Official UK procurement notice
Centre for Digital Healthcare Technology Main Build
Authority: THE UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER (Education)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Contract is for the provision of the Centre for Digital Healthcare Technology (CDHT) Works to Ulster University.
The project will involve the construction of a new six storey building titled “Centre for Digital Health Technology” (CDHT) which is a research and development facility (Use Class B1), comprising of laboratories, office spaces, communal meeting areas, and public realm improvements to Frederick Street.
The proposed site is located on footprint of the current Northland House building, adjacent to the existing Belfast City Centre Ulster University Campus (Block BC). The current Northland House building is located at 2-5a Fredrick Street Belfast, BT1 2NH and will be demolished prior to this appointment being made.
The proposed development maintains its strong physical and visual connection to the wider Ulster University campus, reinforcing established pedestrian routes and arrival spaces. The building’s scale and stepped massing respond sensitively to the surrounding urban context, aligning with neighbouring structures along York Street & Fredrick Street. A refined landscape strategy has been developed to integrate the building seamlessly with its setting, including the removal of the existing boundary wall and the extension of landscaped areas into the adjacent client owned car park to create a more open, cohesive public realm.
Architecturally, the design mirrors the design language of the wider Belfast Campus following a robust brick base and a refined upper façade, featuring high-quality curtain walling, natural stone panels, and glass reinforced concrete fins to enhance depth and street presence. The six-storey front block and two-storey rear podium provide a total GIA of approximately 3,980 m². The building will be constructed primarily in reinforced concrete flat slabs on rotary bored piles socketed into rock, with localised steel framing for roof plant areas. The substructure comprises grouped piles tied with deep pilecaps and perimeter ground beams that provide stability and support for the façade, while internal beams have been rationalised to reduce complexity and improve service coordination.
CDHT is required to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating low-energy systems and climate-resilient materials are proposed throughout, to achieve a low carbon building. PV panels are installed on the roof, and a green roof is proposed for the two-storey terrace.
Further details about the CDHT construction and design can be found in the supporting documents supplied with this PQQ. As of the time of writing, Q4 2025, the project is expecting a planning decision imminently. Planning was submitted in March 2025 and to date has received no objection from the consultee panel. Further details of the planning application can be found here: Northern Ireland Public Register. The planning application reference is LA04/2025/0477/F).
The University is using Develop and Construct as the project delivery methodology under the Contract.
This tender notice is for the award of a public contract through a competitive flexible procedure in accordance with section 20(1) and (2)(b) of the Procurement Act 2023.
- How the procedure runs: This Competition is being conducted using the competitive flexible procedure in accordance with the Act. This procedure involves a two-stage tendering process with an initial PQQ stage (which involves application of the Conditions of Participation to shortlist eligible Suppliers) and an award stage (which involves application of the Award Criteria to tender responses submitted by shortlisted eligible Suppliers to determine the most advantageous tender). This MoI is being issued to those Suppliers who have expressed an interest in tendering for the Contract. In accordance with Section 24 of the Procurement Act 2023, the University may refine award criteria during this Competitive Flexible Procedure. Any refinements will be limited to the criteria already set out in this notice and associated procurement documents, will not alter the overall subject matter or relative weightings, and will be communicated to all suppliers prior to the invitation to submit final tenders. Where a refinement is applied, the University will modify and republish, or provide again, this notice and any associated documents affected. The University also reserves the right to amend the indicative stages of the Competitive Flexible Procedure. The process described in this notice is provisional and will be finalised in the tender documentation issued to participating suppliers.
CPV: Building construction work · Construction work · Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1Published value£19,200,000
- Economic & financial standing
As per Tender documentation.
- Technical & professional ability
As per Tender documentation.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
It is anticipated that, subject to a sufficient number of compliant PQQ Responses being received, a maximum of six (6) Suppliers plus ties (if applicable and as detailed further below) who:
(1) meet the requirements set out in Sections 5.1 – 5.5 of the Memorandum of Information; and
(2) achieve the six highest total overall weighted scores for their responses to the technical ability questions of the PQQ Response,
will be invited to submit tenders.
Where there is a tie for a shortlisted place, then all tied Suppliers in that tied position will be invited to tender. A tie is deemed to occur where two or more Suppliers have identical scores or a score within 1 mark (out of a score of 100). For example, if two Suppliers are tied in fifth place, both Suppliers would be shortlisted, and the sixth placed Supplier would not be shortlisted.
Notwithstanding that the University anticipates selecting a maximum of six Suppliers to progress to the tendering stage, it reserves the right to accept fewer than six or, subject to the rules on dealing with Suppliers tied in sixth place, the University reserves the right to select more than six.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (6)
- Resources, Roles & Responsibilities: 4.55%
- Project Delivery: 8.75%
- Programme: 7%
- Commercial Submission: 65%
- Contract & Cost Management: 4.55%
- Social Value: 10.15%
Published award criteria (6)
- Commercial Submission
- Resources, Roles & Responsibilities
- Project Delivery
- Programme
- Contract & Cost Management
- Social Value
- Economic & financial standing
As per Tender documentation.
