What to expect when tendering

The following is a basic outline of the tender process. It is intended to be an overview rather than a detailed guide. If you require more detailed information please contact the Purchasing Department via the contact details at the bottom of this page.

Pre-qualification/due diligence

The purpose of this stage is to assess the suitability of a supplier in terms of technical knowledge and experience, capacity, capability, and organisational and economic/financial standing. This may be built in to the Invitation to Tender stage.

Invitation to Tender

At this stage the University will issue the supplier with a set of documents outlining the requirements of the tender and instructions for completion. The main purpose of this stage is provide suppliers with all the information they need to submit a tender, with accompanying pricing information.

Tender evaluation

After the deadline for tender submission, the tenders will be reviewed and evaluated. This will then form the basis for negotiation and subsequent award of the contract.

Contract award

Once a decision has been reached, the successful supplier will be awarded the contract. Any unsuccessful suppliers will be able to request a debrief.

Tender process survey

If you have recently taken part in a tender process with the University of Oxford, the Purchasing Department would like to invite you to complete a short Supplier Survey on your experience.

Contracting Authority Status

The University confirms that it is not a ‘contracting authority’ within the meaning of the Procurement Act 2023 as it is not wholly or mainly funded by public funds.