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Find a TenderAwardedContract details notice
Published 19 May 2025, 17:45 BST

Official UK procurement notice

ID 5828340 - DfE - Skills for Life and Work Programme 2025

Official notice

Authority: Department for the Economy (DfE) - Energy Group (Central government)·On behalf of: CPD

ServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdLight touch regimeSME suitable
Sectors: Education & Training (80) Delivery: Northern Ireland (UKN)
Published estimate£195,000,000≈ £102m / year · £234,000,000 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 25 Jun 2025awarded 1 Aug 2025
Awarded to 21TRAINING LIMITED +7 more
Contract term 1 yr 11 moends 31 Jul 2027 · up to 31 Jul 2031 with extensions · starts 1 Sept 2025

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The Department for the Economy is seeking tenders for the delivery of the Skills for Life and Work Programme 2025. The programme will support a diverse cohort of young people through a relevant and empowering vocational education and training experience that equips them for progression to higher levels of learning or to employment, according to their own aspirations. The overall aim of the Programme is to ensure continuity of youth vocational education and training provision, contribute to social and economic inclusion, deliver skills learning and achievement, and act as a pathway to any next step. Many participants will enter the Programme with a disability or disabilities, and/or with a complex range of issues and barriers to learning and achievement, including mental wellbeing challenges and mental health difficulties. Additional disability support will be the responsibility of the training provider to deliver or source. Payment for this support will be covered in the funding table and contractual measures will be in place to ensure that this additional funding is ring-fenced and directed towards those young people with disabilities. Suppliers should refer to the Specification Schedule for full detail on the deliverables of this contract.

  • No preliminary market engagement: Arrangements for the provision of disability support in Skills for Life and Work (SfLW) 2025 have changed from the previous programme. In SfLW 2021, the Department for the Economy (DfE) separately contracted additional disability support but following internal reviews, engagement with stakeholders and a public consultation, additional disability support will now be the responsibility of the Supplier to deliver or source. This was all undertaken by the Department prior to the commencement the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on February 24, 2025. Further details can be found within the document entitled 'ID 5828340 - Instructions to Tender'.

CPV: Education and training services · Industrial and technical training services · Industrial training services · Personal development training services · Technical and vocational secondary education services · Technical training services · Training programme services · Training services · Vocational training services · Youth education services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1AwardedRenewal 1 yr 11 moPublished value£195,000,000
Contract period: 1 Sept 2025 – 31 Jul 2027 (1 yr 11 mo) · up to 31 Jul 2031 with extensionsValue: £195,000,000 exc. VAT · £234,000,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: Northern Ireland
Extensions: The Award of Contract is anticipated to be August 2025 with the Initial Contract Period of up to two years commencing in September 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter (where ‘up to two years’ pertains to the period of recruitment of participants to the programme). There will be a run-off period following the Initial Contract Period during which all Contract provisions, terms and conditions will continue to apply. This is to accommodate the participant training entitlements set out in the Operational Requirements. Service delivery cannot commence until the first Monday of the September 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter following Contract commencement and the programme will close to new participant entrants after July 2027. There will be an option to extend the Initial Contract Period for a further four one-year periods , and if the Contract is extended the Programme will remain open to new participant entrants during the extension period. Participants recruited during the Initial Contract Period or the extension period will have a training entitlement as set out in the Operational Requirements.
80000000 Education and training services80210000 Technical and vocational secondary education services80310000 Youth education services80500000 Training services80521000 Training programme services80530000 Vocational training services
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)1
  • Technical & professional ability

    As per Tender documentation.

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
Quality: 90%Social value: 10%
Published sub-criteria (7)
  • AC1 Teaching and Learning: 20%
  • AC2 Disability Support: 15%
  • AC3 Staffing: 20%
  • AC4 Resource Access: 10%
  • AC5 Leadership and Management: 15%
  • AC6 Partnerships: 10%
  • AC7 Social Value: 10%
Published award criteria (7)
  • AC1 Teaching and Learning : As per Tender documentation.
  • AC2 Disability Support: As per Tender documentation.
  • AC3 Staffing: As per Tender documentation.
  • AC4 Resource Access: As per Tender documentation.
  • AC5 Leadership and Management : As per Tender documentation.
  • AC6 Partnerships : As per Tender documentation.
  • AC7 Social Value: As per Tender documentation.
Conditions of participation1
  • Technical & professional ability

    As per Tender documentation.

