,083,333.33.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in financial management consultancy services, particularly those with expertise in higher education sector sustainability and cost management. Businesses able to provide holistic support and consulting to higher education funding and regulatory bodies will find themselves well-suited to compete for this contract. With an estimated gross value of £2,500,000, the contract presents substantial growth prospects for firms looking to expand their footprint in educational financial services within the UK. Engaging with this tender allows for the development of strategic relationships with key regulatory and funding stakeholders in the academic sector.

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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. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Bristol:-Financial-management-consultancy-services./K5ZCF4H3BU To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/K5ZCF4H3BU

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.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-066777
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021888-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
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
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Mar 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
15 Apr 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
14 Sep 2026 - 14 Sep 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

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

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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