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Published 19 Sept 2025, 13:21 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Accredited learning programmes across the policy profession

Official notice

Authority: Department for Education (Central government)

2 lotsServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitable
Sectors: Education & Training (80) Delivery: UK
Published estimate£16,550,000total for 2 lots · £16,550,000 inc. VAT · 2 value updates
Submissions closed 13 Jul 2026awarded 23 Sept 2026
Awarded to UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER, King's College London2 awards
Contract term 5 yrsends 13 Sept 2031 · up to 13 Sept 2032 with extensions · starts 14 Sept 2026

What is being bought2 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

The Civil Service Policy Profession consists of approximately 38,500 civil servants, making it the second largest profession in government. It has a presence across the regions and nations of the UK. The work of policy professionals has a significant impact on the lives of people across the country. Investing in the development of policy makers supports the creation of stronger policies and improved outcomes for the public.

The Policy Profession Unit, part of the Department for Education and operating on behalf of policy professionals across government, is responsible for overseeing the development of the Policy Profession. This includes building the skills and capability of policy professionals at different stages of their careers.

Following a competitive procurement process, the Department for Education has awarded contracts for the development and delivery of accredited postgraduate learning programmes designed to build the skills and capabilities of UK civil servants in line with the Policy Profession Standards. The programmes will be available from September 2027 and will support policy professionals across government departments.

The procurement was divided into two lots:

Lot 1 (itt_3995):

A contract for the delivery of five cohorts of an accredited 180-credit Master's programme, with one cohort delivered per academic year from Academic Year 2027/28. The programme is designed for experienced civil service policy leaders and will strengthen advanced policy capability, enabling participants to apply academic rigour and best practice to complex government policy challenges while continuing in their roles.

Lot 2 (itt_3999):

A contract for the delivery of a postgraduate accredited learning offer for civil service policy professionals, including standalone modules and qualifications at Postgraduate Award, Certificate and Diploma level for experienced practitioners. The contract also includes a separate 30-credit Postgraduate Award for Government Policy Fast Streamers, delivered annually through a structured three-year programme.

The Department for Education will hold the contracts on behalf of the Civil Service Policy Profession; however, the programmes will be accessible to participants from all UK Government departments.

The estimated values published are based on historic student volumes and expenditure. Actual contract expenditure will be determined by future learner numbers and departmental demand over the contract term. The Department for Education does not guarantee any minimum level of spend under the contracts and reserves the right to vary volumes in accordance with operational requirements.

CPV: Higher education services

Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure

2 lots · all with a published value (£16,550,000 together) · same conditions of participation on every lot · evaluation weights differ by lot
Lot #1Accredited learning offer for expert policy leaders (180 Credit Master’s qualification)AwardedRenewal 5 yrsSMEPublished value£5,360,000

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 14 Sept 2026 – 13 Sept 2031 (5 yrs) · up to 13 Sept 2032 with extensionsValue: £5,360,000 exc. VAT · £5,360,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: DfE reserves the right to extend this Contract by any period or periods of its choosing. Any extension shall be exercised by DfE giving the Supplier no less than three (3) months’ written notice prior to the expiry of the then current term. DfE further reserves the right to extend the Contract to cover additional cohorts or cohort volumes. Where such extensions are exercised, the maximum value of the Contract extension must not exceed 100% of the initial Contract value, in accordance with the pricing mechanism to be set out in Schedule 3 (Charges), provided that the overall nature of the Contract remains unchanged. · DfE reserves the right to extend this Contract by any period or periods of its choosing. Any extension shall be exercised by DfE giving the Supplier no less than three (3) months’ written notice prior to the expiry of the then current term. DfE further reserves the right to extend the Contract to cover additional cohorts or cohort volumes. Where such extensions are exercised, the maximum value of the Contract extension must not exceed 100% of the initial Contract value, in accordance with the pricing mechanism to be set out in Schedule 3 (Charges), provided that the overall nature of the Contract remains unchanged.
80300000 Higher education services
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2
  • Economic & financial standing

    GDPR - Pass/Fail - A pass is required for the PSQ Submission to be considered further by the Department. To pass  the GDPR section, Potential Suppliers must self-certify that they have already have in place or commit to have in place by contract award, the human and technical resources to perform the Contract to ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation and to ensure the protection of the rights of data subjects. A Potential Supplier who fails to satisfy this Minimum Standard will be excluded from the process and not be further considered.

    Financial Standing - Pass/Fail - All bidders will be asked to complete a Financial Viability Risk Assessment Tool (FVRAT) as part of this process which will be provided alongside the other bidder documentation. In order to pass the CoP, Potential Suppliers must provide all the information necessary to facilitate the assessment. Any Potential Supplier who fails to provide all the information required will, at the discretion of the Department, have been deemed to fail.

