Scope
Reference
PURCON/5058
Description
The University of East Anglia (UEA) is an internationally renowned university based in a campus that provides top quality academic, social and cultural facilities to over 17,000 students and 2,500 staff.
The UEA has been ranked in the top 20 in the UK for its research quality, in the Complete University Guide's UK top 30 and has achieved the green flag award for 9 years running.
Located in 370 acres of rolling parkland but just two miles from the centre of the cathedral city of Norwich, the University is adjacent to the Norwich Research Park which is home to over 1,000 scientists working in several world ranked institutions.
A total of over 17,000 students are currently studying at the University, including non-UK students from more than 100 countries worldwide.
Founded in 1963 and located on a single campus (the "Campus") on the western fringe of Norwich, the University is respected for both its research and its teaching, attracting students from across the world.
The existing contract ends on 31st July 2026 and therefore the UEA requires a new contract to commence from 1st August 2026. UEA intends to award a new contract for the provision of Occupational Health Services (OHS) to employees and students to achieve the following objectives:
In relation to Staff:
Support HR proactively to manage issues relating to absence and health
Assess fitness to work regarding ill-health capability dismissal or ill health retirement
Assess employees on long-term sick leave, advising on the likely timescale of the absence and promoting an effective and timely return to work
Support UEA to fulfil duties under the Equality Act 2010 (including disability, pregnancy and age discrimination)
Advise on temporary or permanent changes to the work or workplace (reasonable adjustments) to enable someone with a physical or mental health condition or disability to work effectively and safely
Undertake and interpret pre-employment health assessments if requested to do so
Carry out specific assessments to determine fitness for work in safety critical environments, such as clinical healthcare
Advise on ergonomic issues and workplace design
Introduce programmes to support the wider health and wellbeing of the workforce
Support compliance with statutory requirements including health and safety regulations
In Relation to Students:
Support UEA proactively to manage issues relating to student absence and health
Assess fitness to study in support of UEA formal engagement regulations
Support UEA to fulfil duties under the Equality Act 2010 (including disability, pregnancy and age discrimination)
Undertake and interpret pre-registration checks for students on specified professional courses
Advise on ergonomic issues in relation to learning spaces and reasonable adjustment issues
Advise on specific needs of students with diagnosed conditions giving rise to a need for recommended reasonable adjustments
Support compliance with statutory requirements including health and safety regulations
UEA is considering structuring the procurement of OHS as below:
Lot 1 - Occupational Health Services - Staff
Lot 2 - Occupational Health Services - Students
UEA intends to use a competitive flexible procedure with a two stage evaluation process. This is currently intended to include stage one with conditions of participation and qualitative evaluation questions, stage two to include presentations and/or further questions around the submitted bids. This approach is not definite and may change before UEA issues any tender documents.
UEA intends to award a contract for a 3 year initial term with a 2 year extension at the UEA's discretion. Contract annual spend is expected to be £445k across both requirements, a split of approximately £400k for students and £45k for staff.
Indicative procurement timetable:
08/12/2025 , Pre Market Engagement notice published
09/01/2026 , Pre Market Engagement supplier deadline
02/03/2026 , Tender goes live
25/05/2026 , Evaluations complete
30/06/2026 , Contract signed
01/08/2026 , New services commence
UEA is under no obligation to issue a competitive activity following this market engagement.
Total value (estimated)
- £2,225,000 excluding VAT
- £2,670,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2029
- Possible extension to 31 July 2031
- 5 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85100000 - Health services
Contract locations
- UKH15 - Norwich and East Norfolk
Engagement
Engagement deadline
9 January 2026
Engagement process description
Please use our Microsoft form linked below to engage with UEA on this requirement.
We would appreciate any and all feedback relating to this requirement.
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
2 March 2026
Contracting authority
UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA
- Companies House: RC000651
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PCCY-8551-ZNDY
Norwich Research Park
Norwich
NR4 7TJ
United Kingdom
Email: procurement@uea.ac.uk
Website: http://uea.ac.uk
Region: UKH15 - Norwich and East Norfolk
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government