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
Light touch regime
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
19 May 2025, 17:45 BST
Last source update
11 Sept 2025, 15:44 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 22 Jul 2025
Authority reference
ID 5828340
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-022888
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Classification (CPV)
Education and training servicesIndustrial and technical training servicesIndustrial training servicesPersonal development training servicesTechnical and vocational secondary education servicesTechnical training servicesTraining programme servicesTraining servicesVocational training servicesYouth education services
Delivery area
Northern Ireland (UKN)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0517ac Find a Tender
Contract terms summary

For further details on invoicing procedures please see : www.finance-ni.gov.uk/ar ↗ ticles/account-ni-good-invoicing-practice

Contract Value

The estimated value figure indicated in the Scope Section represents an overall estimated contract value. This value reflects the potential scale of the contract. Neither CPD nor the contracting Authority can provide any guarantee as to the level of business under this contract. The Contracting Authority does not bind itself to accept any tender. Suppliers remain responsible for all costs and expenses incurred by them or by any third party acting under instructions from the Supplier in connection with taking part in this procurement process regardless of whether such costs arise as a consequence, directly or indirectly of any amendments made to the procurement documents by the Contracting Authority at any time. No legally binding contract shall arise (and a Supplier shall have no legitimate expectation that a contract will be entered into) until such time as entry into the Contract has been confirmed by the Contracting Authority.

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: eTendersNI · Who buys & how to bid on eTendersNI
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free Northern Ireland registration
Submission deadline
25 Jun 2025, 15:00 BST
Clarification deadline
16 Jun 2025, 15:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

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 the Contracting Authority / Buyer.

The tender documents are available with unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: URL etendersni.gov.uk/epps ↗

Timeline

19 May 2025 → 11 Sept 2025 · 8 dates
  1. Tender notice published
    19 May 2025, 17:45 BST
  2. Clarification questions by
    16 Jun 2025, 15:00 BST
  3. Submission deadline
    25 Jun 2025, 15:00 BST
  4. Award decision expected by
    22 Jul 2025, 23:59 BST
  5. Assessment summaries sent
    1 Aug 2025, 00:00 BST
  6. Standstill ends
    13 Aug 2025, 23:59 BST
  7. Contract starts
    1 Sept 2025, 00:00 BST
  8. Latest notice published
    11 Sept 2025, 15:44 BST

Notice history

5 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 19 May 2025
  1. Tender notice published
    19 May 2025, 17:45 BST
    UK4
  2. Contract award notice published
    1 Aug 2025, 14:42 BST
    UK6
  3. Status changed to complete
    1 Aug 2025, 14:42 BST
  4. Contract signature expected
    14 Aug 2025, 23:59 BST
    scheduled
  5. Contract details notice published
    11 Sept 2025, 15:44 BST
    UK7

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £195,000,0001 award exc. VAT
Bids received 2011 from SMEs
Named bidders 20published on the award notice
Contracts signed 1latest 14 Aug 2025
Awarded toValueDateStatus
21TRAINING LIMITEDSME, Ashton Community TrustSMEVCSE, COALISLAND TRAINING SERVICES LIMITEDVCSE, Clanrye Group LimitedVCSE, D.F.P.F. LtdSME, Get Skills Employment & Training LtdSME +17 morejoint award1 Sept 2025 – 1 Sept 2025 · up to 31 Jul 2031Extensions: The Award of Contract is anticipated to be August 2025 with the Initial Contract Period of up to two years commencing in September 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter (where 'up to two years' pertains to the period of recruitment of participants to the programme). There will be a run-off period following the Initial Contract Period during which all Contract provisions, terms and conditions will continue to apply. This is to accommodate the participant training entitlements set out in the Operational Requirements. Service delivery cannot commence until the first Monday of the September 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter following Contract commencement and the programme will close to new participant entrants after July 2027. There will be an option to extend the Initial Contract Period for a further four one-year periods , and if the Contract is extended the Programme will remain open to new participant entrants during the extension period. Participants recruited during the Initial Contract Period or the extension period will have a training entitlement as set out in the Operational Requirements.£195,000,0001 Aug 2025Awarded

