--- title: "T1121 - Card Acquiring Services 2025" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-058550" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-058550" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-058550.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-058550.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX" published: "2025-08-11" --- # T1121 - Card Acquiring Services 2025 Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-058550 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-058550) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-058550.json) ## Summary The procurement process initiated by the University of Essex, located at Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, revolves around the "T1121 - Card Acquiring Services 2025" tender. This planning stage focuses on securing Merchant Services for processing, authorisation, and settlement of debit and credit transactions via multiple payment channels, including in-person (Chip and PIN/contactless), mail/telephone orders, and online e-commerce. The procurement falls under the services category, particularly "Financial transaction processing and clearing-house services," and will leverage a competitive and flexible procedure to engage potential suppliers. The key milestone for pre-market engagement is scheduled by 29th August 2025, with a future tender notice expected by 1st September 2025. The contract is valued at GBP 3,500,000, with a planned contract period starting in August 2026. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in financial transaction processing and related services, especially those capable of adapting to technological advancements and market shifts. Companies providing comprehensive merchant service solutions, including robust corporate support and specialised relationship management, will find this tender aligns with their capabilities. The University of Essex is looking for a reliable partner capable of not only fulfilling current requirements but also addressing future needs, ensuring sustained growth and user satisfaction. Businesses prioritising innovation and adding value to educational sectors will likely find this contract conducive to expanding their service portfolio. The tender explicitly accommodates the participation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), creating an inclusive growth opportunity. ## Notice This pre market engagement is to scope potential suppliers interest for the provision of Merchant Services for processing, authorisation and settlement of the University's debit and credit transactions via all payment channels including customer present (Chip and PIN/contactless payments (including mobile wallets such as apple pay, google pay), customer not present (Mail Order / Telephone Order) and online (e-commerce). The University is seeking to develop efficient and cost-effective merchant service arrangements which will be capable of meeting future market and technological changes, and which will meet, and often exceed, user expectations. It is looking for a relationship with an organisation which it can be confident will fulfil all the University's current and future requirements. It is important that any potential acquiring partner can add value through an effective dedicated corporate support team backed up by a proactive education sector specialist Relationship Manager. The following legal entities are involved in this tender: University of Essex University of Essex Campus Services Limited This tender is for all merchant services activity for the University and its subsidiaries across all acceptance methods. ### Planning Information This pre market engagement is to scope interest from suppliers for the provision of Merchant Services for processing, authorisation and settlement of the University’s debit and credit transactions via all payment channels including customer present (Chip and PIN/contactless payments (including mobile wallets such as apple pay, google pay), customer not present (Mail Order / Telephone Order) and online (e-commerce). Please register your interest and provide some brief information in the first instance. Please also feel free to ask questions/provide feedback on the draft specification. The plan is to run a competitive flexible procedure procurement process for this requirement, with the next stage including a tender notice and a PSQ stage. Further information will be provided as the procurement process progresses. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047706-2025 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 11 Aug 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 1 Sep 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 9 Aug 2026 - 9 Aug 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £3,500,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX | | Locality | COLCHESTER | | Post town | Colchester | | Postcode | CO4 3SQ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLH East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLH3 Essex | | ITL 3 | TLH34 Essex Haven Gateway | | Local authority | Colchester | | Electoral ward | Wivenhoe | | Westminster constituency | Harwich and North Essex | | Delivery location | TLH3 Essex | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 66 - Financial and insurance services ### Codes - 66172000 - Financial transaction processing and clearing-house services ## Release History - 11 Aug 2025 at 14:17 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047706-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047706-2025 11th August 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://www.essex.ac.uk - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-h6vhtk-058550. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-058550.json.