---
title: "Courier Services DHL"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-9b75f168-26fe-41d2-8700-3148a36285c1"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-9b75f168-26fe-41d2-8700-3148a36285c1"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-9b75f168-26fe-41d2-8700-3148a36285c1.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-9b75f168-26fe-41d2-8700-3148a36285c1.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "THE OPEN UNIVERSITY"
published: "2026-10-13"
---

# Courier Services DHL

Buyer: THE OPEN UNIVERSITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-9b75f168-26fe-41d2-8700-3148a36285c1

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-9b75f168-26fe-41d2-8700-3148a36285c1)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-9b75f168-26fe-41d2-8700-3148a36285c1.json)

## Summary

The Open University buys courier services to deliver student materials internationally and on some domestic routes where Royal Mail and Yodel are unsuitable, with additional courier work for the wider university when required. Deliveries span the UK, Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories, and destinations across Europe and the rest of the world. The requirement is for parcel and document transport rather than general postal services: suppliers need to move learning materials to students across a very broad geographic footprint, as well as support other university courier needs. The buyer is The Open University, based in Milton Keynes. This is a service contract for courier operations (CPV 64120000).

The procurement is complete and DHL International (UK) Limited was selected for the contract. The award date was 5 October 2026. The contract runs from 5 October 2026 to 10 January 2028. Its awarded value is £145,000. The University used a selective procedure to call off from a framework agreement. The tender deadline was 4 October 2026. The requirement was not divided into lots. The stated suitability assessment says the contract is not suitable for SMEs or voluntary, community and social enterprises. The published procurement information does not set out an evaluation basis, so the available outcome identifies the selected supplier and contract value but not how bids were scored or compared.

This award demonstrates demand for a courier provider able to deliver student learning materials internationally and on selected domestic routes, including destinations across a large number of countries and territories. A credible competitor would need broad geographic reach and reliable arrangements for getting parcels to students where the University’s usual Royal Mail and Yodel services do not fit the need. The provider must also be able to handle wider University courier requirements when called upon. The award went to a large supplier through a call-off from a framework agreement, indicating that framework access and the operational capacity to serve a geographically dispersed customer are relevant strengths for this specific requirement. The contract’s stated SME and VCSE suitability assessment is negative.

## Notice

International, and some domestic, courier services to ensure student material reaches our students where Royal Mail and Yodel services are not appropriate. Also courier services for the wider OU where required.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/34b069be-3132-4eb7-b12f-871340019dcc |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a framework agreement |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 13 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Contract period | 5 Oct 2026 - 10 Jan 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £145,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £145,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | THE OPEN UNIVERSITY |
| Locality | MILTON KEYNES |
| Postcode area | Milton Keynes |
| Postcode | MK7 6AA |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLJ12 Milton Keynes |
| Local authority | Milton Keynes |
| Electoral ward | Monkston |
| Westminster constituency | Milton Keynes Central |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | DHL International (UK) Limited |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 64 - Postal and telecommunications services

### Codes

- 64120000 - Courier services

## Release History

- 13 Oct 2026 at 12:05 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/34b069be-3132-4eb7-b12f-871340019dcc

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/34b069be-3132-4eb7-b12f-871340019dcc
  13th October 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-9b75f168-26fe-41d2-8700-3148a36285c1. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-9b75f168-26fe-41d2-8700-3148a36285c1.json.