This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

08 May 2026 at 07:51

Award

20 Apr 2026 at 13:51

Award

20 Apr 2026 at 09:55

Summary of the contracting process

Cardiff University has concluded the procurement process for the "Year in Industry Student Placements" tender, with the most recent contract awarded on 8 May 2026. The initiative focuses on providing industrial placement opportunities for second-year students from the School of Engineering. This contract, which spans from 8 May 2026 to 1 November 2028, was awarded through a direct method under Schedule 5, Regulation 41 of the Procurement Act 2023. The procurement category is services, specifically higher education services and industrial training services, with a gross contract value of £600,000. The procurement process has reached the award stage, with the successful supplier being SYMMONS MADGE ASSOCIATES LIMITED, based in Barry, UK.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in educational and industrial training services. With Cardiff University looking to renew and extend current service provisions, businesses with existing capabilities in similar sectors are uniquely positioned to benefit. The targeted support for the School of Engineering’s placement programme can attract companies that focus on sustaining educational outcomes and enhancing student capacity building. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region with relevant experience can explore potential collaborations or prepare for future engagements with Cardiff University. Given the two-year contract period and substantial financial commitment, suppliers offering robust and innovative solutions to enhance student practical experiences are encouraged to leverage such opportunities for growth and partnership.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Year in Industry Student Placements

Notice Description

Cardiff University's School of Engineering requires external support for the provision of year in industry student placements.

Procurement Information

Direct Award under Schedule 5, Regulation 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 on the basis that:The contract concerns the supply of goods, services or works by the existing supplier which are intended as an extension to, or partial replacement of, existing goods, services or works in circumstances where: (a) a change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods, services or works that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing goods, services or works, and (b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance. Continuity of the service provision with no satisfactory alternatives. A change/cessation of service provision would negatively impact the School of Engineering's student experience and capability to teach. An agreement is required as the placements are for 2nd year students only and the School of Engineering need to see the cohort of students through their degrees.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06860a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042235-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

80300000 - Higher education services

80531100 - Industrial training services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 May 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
19 Apr 20262 months ago
Contract Period
7 May 2026 - 1 Nov 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CARDIFF
Postcode
CF24 4HQ
Post Town
Cardiff
Country
Wales

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Cardiff
Electoral Ward
Cathays
Westminster Constituency
Cardiff South and Penarth

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SYMMONS MADGE ASSOCIATES

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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-06860a-2026-05-08T08:51:31+01:00",
    "date": "2026-05-08T08:51:31+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-06860a",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PHVT-4343-HWYR",
            "name": "Cardiff University",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PHVT-4343-HWYR"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Procurement Services",
                "locality": "Cardiff",
                "postalCode": "CF24 4HQ",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKL22"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "kellyd9@cardiff.ac.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/business/why-work-with-us/for-suppliers",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    },
                    {
                        "id": "GB-WLS",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_DEVOLVED_REGULATIONS",
                        "description": "Welsh devolved regulations apply"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PYGC-1225-HHWV",
            "name": "SYMMONS MADGE ASSOCIATES LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PYGC-1225-HHWV"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Suite F31 The Business Centre",
                "locality": "Barry",
                "postalCode": "CF63 2AW",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKL22"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "peter.symmons@symmonsmadge.co.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PHVT-4343-HWYR",
        "name": "Cardiff University"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "CU.2137.DK",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Year in Industry Student Placements",
        "description": "Cardiff University's School of Engineering requires external support for the provision of year in industry student placements.",
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "Direct Award under Schedule 5, Regulation 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 on the basis that:The contract concerns the supply of goods, services or works by the existing supplier which are intended as an extension to, or partial replacement of, existing goods, services or works in circumstances where: (a) a change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods, services or works that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing goods, services or works, and (b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance. Continuity of the service provision with no satisfactory alternatives. A change/cessation of service provision would negatively impact the School of Engineering's student experience and capability to teach. An agreement is required as the placements are for 2nd year students only and the School of Engineering need to see the cohort of students through their degrees.",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                }
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "additionalRepeatExtensionPartialReplacement"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "title": "Year in Industry Student Placements",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 600000,
                "amount": 500000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-PPON-PYGC-1225-HHWV",
                    "name": "SYMMONS MADGE ASSOCIATES LIMITED"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "80300000",
                            "description": "Higher education services"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "80531100",
                            "description": "Industrial training services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UKL22",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKL22",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKL22",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2028-11-01T23:59:59+00:00"
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "035511-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK5",
                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035511-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-04-20T10:55:55+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                },
                {
                    "id": "035707-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035707-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-04-20T14:51:56+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2026-05-08T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ],
            "date": "2026-04-20T00:00:00+01:00",
            "standstillPeriod": {
                "endDate": "2026-04-29T23:59:59+01:00"
            }
        }
    ],
    "language": "en",
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "awardID": "1",
            "title": "Year in Industry Student Placements",
            "status": "active",
            "period": {
                "startDate": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2028-11-01T23:59:59+00:00"
            },
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 600000,
                "amount": 500000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "dateSigned": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00",
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "042235-2026",
                    "documentType": "contractNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK7",
                    "description": "Contract details notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042235-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-05-08T08:51:31+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}