Contracts

  • ID 5828340 - DfE - Skills for Life and Work Programme 2025 · 21TRAINING LIMITEDSME, Ashton Community TrustSMEVCSE, COALISLAND TRAINING SERVICES LIMITEDVCSE, Clanrye Group LimitedVCSE, D.F.P.F. LtdSME, Get Skills Employment & Training LtdSME +17 more

    Signed
    14 Aug 2025
    Value
    £195,000,000
    Period
    15 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2027 · up to 31 Jul 2031 with extensions
    Status
    active
    Extensions
    There will be an option to extend the Initial Contract Period for a further four one-year periods , and if the Contract is extended the Programme will remain open to new participant entrants during the extension period. Participants recruited during the Initial Contract Period or the extension period will have a training entitlement as set out in the Operational Requirements.

Bid statistics published by the authority

BidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
20final-stage tenders · 22 at stage one1112—

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

3 public bodies on the notice

Department for the Economy - DfE

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central governmentNorthern Irish devolved regulations apply GB-PPON: PZXX-5679-MBYZ 39/49 Adelaide Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT28FDContact email

Other public bodies

  • CPDBeneficiary authority
  • CPD - Supplies & Services DivisionProcess contact pointProcuring entityConstruction and Procurement Delivery - Supplies and Services Division, is a Centre of Procurement Expertise and provides a central procurement function for central government in Northern Ireland.GB-PPON: PVWG-8426-YWXV Belfast, Northern IrelandContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

