Tender

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Student Counselling Services

University of Ulster

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Tender

23 Sep 2026 at 12:08

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

01 May 2026 at 15:07

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

01 May 2026 at 14:51

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Ulster University is procuring external student counselling services to complement support from its Student Wellbeing teams, including mental health, disability and financial support. The provider will deliver therapeutic counselling, which the University does not provide in-house, and work with Wellbeing staff to ensure students can be referred seamlessly after triage. The service is for students across the University’s campuses, serving a population of almost 30,000 registered students from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Great Britain, other EU countries and internationally. This is a counselling and guidance service (CPV 85312300).

The process reached the tender stage: the University invited offers through an open procedure, with electronic submission permitted in English via eTendersNI. The deadline for enquiries was 19 October 2026 at 15:00; bids were due by 27 October 2026 at 15:00. The expected award decision date is 25 November 2026. The contract is scheduled to run from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2028, with options to extend by up to a further 24 months, subject to review and satisfactory performance. The estimated contract value is £1.2 million including VAT. There is one lot. Evaluation is weighted 60% to quality and 40% to the commercial submission.

This requirement may suit counselling providers, including small and medium-sized businesses, with the capacity to serve a large and diverse university student population across multiple campuses. Suppliers should be able to provide therapeutic counselling as part of a wider student wellbeing offer and work effectively with university support teams. The service needs a clear referral pathway: Wellbeing staff triage students and refer those for whom counselling is the appropriate intervention, with access designed to be seamless for students. The University has used an external provider for this service since 2013, so experience delivering counselling in a university or comparable student-support setting is relevant. The evaluation places greater weight on the quality submission than on price.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Student Counselling Services

Notice Description

Ulster University is seeking tender responses for a contract to procure an external student counselling provider to supplement existing sources of internal wellbeing, mental health, disability and financial support to students through our Student Wellbeing teams across our campuses. Ulster University's Student Wellbeing team does not provide therapeutic counselling 'in-house' so has engaged an external counselling provider to facilitate this part of the service offering since 2013. While delivered by an external provider, the University requires the counselling service as part of the suite of services that students can avail of to enhance their mental health and wellbeing. Access to the counselling service shall be seamless for UU students. When a UU student accesses Student Wellbeing for counselling, staff will triage the student to identify if this is the most appropriate intervention; if this is identified as the most appropriate intervention, a seamless referral system for Student Wellbeing staff shall form part of this contract. Ulster University has almost 30,000 registered students across a broad demographic of 'Home fee paying' students from across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, as well as students from Great Britain, other EU countries, and international students.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Following the initial contract period (2 years), there are options to extend up to a further 24 months. Optional extension periods will be subject to review and satisfactory performance assessment by the University.

Planning Information

The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (PME) and Request for Information (RFI) is to invite potential Service Providers to express an interest and provide information to assist with the procurement and development of a specification for Counselling Services at Ulster University. The procurement route, duration and type of contract(s) shall be determined following this preliminary market consultation and engagement with market participants. It is this PME which will help to inform the University's strategy for this contract. It is important to note that this PME/RFI is not a call for competition, a pre-qualification questionnaire, part of any pre-qualification/selection process or a current tender opportunity. Potential providers will need to express an interest in any future tender opportunity once a Tender Notice is published. This RFI is intended as an awareness, communication, and information gathering exercise. An expression of interest is no indication of a commitment to participate in the RFI process, nor does it infer any preferential or special status on those individuals and organisations who express an interest in the RFI exercise. The RFI Questionnaire can be accessed by registering with eTendersNI (www.etendersni.gov.uk) and searching for the relevant CfT_6522356.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06907f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090076-2026
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

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85312300 - Guidance and counselling services

85312320 - Counselling services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,200,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,200,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
27 Oct 2026Today
Future Notice Date
1 Jul 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
2028-07-01

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 Ulster
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
COLERAINE
Postcode
BT52 1SA
Postcode Area
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN0C Causeway Coast and Glens
Delivery Location
TLN Northern Ireland
Local Authority
Causeway Coast and Glens
Electoral Ward
University
Westminster Constituency
East Londonderry

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.

Loading OCDS record...