    Insurance - Pass/Fail - A pass is required for the PSQ Submission to be considered further by the Department. Evidence will be sought from the successful Potential Supplier prior to contract award. To pass the Insurance section, Potential Suppliers must self-certify that they already have, or can commit to obtain, prior to the commencement of the Contract, the levels of insurance indicated. A Potential Supplier who fails to satisfy this Minimum Standard will be excluded from the process and not be further considered.

  • Technical & professional ability

    Four questions on technical ability. Each criterion will be marked as either a ‘pass’ or a ‘fail’. A pass is required for PSQ Submission to be considered further by the Department. Evidence will be sought from the successful Potential Supplier prior to contract award.

    Q1: Bidding as Higher Education Institution, registered with the Office for Students (OFS) with degree awarding powers.

    Q2: Whether the potential bidder is or previously been subject to a quality investigation with the Office for Students (OFS) where concerns have been found.

    Q3: Whether the potential bidder's delivery model is based on subcontracting or franchising learning delivery to third party suppliers that a) are not a HEI registered with the OFS and b) are currently or have been subject to a quality investigation with the OFS where concerns have been found.

    Q4: Potential bidder to provide three examples demonstrating their institution’s experience in tailoring, delivering, and developing executive education to full-time working professionals

Lot #2Postgraduate level accredited learning offer for policy practitionersAwardedRenewal 5 yrsSMEPublished value£11,190,000

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 14 Sept 2026 – 13 Sept 2031 (5 yrs) · up to 13 Sept 2032 with extensionsValue: £11,190,000 exc. VAT · £11,190,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: DfE reserves the right to extend this Contract by any period or periods of its choosing. Any extension shall be exercised by DfE giving the Supplier no less than three (3) months’ written notice prior to the expiry of the then current term. DfE further reserves the right to extend the Contract to cover additional cohorts or cohort volumes. Where such extensions are exercised, the maximum value of the Contract extension must not exceed 100% of the initial Contract value, in accordance with the pricing mechanism to be set out in Schedule 3 (Charges), provided that the overall nature of the Contract remains unchanged. · DfE reserves the right to extend this Contract by any period or periods of its choosing. Any extension shall be exercised by DfE giving the Supplier no less than three (3) months’ written notice prior to the expiry of the then current term. DfE further reserves the right to extend the Contract to cover additional cohorts or cohort volumes. Where such extensions are exercised, the maximum value of the Contract extension must not exceed 100% of the initial Contract value, in accordance with the pricing mechanism to be set out in Schedule 3 (Charges), provided that the overall nature of the Contract remains unchanged.
80300000 Higher education services
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2
  • Economic & financial standing

    GDPR - Pass/Fail - A pass is required for the PSQ Submission to be considered further by the Department. To pass  the GDPR section, Potential Suppliers must self-certify that they have already have in place or commit to have in place by contract award, the human and technical resources to perform the Contract to ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation and to ensure the protection of the rights of data subjects. A Potential Supplier who fails to satisfy this Minimum Standard will be excluded from the process and not be further considered.

    Financial Standing - Pass/Fail - All bidders will be asked to complete a Financial Viability Risk Assessment Tool (FVRAT) as part of this process which will be provided alongside the other bidder documentation. In order to pass the CoP, Potential Suppliers must provide all the information necessary to facilitate the assessment. Any Potential Supplier who fails to provide all the information required will, at the discretion of the Department, have been deemed to fail.

    Insurance - Pass/Fail - A pass is required for the PSQ Submission to be considered further by the Department. Evidence will be sought from the successful Potential Supplier prior to contract award. To pass the Insurance section, Potential Suppliers must self-certify that they already have, or can commit to obtain, prior to the commencement of the Contract, the levels of insurance indicated. A Potential Supplier who fails to satisfy this Minimum Standard will be excluded from the process and not be further considered.

  • Technical & professional ability

    Four questions on technical ability. Each criterion will be marked as either a ‘pass’ or a ‘fail’. A pass is required for PSQ Submission to be considered further by the Department. Evidence will be sought from the successful Potential Supplier prior to contract award.

    Q1: Bidding as Higher Education Institution, registered with the Office for Students (OFS) with degree awarding powers.

    Q2: Whether the potential bidder is or previously been subject to a quality investigation with the Office for Students (OFS) where concerns have been found.

    Q3: Whether the potential bidder's delivery model is based on subcontracting or franchising learning delivery to third party suppliers that a) are not a HEI registered with the OFS and b) are currently or have been subject to a quality investigation with the OFS where concerns have been found.

    Q4: Potential bidder to provide three examples demonstrating their institution’s experience in tailoring, delivering, and developing executive education to full-time working professionals

What it takes to win
i

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 more
How bids were scored

Lots publish different evaluation splits; there is no single procedure weighting.

LotQualityPriceSplit
1 · Accredited learning offer for expert policy leaders (180 Credit Master’s qualification)70%30%
2 · Postgraduate level accredited learning offer for policy practitioners70%30%
Conditions of participation · identical on every lot2
  • Economic & financial standing

    GDPR - Pass/Fail - A pass is required for the PSQ Submission to be considered further by the Department. To pass  the GDPR section, Potential Suppliers must self-certify that they have already have in place or commit to have in place by contract award, the human and technical resources to perform the Contract to ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation and to ensure the protection of the rights of data subjects. A Potential Supplier who fails to satisfy this Minimum Standard will be excluded from the process and not be further considered.

    Financial Standing - Pass/Fail - All bidders will be asked to complete a Financial Viability Risk Assessment Tool (FVRAT) as part of this process which will be provided alongside the other bidder documentation. In order to pass the CoP, Potential Suppliers must provide all the information necessary to facilitate the assessment. Any Potential Supplier who fails to provide all the information required will, at the discretion of the Department, have been deemed to fail.

    Insurance - Pass/Fail - A pass is required for the PSQ Submission to be considered further by the Department. Evidence will be sought from the successful Potential Supplier prior to contract award. To pass the Insurance section, Potential Suppliers must self-certify that they already have, or can commit to obtain, prior to the commencement of the Contract, the levels of insurance indicated. A Potential Supplier who fails to satisfy this Minimum Stand…

  • Technical & professional ability

    Four questions on technical ability. Each criterion will be marked as either a ‘pass’ or a ‘fail’. A pass is required for PSQ Submission to be considered further by the Department. Evidence will be sought from the successful Potential Supplier prior to contract award.

    Q1: Bidding as Higher Education Institution, registered with the Office for Students (OFS) with degree awarding powers.

    Q2: Whether the potential bidder is or previously been subject to a quality investigation with the Office for Students (OFS) where concerns have been found.

    Q3: Whether the potential bidder's delivery model is based on subcontracting or franchising learning delivery to third party suppliers that a) are not a HEI registered with the OFS and b) are currently or have been subject to a quality investigation with the OFS where concerns have been found.

    Q4: Potential bidder to provide three examples demonstrating their institution’s experience in tailoring, delivering, and developing executive education to full-time working professionals

What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 30 points on every lot: a 10% discount moves about 3 points.

Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
19 Sept 2025, 13:21 BST
Last source update
23 Sept 2026, 14:41 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 14 Sept 2026
Authority reference
Project_10154
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-054697
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Classification (CPV)
Higher education services
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-059e28 Find a Tender
Contract terms summary

The Authority expects the supplier to work directly with government departments, agencies, and ALBs to process payments for their learners. The Authority will work directly with the successful supplier to ensure that government departments, agencies, and ALBs are able to make payment directly to the successful supplier.

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: Jaggaer · Who buys & how to bid on JAGGAER
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free; latest Chrome/Edge/Firefox only — corporate browsers fail
Submission deadline
13 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
Clarification deadline
30 Jun 2026, 15:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Via the Jaggaer portal - education.app.jaggaer.com/esop/guest/go/opport… ↗

Timeline

19 Sept 2025 → 23 Sept 2026 · 10 dates
  1. Planning notice published398 days ago
    19 Sept 2025, 13:21 BST
  2. Market engagement245 days ago
    18 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT

    If you are interested in attending this market engagement please register via Jaggaer before the event at 15:00 on 18th February 2026.

    Once registered, the supplier event area can be accessed by clicking "View Opportunities" on the main page.

    By registering for this market engagement event, you acknowledge that the information shared through this market engagement is provided in confidence and must not be disclosed outside your organisation. Please ensure all attendees from your organisation are aware of and comply with this requirement.

    Please register for Jaggaer using the URL link below: education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html ↗

    Following registration, you will receive a message via the Jaggaer portal asking you to confirm this acknowledgement. You must respond in confirmation to this message before an event invite will be issued.

    Participants who have registered an expression of interest will receive a link to join the session via Microsoft Teams.

    If you do not receive the invite at least 24hrs before the event, please also email [email protected] to ensure you receive joining instructions in time.

    The event will help attendees to:

    • Gain a better understanding of our requirements for the proposed accredited learning programmes and how they relate to the three levels of the Policy Profession Standards.
    • Gain a better understanding of expected delivery timelines
    • Provide feedback on the feasibility of the requirements, including any constraints or pressures that may affect them- You will have the opportunity to share this feedback through a Request for Information after the event. We are aiming to develop our requirements based on market feedback and ensure our requirement is clear at the time of tender to the market.
    • Gain a better understanding of Cabinet Office requirements around Modern Slavery and the planned Social Value criteria

    This preliminary market engagement notice is for information only and is not a call for competition. This is intended to inform the market of a potential procurement exercise to appoint suppliers to work with the Department on providing the outlined service.

    The Department reserves the right not to enter a formal procurement process and not proceed with contract award. Accordingly, the Department will not be liable for any bid cost, expenditure, work, or effort incurred by any organisation in acting on the basis of this preliminary market engagement notice

    All information included in this notice is indicative and subject to change and is neither exhaustive nor binding. The authority reserves the right at its absolute discretion to amend it at the time of issue of any further notices or at any other time.

  3. Next notice expected138 days ago
    5 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
  4. Tender notice published134 days ago
    10 Jun 2026, 12:20 BST
  5. Clarification questions by114 days ago
    30 Jun 2026, 15:00 BST
  6. Submission deadline101 days ago
    13 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
  7. Contract starts38 days ago
    14 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST
  8. Award decision expected by37 days ago
    14 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST
  9. Assessment summaries sent29 days ago
    23 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST
  10. Latest notice published29 days ago
    23 Sept 2026, 14:41 BST

Notice history

19 events · 11 releases on Find a Tender · since 19 Sept 2025
  1. Planned procurement notice published
    19 Sept 2025, 13:21 BST
    UK3
  2. Planned procurement notice published
    19 Sept 2025, 13:28 BST
    UK3
  3. Deadline moved to 1 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
    19 Sept 2025, 13:28 BST
    -369 days · was 5 Apr 2027, 23:59 BST
  4. Planned procurement notice published
    2 Oct 2025, 12:49 BST
    UK3
  5. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    4 Feb 2026, 15:18 GMT
    UK2
  6. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    4 Feb 2026, 15:20 GMT
    UK2
  7. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    9 Feb 2026, 13:36 GMT
    UK2
  8. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    26 Feb 2026, 11:03 GMT
    UK2
  9. Planned procurement notice published
    26 Feb 2026, 11:26 GMT
    UK3
  10. Deadline moved to 30 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
    26 Feb 2026, 11:26 GMT
    +90 days · was 1 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
  11. Pipeline notice published
    21 May 2026, 13:25 BST
    UK1
  12. Published value updated to £17,000,000
    21 May 2026, 13:25 BST
    was £12,500,000
  13. Tender notice published
    10 Jun 2026, 12:20 BST
    UK4
  14. Published value updated to £16,550,000
    10 Jun 2026, 12:20 BST
    was £17,000,000
  15. Status changed to active
    10 Jun 2026, 12:20 BST
  16. Deadline moved to 13 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
    10 Jun 2026, 12:20 BST
    +13 days · was 30 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
  17. Contract award notice published
    23 Sept 2026, 14:41 BST
    UK6
  18. Status changed to complete
    23 Sept 2026, 14:41 BST
  19. Contract signature expected
    5 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled
Published amendments (1)

Changes have been made to the notice to alter the expected tender publication date as well as correcting the expected contract award date. A UK2 notice has been published which is linked to this procurement: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017209-2026

Routine re-releases (11)
  • 2026-02: 5 releases · 4 Feb 2026, 26 Feb 2026
  • 2025-10: 1 release · 2 Oct 2025
  • 2025-09: 2 releases · 19 Sept 2025, 19 Sept 2025

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 2
Awarded value £18,845,7802 awards exc. VAT
Bids received 7
Named bidders 6published on the award notice
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Lot 1 · Accredited learning offer for expert policy leaders (180 Credit Master’s qualification)1 award
UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTERAccredited learning programmes across the policy profession Lot 15 Oct 2026 – 31 Aug 2031 · up to 31 Aug 2035Extensions: A single extension clause to cover additional cohorts of learners.£6,409,78023 Sept 2026Awarded
Lot 2 · Postgraduate level accredited learning offer for policy practitioners1 award
King's College LondonAccredited learning programmes across the policy profession Lot 25 Oct 2026 – 31 Aug 2032 · up to 31 Aug 2035Extensions: A single extension clause to cover additional cohorts of learners.£12,436,00023 Sept 2026Awarded

Bid statistics published by the authority

LotBidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
1 · Accredited learning offer for expert policy leaders (180 Credit Master’s qualification)4final-stage tenders00—
2 · Postgraduate level accredited learning offer for policy practitioners3final-stage tenders00—

Who bid

Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Department for Education

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PDZG-3487-DPVD Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street, London, London, SW1P3BTContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

6 commercial parties on the notice · 2 awarded

Official documents & specifications (12)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

Show 4 more notices