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Published 5 Oct 2026, 14:27 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Developing a UK Skills Taxonomy

Official notice

Authority: Department for Work & Pensions (Central government)

ServicesAward procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Sectors: Research & Development (R&D) (73) Delivery: North East (UKC)North West (UKD)Yorkshire & Humber (UKE)+8 more
Awarded value£1,236,1272 contracts · exc. VAT
Awarded 15 May 2023no call for competition
Awarded to University of Warwick2 awards
Contract term 3 yrs 11 mostarts 10 May 2023

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The Department for Education (DfE), via the Unit for Future Skills, commissioned the University of Warwick to develop a UK-wide skills taxonomy covering skills, qualifications, and occupations with links between them. The goal is a single authoritative framework to improve labour market analysis across government, academia, and employers.<br/>This contract was procured by Department for Education and transferred to Department for Work and Pensions in under Machinery of Government change in Spring 2026 .<br/>Please Note For transparency and avoidance of doubt:<br/>This Contract was published on Contracts finder and is being reproduced on FTS in order to publish a Reg 72 PCR2015 modification to it.<br/>https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/719dcdd6-1831-40a9-9c11-06595b8b32ff

CPV: Research and development services and related consultancy services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1Awarded 3 yrs 11 mo
Contract period: 10 May 2023 — 31 Mar 2027 (3 yrs 11 mo)Delivery: North East, North West, Yorkshire & Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West, Wales, Scotland

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Legal basis
CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Direct award — no call for competition
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
No (one-off requirement)
First published
5 Oct 2026, 14:27 BST
Last source update
5 Oct 2026, 14:27 BST
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-093875
Classification (CPV)
Research and development services and related consultancy services
Delivery area
North East (UKC)North West (UKD)Yorkshire & Humber (UKE)East Midlands (UKF)West Midlands (UKG)East of England (UKH)London (UKI)South East (UKJ)+3 more
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-078098 Find a Tender
Why no open competition
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive
Published justification
Please Note For transparency and avoidance of doubt:<br/>This Contract was published on Contracts finder and is being reproduced on FTS in order to publish a Reg 72 PCR2015 modification to it.<br/>https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/719dcdd6-1831-40a9-9c11-06595b8b32ff<br/>The reason that 'award with no prior notice' was used here is because using Restricted Procedure Type required the PIN code of an F02 notice. As this was procured using a Dynamic Purchasing System, there was no F02 notice this option was chosen as a workaround on the DWP e-procurement system Atamis.

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

2 published dates · Europe/London
  1. Contract starts
    10 May 2023, 00:00 BST
  2. Notice published3 days ago
    5 Oct 2026, 14:27 BST

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics — not a forecast
Awards 2
Awarded value £1,236,1272 contracts exc. VAT
Bids received 4
Contracts signed 2latest 15 May 2023
Awarded toValueDateStatus
University of Warwick——Awarded
University of Warwick——Awarded

Contracts

  • Contract 093740-2026-1 · University of Warwick

    Signed
    15 May 2023
    Value
    £495,000
    Period
    … — 31 Mar 2027
    Status
    active

  • Contract 093875-2026-C10458-1 · University of Warwick

    Signed
    15 May 2023
    Value
    £741,127
    Period
    10 May 2023 — 31 Mar 2027
    Status
    active
    • Change Contract extended from 1st October 2026 to March 2026.<br/>10 additional or continued deliverables were included within the contract extension. — Need for additional works, services or supplies by the original contractor/concessionaire: Contract extended under Regulation 72 (1) (b) (additional services) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015. The value of the modification is less than 50% of the original value. The variation has a value of £152,687.16 (6-month contract extension and contingency fund) which represents 30.8% of the original contract value. The variation has a maximum value of £159,784.17 (including contingency extension period fund) which represents 32.3% of the original contract value. In addition, the cumulative increase in value due to all extensions to this contract is £246,126.67 (49.7%). Contract modifications prior to this have been undertaken by Department for Education (DfE). The Department for Education procured the original contract. Building a UK Skills Taxonomy contract transferred to DWP from DfE under Machinery of Government changes in Spring 2026. Future contract options are currently being developed.

Bid statistics published by the authority

BidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
4bids———

Notice history

2 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 5 Oct 2026
  1. Status changed
    5 Oct 2026, 14:27 BST
  2. Procurement method changed
    5 Oct 2026, 14:27 BST

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Department for Work & Pensions

Contracting authorityCentral GovernmentMinistry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisionsGeneral public services Caxton House, 6-12 Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9NA, London, UK, SW1H 9NA [email protected]

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • University of WarwickAwarded supplier00000N/A Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, West Midlands, Coventry, West Midlands, CV4 7AL

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.