UK Public Sector Contracts & Tenders

Understanding Society: the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS) is a longitudinal social survey of households and individuals living in the UK. Data collection began in January 2009 and participants are interviewed annually. In Waves 2 and 3 of the Study (2010-13) a wide range of objective health measures were collected via a nurse visit, including venous blood samples from which we produced a range of analytes, extracted DNA and produced genetic and epigenetic data. A similar exercise is being undertaken at Wave 16 (2024-26), where the nurse visit has been replaced by participants collecting samples/measurements themselves. This contract covers the data collection and analysis for a further bio-data collection on the Study’s Innovation Panel (2027) ahead of a potential roll out on the main Study sample at Wave 22 (2030-32). The Study is designed and managed by the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) at the University of Essex (“the University”). The Principal Investigator of the Study is Professor Michaela Benzeval. Survey fieldwork is carried out by Verian. The Study is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and pseudo-anonymised data are shared with broader research community.

**PLEASE NOTE THIS IS FOR SOFT MARKET TESTING PURPOSES ONLY** University of Essex is seeking to engage with a supplier to support our plans to analyse blood from members of a general population sample of the UK. The basic requirements are that the supplier: 1. Receives a weekly secure data-flow from Kantar Public, containing the name, address, and a unique identifier of a participant of Understanding Society, who has agreed to have this information passed on. 2. Posts out a kit to eligible participants, with a unique barcode, to enable them to take a capillary blood sample, and to return it to the laboratory through the post. The recipients will be based across the UK. The outer packaging will have a clearly identifiable UN Hazard Logo (UN3373). The kit should contain everything needed to collect the capillary blood samples. It should also include instructions, a covering letter from the study, and the necessary packaging to return the sample through the post. The number of participants will vary each week, depending on uptake rates, but we estimate around 10,000 kits will be sent out across the 30 months of the project. Interviews numbers are higher in the first year of the project with a mop up period in the 3rd year. Given this, we estimate 950 kits may be required per month at the start of the project and only 60 in the last few months. 3. Analyses the blood to provide a range of analytes. Provides to industry standards, and provides information on the quality of the samples and results. 4. Uploads to a secure portal the results of the blood analysis connected to the unique identifier of the participant. Turnaround time between receiving the sample and uploading the results should be no longer than 2 weeks. 5. Aliquots and freezes blood for transfer to long term storage.

At Essex, in line with the national picture, we have seen a significant growth in the demand for student mental health services. Our Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity Service (SWIS) provides a professional and proactive service for students within a safe, healthy and inclusive environment. It is our ambition to support our students to fulfil their potential as individuals and to enable them to be active participants in their own educational experiences and the transformational opportunities available to them at the University of Essex. Counselling is part of the service provision in SWIS. We are seeking an external counselling partner who has a strong understanding of the higher education context, including the student journey, and will be able to adapt provision to meet the diverse needs of students.

The University requires a plan setting out the enhancements required to its built environment, to realise its aspirations and to formalise its journey to net zero scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2035. The University also wishes to gain clarity what capital will be required to achieve net zero scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2035 and as the estates heating is decarbonised, how the energy mix will alter. The requirements are split across four parts as follows: • Part 1 - Detailed scoping of buildings across three campuses. • Part 2 - Carbon management/decarbonisation plan. • Part 3 - Energy mix exercise as heating is decarbonised.

The potential supplier would be required to provide a periodic cleaning service to the University of Essex in both student residential areas and the main administrative estate. Suppliers must be aware that the work volumes are not guaranteed and can fluctuate depending on student numbers and the requirements of our summer conference business in our accommodation areas

The University of Essex is reviewing how it delivers International Student recruitment. As part of this review, we would like to meet with suppliers who are able to deliver this service across the globe and explore delivery models which could improve the University’s current delivery model. It is planned that the output from these supplier meetings will inform the procurement specification for a global tender initially covering China, India, and Indian sub-continent, the Middle East, South East Asia and with view to expand in Africa and other markets in line with the University recruitment and business strategy

The University is seeking to install SMART TRV which provides a high-tech solutions to heat only the rooms in use. The SMART TRV should be robust and able to communicate long-range The SMART TRV should harvest energy from the heat without the need of batteries. Access to an online portal or dashboard to monitor and measure energy usage and carbon emissions from each individual rooms. Generate monthly energy monitoring and carbon reports through the online portal or dashboard. The SMART TRV communicates to Gateway devices which are capable of connecting to the internet using a built-in 5G SIM card and using LTE when conventional LAN networks are unavailable. Data communication is encoded and is end to end encrypted. The SMART TRV uses an interface that enables room users to adjust the heating temperature according to their preferences using their smartphones or via a web link. The University is seeking suppliers to provide 4,300 SMART TRVs to reduce heating in offices and student accommodation rooms to achieve the following: Eliminate heating empty rooms Measure energy consumption and carbon emissions in individual rooms Measure and monitor energy, cost and carbon savings though an online Cloud based dashboard Determine actual energy usage and identify targeted investment opportunities for enhanced efficiency