--- title: "Preliminary Market Engagement Counselling Services" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06907f" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06907f" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06907f.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06907f.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "ULSTER UNIVERSITY" published: "2026-05-01" --- # Preliminary Market Engagement Counselling Services Buyer: ULSTER UNIVERSITY Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06907f [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06907f) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06907f.json) ## Summary Ulster University is in the planning stage for a procurement process involving the provision of student and employee counselling services. The university, located in Coleraine, United Kingdom, is conducting a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) to gather information and inform its strategy for this procurement. This process is related to the industry category of counselling services and is governed by Northern Irish devolved regulations. Key dates include a deadline for the expression of interest on 28th May 2026, with the possibility of a future tender notice by 1st July 2026. The anticipated contract period is from January 2027 to January 2030, with potential extensions until January 2033. This tender offers substantial opportunities for service providers in the mental health and counselling sectors to expand their clientele, particularly those enterprises capable of supporting academic institutions. Ideal candidates would be providers of comprehensive mental health, wellbeing, and counselling services aimed at both students and employees. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are particularly encouraged, considering their suitability for the proposed lots. By engaging in this PME, businesses can potentially position themselves for a significant contractual relationship with Ulster University, thus enhancing their operational footprint and growth within the public sector. ## Notice Ulster University will potentially seek to tender for the provision of student/employee counselling services. Ulster University wishes to procure an external student/employee counselling provider to supplement existing sources of internal wellbeing, mental health, disability and financial support to students through our Student and Employee Wellbeing teams across our Belfast, Derry-Londonderry and Coleraine campuses. ### Planning Information The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (PME) and Request for Information (RFI) is to invite potential Service Providers to express an interest and provide information to assist with the procurement and development of a specification for Counselling Services at Ulster University. The procurement route, duration and type of contract(s) shall be determined following this preliminary market consultation and engagement with market participants. It is this PME which will help to inform the University's strategy for this contract. It is important to note that this PME/RFI is not a call for competition, a pre-qualification questionnaire, part of any pre-qualification/selection process or a current tender opportunity. Potential providers will need to express an interest in any future tender opportunity once a Tender Notice is published. This RFI is intended as an awareness, communication, and information gathering exercise. An expression of interest is no indication of a commitment to participate in the RFI process, nor does it infer any preferential or special status on those individuals and organisations who express an interest in the RFI exercise. The RFI Questionnaire can be accessed by registering with eTendersNI (www.etendersni.gov.uk) and searching for the relevant CfT_6522356. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040642-2026 | | 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 | 1 May 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 1 Jul 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Jan 2027 - 1 Jan 2030 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £1,200,000 | | 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 | ULSTER UNIVERSITY | | Locality | COLERAINE | | Post town | Northern Ireland | | Postcode | BT52 1SA | | Country | Northern Ireland | | ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland | | ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland | | ITL 3 | TLN0C Causeway Coast and Glens | | Local authority | Causeway Coast and Glens | | Electoral ward | University | | Westminster constituency | East Londonderry | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85312320 - Counselling services ## Release History - 1 May 2026 at 14:07 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040642-2026 - 1 May 2026 at 13:51 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040609-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040642-2026 1st May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040609-2026 1st May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - 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-06907f. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06907f.json.