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Student Field Trips

Cardiff University

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

02 Sep 2026 at 15:37

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

02 Sep 2026 at 14:32

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cardiff University’s School of Engineering procured educational field trips for compulsory teaching activities for first- and second-year ACE undergraduate students. The requirement covers trips to two sites, with six trips planned across a three-year teaching programme. The service involves organising and delivering field-based educational activities, including package-tour organisation, higher-education services and vocational training services (CPV 63511000, 80300000 and 80530000). Cardiff University is the buying organisation, and the activity is associated with Cardiff. The requirement is intended to maintain students’ practical learning, educational experience and the School of Engineering’s teaching capability. It is a service requirement rather than a purchase of goods or construction works, and is focused on managed student field-trip provision for engineering education.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a direct award to Field Studies Council. The award date was 2 September 2026. The award value is £480,000 excluding VAT and £540,000 gross, in total for the single lot. The contract period runs from 14 September 2026 to 13 September 2029. A contract signature was scheduled for 14 September 2026, following a standstill period ending on 11 September 2026. Cardiff University used Schedule 5, Regulation 41 of the Procurement Act 2023, citing an extension or partial replacement of existing provision, incompatibility and disproportionate technical difficulties from changing supplier, and the need for continuity. The award is recorded as pending, while the tender status is complete.

This opportunity indicates recurring demand from Cardiff University for a specialist provider able to organise and deliver compulsory educational field trips for engineering undergraduates. A credible future competitor would need experience managing multi-site student visits, coordinating repeated annual trips and providing reliable educational or vocational learning activities rather than general leisure travel alone. The buyer’s stated rationale places particular weight on continuity, compatibility with existing provision, operational reliability and the ability to support students through their degree cohorts. Suppliers would therefore need robust arrangements for planning, transport or package logistics, site coordination, student welfare and educational delivery. Evidence of successful work with universities, engineering schools or comparable organised learning programmes would help demonstrate the capability expected.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Student Field Trips

Notice Description

Cardiff University's School of Engineering must undertake educational field trips at two sites. The field trips are run annually and are a compulsory requirement for ACE Year 1 & 2 Undergraduate Students. 6 trips are running over a 3-year term, as below: 2026-2027 - March/April 2027 & June 2027 2027-2028 - March/April 2028 & June 2028 2028-2029 - March/April 2029 & June 2029

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 field trip provision would negatively impact the School of Engineering's student experience and capability to teach. A three-year agreement is required as the field trips are for 1st and 2nd year students only and the School of Engineering need to see the cohort of students through their degrees.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f071
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083147-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

63511000 - Organisation of package tours

80300000 - Higher education services

80530000 - Vocational training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£480,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
2 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
14 Sep 2026 - 13 Sep 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

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
Postcode Area
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

Field Studies Council

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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