---
title: "Provision of support services for TRAC and understanding academic and financial sustainability of the UK higher education sector"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-066777"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-066777"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-066777.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-066777.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "OFFICE FOR STUDENTS"
published: "2026-05-07"
---

# Provision of support services for TRAC and understanding academic and financial sustainability of the UK higher education sector

Buyer: OFFICE FOR STUDENTS  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-066777

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-066777)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-066777.json)

## Summary

The Office for Students, a central government public authority based in Bristol, has initiated a tendering process for the provision of support services aimed at enhancing the financial sustainability and understanding of the higher education sector in the UK. The procurement is under the title "Provision of support services for TRAC and understanding academic and financial sustainability of the UK higher education sector". This open procedure falls within the financial management consultancy services category and carries a substantial value of £2,500,000. Interested parties must submit their tenders by 3rd June 2026, with the award period concluding on 7th July 2026. The contract is expected to commence on 20th July 2026 and has the possibility of extension, with its maximum duration reaching until September 2030.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in financial consultancy services, particularly those experienced in the education sector and capable of providing strategic support functions. The procurement process is especially suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs), encouraging participation from a diverse range of suppliers. Companies capable of providing high-quality services at competitive prices stand to benefit from the strategic importance and financial scope of this contract, which not only contributes to business growth but also supports the sustainability of the UK's higher education sector.

## Notice

The Office for Students, on behalf of the UK wide Regulators and Funders Financial Sustainability Group (RFG) is seeking to identify a contractor capable of delivering support services to the Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) Development Group (TDG) and UK higher education sector stakeholders (including UK higher education funding and regulatory bodies) and providing a central support function for TRAC.

### Planning Information

See the questionnaire hosted in Delta. The OfS is interested in suppliers views on the proposed up coming procurement process, to put in place a contract for the provision of support services for TRAC and understanding academic and financial sustainability of the UK higher education sector. Suppliers are asked to complete the questionnaire and return it by Friday 27 March.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041789-2026 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning, Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 7 May 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 3 Jun 2026 |
| Future notice date | 15 Apr 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 19 Jul 2026 - 14 Sep 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £2,083,333 |
| Lots value | £2,083,333 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | OFFICE FOR STUDENTS |
| Locality | BRISTOL |
| Post town | Bristol |
| Postcode | BS34 8SR |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England |
| ITL 3 | TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire |
| Local authority | South Gloucestershire |
| Electoral ward | Stoke Gifford |
| Westminster constituency | Filton and Bradley Stoke |
| Delivery location | TLK1 Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 79412000 - Financial management consultancy services

## Release History

- 7 May 2026 at 09:38 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041789-2026
- 11 Mar 2026 at 15:24 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021888-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041789-2026
  7th May 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021888-2026
  11th March 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/A4WD538S5Q
- 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-066777. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-066777.json.