- Technical & professional ability
As per Tender documentation.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
It is anticipated that, subject to a sufficient number of compliant PQQ Responses being received, a maximum of six (6) Suppliers plus ties (if applicable and as detailed further below) who:
(1) meet the requirements set out in Sections 5.1 – 5.5 of the Memorandum of Information; and
(2) achieve the six highest total overall weighted scores for their responses to the technical ability questions of the PQQ Response,
will be invited to submit tenders.
Where there is a tie for a shortlisted place, then all tied Suppliers in that tied position will be invited to tender. A tie is deemed to occur where two or more Suppliers have identical scores or a score within 1 mark (out of a score of 100). For example, if two Suppliers are tied in fifth place, both Suppliers would be shortlisted, and the sixth placed Supplier would not be shortlisted.
Notwithstanding that the University anticipates selecting a maximum of six Suppliers to progress to the tendering stage, it reserves the right to accept fewer than six or, subject to the rules on dealing with Suppliers tied in sixth place, the University reserves the right to select more than six.
- Price carries 69.5 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 7 points. This one is won on the number: sharpen the price before polishing the prose.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Works
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 28 Oct 2025, 18:01 GMT
- Last source update
- 2 Mar 2026, 14:30 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 6 Jul 2026
- Authority reference
CfT_6269486- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-004556- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d5baFind a Tender
- How it runs
This Competition is being conducted using the competitive flexible procedure in accordance with the Act. This procedure involves a two-stage tendering process with an initial PQQ stage (which involves application of the Conditions of Participation to shortlist eligible Suppliers) and an award stage (which involves application of the Award Criteria to tender responses submitted by shortlisted eligible Suppliers to determine the most advantageous tender). This MoI is being issued to those Suppliers who have expressed an interest in tendering for the Contract.
In accordance with Section 24 of the Procurement Act 2023, the University may refine award criteria during this Competitive Flexible Procedure. Any refinements will be limited to the criteria already set out in this notice and associated procurement documents, will not alter the overall subject matter or relative weightings, and will be communicated to all suppliers prior to the invitation to submit final tenders. Where a refinement is applied, the University will modify and republish, or provide again, this notice and any associated documents affected.
The University also reserves the right to amend the indicative stages of the Competitive Flexible Procedure. The process described in this notice is provisional and will be finalised in the tender documentation issued to participating suppliers.
- Risks
Ulster University reserves the right to hold additional rounds of negotiation / dialogue with tenderers; to require the submission of any further or additional information or tender submissions; to award the Contract following the submission of initial tenders and/or to down-select tenderers at specified points in the process. For the avoidance of doubt, final tenders will not be subject to any negotiation with the University (however, they may be subject to clarification, if required, at Ulster University’s absolute discretion). The University reserves the right: to reject any or all PQQ or tender responses and to cancel or withdraw the procurement process at any stage; to award a contract without prior notice; to change the basis of, the procedure and the timescales set out or referred to in the procurement documents; to require a tenderer to clarify its PQQ or tender response in writing and/or provide additional information; to terminate the procurement process; and/or to amend the terms and conditions of the PQQ or tender evaluation process or negotiation process in line with section 31 of the Procurement Act 2023.
Suppliers should note that all dates, time periods and figures in relation to values and volumes specified in this notice and the procurement documents are approximate only and the University reserves the right to change any or all of them.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 12 Mar 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Submission deadline
- 12 Mar 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 19 Feb 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Tenders must be submitted electronically via the relevant Call for Tender (CfT) opportunity on eTendersNI, website details immediately below.
Paper submissions will not be accepted or considered and will be rejected by Ulster University.
The tender documents are available with unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: URL etendersni.gov.uk/epps ↗
Timeline
28 Oct 2025 → 3 Aug 2026 · 7 dates- Planning notice published363 days ago28 Oct 2025, 18:01 GMT
- Tender notice published280 days ago19 Jan 2026, 18:51 GMT
- Clarification questions by249 days ago19 Feb 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Latest notice published238 days ago2 Mar 2026, 14:30 GMT
- Submission deadline228 days ago12 Mar 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by112 days ago6 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts85 days ago3 Aug 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
6 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 28 Oct 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published28 Oct 2025, 18:01 GMTUK2
- Tender notice published19 Jan 2026, 18:51 GMTUK4
- Published value updated19 Jan 2026, 18:51 GMT
- Status changed to active19 Jan 2026, 18:51 GMT
- Procurement method changed19 Jan 2026, 18:51 GMT
- Tender notice published2 Mar 2026, 14:30 GMTUK4
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender