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Provision of Student Communication Support Services

University of Strathclyde

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

29 Jul 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

11 Mar 2026 at 00:00

OJEU - F14 - Corrigendum
Tender

10 Mar 2026 at 00:00

OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Strathclyde is establishing a framework for student communication support services through its Disability and Wellbeing Services. The work supports Deaf and hard-of-hearing students at the University in Glasgow. It covers British Sign Language interpreters for planned teaching such as lectures, laboratories and tutorials, as well as wider university activities and study materials including podcasts, recorded lectures and readings. It also covers electronic notetakers who produce summaries for students unable to take their own notes while lipreading or watching an interpreter. This is a specialist higher-education accessibility service, classified under CPV 79540000 for interpretation services, with related language and education support classifications.

The procurement has been awarded under an open procedure and is complete. The framework has been awarded to Prestige Network Limited, Sign Solutions, Deaf Action and Just Sign Limited. The estimated framework value was £800,000; the active contract is valued at £1,036,995.83. The contract was signed on 14 July 2026 and runs for 720 days, with two possible extensions of up to 12 months each at the University’s discretion. The tender deadline and bid opening were 9 April 2026 at noon, following a one-day amendment caused by publishing technical issues. Evaluation was split equally between quality and price. Seven electronic bids were received, all from SMEs, and the framework allows contract modification in specified circumstances.

This opportunity demonstrates recurring demand from a higher-education buyer for professionally delivered Deaf and hard-of-hearing student support. Relevant suppliers need the operational capacity to provide both BSL interpreting and electronic notetaking across teaching, online study and wider university activity, with service levels able to respond to student numbers that vary by semester. BSL interpreters must be appropriately qualified and experienced, including band 1 and band 2 interpreters registered with the relevant membership bodies. Electronic notetakers need signature level 3 or signature level 4 certification. Credible providers also need three relevant examples from the previous three years and the ability to maintain employer’s and public liability insurance of at least £10 million per incident, plus professional liability insurance of at least £2 million.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Student Communication Support Services

Notice Description

The University's Disability and Wellbeing Services requires the establishment of a Framework for various forms of Student Communication Support Services to support students who are Deaf or have hearing loss.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The University's Disability and Wellbeing Services requires the establishment of a Framework for various forms of Student Communication Support Services to support students who are Deaf or have hearing loss. The Framework will comprise of two main elements. British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters are required to provide communication support to Deaf students during planned teaching activity such as lectures, labs and tutorials and to enable them to access all aspects of the wider University social experience outside of formal teaching sessions. Where necessary, they are also required to provide translation support outside of lectures and classes, both online or in-person, to aid Deaf students with direct study which can include podcasts, pre-recorded lectures and readings. Electronic notetakers (ENT) are required to provide a set of notes for Deaf or hard of hearing students who cannot take their own notes because they are either lipreading or watching a sign language interpreter. They are required to provide a summary of what is being said rather than a word-for-word account. All personnel delivering these services must be appropriately qualified, experienced, and trained in supporting disabled students within higher education settings. This contract requires the provision of band 1 and band 2 BSL Interpreters holding registration with the appropriate membership bodies and Electronic Notetakers holding signature level 3 and signature level 4 certification. The number of students that require these services varies from year to year and is not finalised until the start of each semester.. Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Options: In line with Regulation 72 - Modification of Contracts During their Term, of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, this Contract may be modified without a new procurement procedure in accordance with this Part in some cases.

Renewal: The contract is subject to two up to 12-month extensions. Any extension is to be exercised at the University's entire discretion and will only be valid upon written notification to the Tenderer no later than 30 days prior to the expiry of the preceding term.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000824102
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL561123
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

79530000 - Translation services

79540000 - Interpretation services

80340000 - Special education services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£800,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£1,036,995 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
8 Apr 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
February 2030

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
University of Strathclyde
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
GLASGOW
Postcode
G1 1XU
Postcode Area
Glasgow
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM3 West Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM32 Glasgow City
Delivery Location
TLM82 Glasgow City
Local Authority
Glasgow City
Electoral Ward
Anderston/City/Yorkhill
Westminster Constituency
Glasgow North East

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
4
Supplier Names

Prestige Network Limited

Sign Solutions

Deaf Action

Just Sign Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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