38 commercial parties on the notice
  • 21TRAINING LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: NI675540GB-PPON: PJTQ-4631-ZVHD 66 Main Street, Strabane, Northern Ireland, BT82 8AXContact email
  • 21TRAINING LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PJTQ-4631-ZVHD 66 Main Street, Strabane, Northern Ireland, BT82 8AXContact email
  • ASHTON COMMUNITY TRUSTAwarded supplierGB-COH: NI034595GB-NIC: NIC104639 Ashton Centre, 5 Churchill Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT15 2BPContact email
  • ASHTON COMMUNITY TRUSTAwarded supplierGB-NIC: NIC104639 Ashton Centre, 5 Churchill Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT15 2BPContact email
  • BRYSON ENERGYAwarded supplierGB-COH: NI603445GB-PPON: PQTM-8685-CBDQ 2 Rivers Edge, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT6 8DNContact email
  • BRYSON ENERGYAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PQTM-8685-CBDQ 2 Rivers Edge, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT6 8DNContact email
  • CLANRYE GROUP LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: NP000266GB-PPON: PPNC-9517-DCRP Slieve Gullion Courtyard, 89 Drumintee Road, Newry, Northern Ireland, BT35 8SWContact email
  • CLANRYE GROUP LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PPNC-9517-DCRP Slieve Gullion Courtyard, 89 Drumintee Road, Newry, Northern Ireland, BT35 8SWContact email
  • CRAFT TRAINING LTDAwarded supplierGB-COH: NI619847GB-PPON: PPBR-9124-LYXL 83 LAUREL DRIVE, STRABANE, Northern Ireland, BT82 9PNContact email
  • Coalisland Training Services LtdAwarded supplierGB-NIC: NI 100770GB-PPON: PLPQ-1249-DXWG 51 DUNGANNON ROAD, DUNGANNON, Northern Ireland, BT71 4HPContact email
Show 28 more suppliers
  • Coalisland Training Services LtdAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PLPQ-1249-DXWG 51 DUNGANNON ROAD, DUNGANNON, Northern Ireland, BT71 4HPContact email
  • D.F.P.F. LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: NI041643GB-PPON: PMQR-4417-CMCJ Aisling House, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT9 5FLContact email
  • D.F.P.F. LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PMQR-4417-CMCJ Aisling House, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT9 5FLContact email
  • DERRY YOUTH AND COMMUNITY WORKSHOP LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: NP000202GB-PPON: PLQM-7429-XRTW 6 Society Street, Derry, Northern Ireland, BT486PJContact email
  • DERRY YOUTH AND COMMUNITY WORKSHOP LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PLQM-7429-XRTW 6 Society Street, Derry, Northern Ireland, BT486PJContact email
  • DISABILITY ACTION (NI)Awarded supplierGB-COH: NI019258GB-PPON: PYCH-2357-XRDW Portside Business Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT3 9EDContact email
  • DISABILITY ACTION (NI)Awarded supplierGB-PPON: PYCH-2357-XRDW Portside Business Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT3 9EDContact email
  • GAELCHURSAI LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: NI606540GB-PPON: PCRC-5133-TXNG 2 Fallswater Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT12 6BZContact email
  • GAELCHURSAI LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PCRC-5133-TXNG 2 Fallswater Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT12 6BZContact email
  • GET SKILLS EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING LTDAwarded supplierGB-COH: 07083531GB-PPON: PCWM-2653-WRMG 86-90, Paul Street, London, London, EC2A 4NEContact email
  • GET SKILLS EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING LTDAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PCWM-2653-WRMG 86-90, Paul Street, London, London, EC2A 4NEContact email
  • IMPACT TRAINING (N.I) LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: NP000226GB-PPON: PTZH-2752-JBMM 16 Lanark Way, BELFAST, Northern Ireland, BT133DEContact email
  • IMPACT TRAINING (N.I) LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PTZH-2752-JBMM 16 Lanark Way, BELFAST, Northern Ireland, BT133DEContact email
  • LIMESTONE YOUTH TRAINING PROJECT LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: NP000239GB-PPON: PGVP-3322-YNRJ 10-12 Rosemary Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT1 1QDContact email
  • RUTLEDGE TRAINING LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: NI650791GB-PPON: PCMC-5655-BRMN Rutledge House, 25-27 New Row, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, BT52 1ADContact email
  • RUTLEDGE TRAINING LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PCMC-5655-BRMN Rutledge House, 25-27 New Row, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, BT52 1ADContact email
  • SPRINGVALE TRAINING LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: NI026947GB-PPON: PDNM-3142-XDDG 200 Springfield Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT12 7DBContact email
  • SPRINGVALE TRAINING LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PDNM-3142-XDDG 200 Springfield Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT12 7DBContact email
  • Skilled NIAwarded supplierGB-COH: NP000219GB-PPON: PBBR-2434-VGMZ 98-102 Donegall Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT1 2GWContact email
  • Skilled NIAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PBBR-2434-VGMZ 98-102 Donegall Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT1 2GWContact email
  • Springboard Opportunities LtdAwarded supplierGB-COH: NI27175GB-NIC: NIC101249 112-114 Donegall Street Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT1 2GXContact email
  • Springboard Opportunities LtdAwarded supplierGB-NIC: NIC101249 112-114 Donegall Street Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT1 2GXContact email
  • THE NOW PROJECT LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: NI043774GB-PPON: PYWL-2672-ZBBX The Now Group, 15-17 Grosvenor Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT12 4GNContact email
  • THE NOW PROJECT LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PYWL-2672-ZBBX The Now Group, 15-17 Grosvenor Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT12 4GNContact email
  • ULSTER SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: NI005192GB-PPON: PCNQ-8713-MMZX 182-188 Cambrai Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT13 3JHContact email
  • ULSTER SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PCNQ-8713-MMZX 182-188 Cambrai Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT13 3JHContact email
  • WORKFORCE TRAINING SERVICES LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: NI031308GB-PPON: PNLQ-4815-NDDQ 88-90 Springfield Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT12 7AJContact email
  • WORKFORCE TRAINING SERVICES LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PNLQ-4815-NDDQ 88-90 Springfield Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT12 7AJContact email

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender