Official UK procurement notice
Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Level 4 & Level 5 Professional Qualifications Training Provider Framework (Light Touch)
Authority: Aster Group Limited
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionAster seeks to appoint qualified Providers to deliver CIH-recognised housing qualifications at Level 4, Level 5, and associated top-up modules. These qualifications are aligned with the Competence and Conduct Standard under the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023.
The Social Housing Regulation Act, 2023, mandates that all "relevant managers" defined as senior housing executives and senior housing managers must hold or be actively working toward (within a three-year transition period) professional qualifications that meet the Institute for Apprenticeship and Technical Education (IATE) occupational standards for Senior Housing and Property Management.
Specifically:
•Senior Housing Executives: Foundation Degree in Housing (CIH) or Level 5 Diploma
•Senior Housing Managers: Level 4 Certificate in Housing
To meet these requirements, Aster proposes establishing a Flexible Framework (under Light Touch Regime) of approved training providers capable of delivering CIH-approved qualifications at scale, on demand, and through diverse pathways.
This approach ensures adaptability to individual learning needs and organizational priorities.
- How the procedure runs: 3 stage approach incorporating COP/Technical/Commercial
CPV: Education and training services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Places
- up to 10 suppliers · 9 bids received (0.9 per place) · 9 appointed
- Framework period
- 4 yrs · up to 14 yrs from 1 Sept 2026
Published description of the framework
To meet the requirements of Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, Aster proposes establishing a Flexible Framework (under Light Touch Regime) for appointing approved and qualified training providers to deliver CIH-recognised housing qualifications at Level 4, Level 5, and associated top-up modules at scale on demand, and through diverse pathways. This approach ensures adaptability to individual learning needs and organisational priorities.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£527,476
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 (2)
- Technical/ Quality: 75%
- Commercial: 25%
Published award criteria (2)
- Technical/ Quality: Quality criteria including Social Value
- Commercial: The Commercial Assessment will evaluate the total cost per learner, disaggregated by: •Qualification Level, and •Delivery Type
- Price carries 25 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 2.5 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Level 4 & Level 5 Professional…” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 10 suppliers, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
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
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 12 Jan 2026, 14:13 GMT
- Last source update
- 17 Aug 2026, 17:04 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 17 Aug 2026
- Authority reference
CAS-01171-N3C4Y3- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-047957- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0603c7Find a Tender- Contract terms summary
30 Days
- How it runs
3 stage approach incorporating COP/Technical/Commercial
- Risks
Inconsistent quality, poor tutor availability, ineffective learner support leading to change of Provider, OR extended learning durations which impact on costs and budget
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 29 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 15 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
12 Jan 2026 → 1 Sept 2026 · 11 dates- Planning notice published283 days ago12 Jan 2026, 14:13 GMT
- Market engagement264 days ago30 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (PIN) is issued to inform the market of a potential upcoming procurement for the delivery of Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Level 4 and Level 5 housing management qualifications.
The purpose of this engagement is to:
- Inform the scope and structure of the procurement
- Explore suitable commercial and delivery models
- Identify potential risks and opportunities
- Test market capacity, capability, and interest
- Inform the final specification and delivery model
- Understand viable delivery approaches and timescales
- Support a fair, transparent and proportionate procurement process
This is not a call for competition and does not constitute a formal procurement process.
Interested Providers are invited to participate by completing a Preliminary Market Engagement Questionnaire. The questionnaire seeks feedback on service capabilities, delivery models, commercial preferences, and suggestions for procurement/framework design.
Please follow this link to express your interest and access the related documents: in-tendhost.co.uk/aster/aspx/ProjectMa… ↗
Responses will be used to shape the procurement strategy and documentation.
Subject to the outcome of this engagement, the Aster may proceed with a formal procurement process. Providers who do not participate in this engagement will not be excluded from future opportunities.
It is mandatory for any interested suppliers to register on the new CENTRAL DIGITAL PLATFORM which is part of the enhanced Find a Tender Service.
- Next notice expected254 days ago9 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Tender notice published153 days ago22 May 2026, 14:16 BST
- Clarification questions by129 days ago15 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends115 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown29 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent66 days ago17 Aug 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published66 days ago17 Aug 2026, 17:04 BST
- Award decision expected by65 days ago17 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
- Standstill ends56 days ago26 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts51 days ago1 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
9 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 12 Jan 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published12 Jan 2026, 14:13 GMTUK2
- Tender notice published22 May 2026, 14:16 BSTUK4
- Published value updated to £527,47622 May 2026, 14:16 BSTwas £1,000,000
- Status changed to active22 May 2026, 14:16 BST
- Procurement method changed22 May 2026, 14:16 BST
- Deadline published: 29 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST22 May 2026, 14:16 BST
- Contract award notice published17 Aug 2026, 17:04 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete17 Aug 2026, 17:04 BST
- Contract signature expected1 Sept 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chartered Institute of Housing, Kingdom Academy, Learning Curve Group Limited, Places for People Homes LtdVCSE, SOCIAL LANDLORDS CRIME AND NUISANCE GROUPSME, Share Learning LimitedSME +3 more1 Sept 2026 – 1 Sept 2040 | £632,971 inc. VAT | 17 Aug 2026standstill to 26 Aug 2026 | Standstill |
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9final-stage tenders | 5 | 1 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
9 commercial parties on the notice- KINGDOM ACADEMY LIMITEDFramework contractor
- LEARNING CURVE GROUP LIMITEDFramework contractor
- PLACES FOR PEOPLE HOMES LIMITEDFramework contractor
- SHARE LEARNING LIMITEDFramework contractor
- SOCIAL LANDLORDS CRIME AND NUISANCE GROUPFramework contractor
- THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF HOUSINGFramework contractor
- THE LEARNING FOUNDRY LIMITEDFramework contractor
- UPKEEP TRAINING LIMITEDFramework contractor
- University of HuddersfieldFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications Please follow the link to participate in this Procurement Opportunity
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award 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