Official UK procurement notice
ID 6002309 - DAERA - CAFRE - Development of SelfDirected Learning Packages for Farmers
Authority: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Central government)·On behalf of: CPD
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionCAFRE requires a Supplier to design, develop and deliver self-directed learning packages tailored for farmers across Northern Ireland as part of DAERA's Farming for Sustainability Scheme (Knowledge 2025-2030). The learning packages will be prioritised by DAERA as part of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme or wider policy programme, with CAFRE responsible for overall planning for each package. Each package will have its own specific Learning Outcomes, underpinning knowledge, assessment process (if required) and delivery schedule. The Supplier will produce modular SCORM-compliant learning packages to be hosted on CAFRE's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). The overall aim is to support enhanced agricultural knowledge transfer development through innovative, user-friendly, accessible, engaging, and flexible e-learning packages that promote lifelong learning and sustainable practices. The contract will be for an initial period of three years, with one option to extend by up to 2 years. Suppliers should refer to the Specification Schedule for full detail on the deliverables of this contract.
- No preliminary market engagement: A Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise was published 14th January 2025 with a closing date for Supplier submissions of 3rd February 2025. Further meetings were held virtually and in person at CAFRE premises between 17th February 2025 and Friday 28th February 2025. The PME process has provided valuable insights into supplier capabilities and preferences to deliver bespoke training to NI farmers.
CPV: E-learning services · Education and training services · Educational software development services · Environmental training services · IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support · IT software development services · Industrial and technical training services · Presentation software development services · Specialist training services · Staff training services · Technical training services · Training programme services · +3 more
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£800,000
- Technical & professional ability
As per tender documentation
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).
- AC1 - Project Delivery Methodology: Project Delivery Methodology - 28.7 percent
- AC2 - Capacity for the Concurrent Development of Self-Directed Learning Packages: Capacity for the Concurrent Development of Self-Directed Learning Packages - 15.4 percent
- AC3 - Contract Management: Contract Management - 15.4 percent
- AC4 - Social Value: Social Value - 10.5 percent
- AC5 - Total Cost: Total Cost - 30 percent
- 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
- 15 Dec 2025, 16:06 GMT
- Last source update
- 20 Mar 2026, 13:22 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 26 Jan 2026
- Authority reference
ID 6002309- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-083030- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f60aFind 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.
The estimated value figure indicated in the Scope Section represents an overall estimated contract value. This value reflects the potential scale of the contract and takes into account potential optional extension periods and the uptake of potential optional services as detailed in the tender documents. This figure does not however take into account the application of indexation or increases to charges due to increases in the Real Living Wage. 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 the lowest or 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.
- Risks
The Contracting Authority has identified the following risks as risks that satisfy the criteria of Schedule 8 sub-paragraph (6)(a) of the Procurement Act 2023 i.e. that the risk/s could jeopardise the satisfactory performance of the contract but, because of its/their nature, cannot be addressed in the contract as awarded:
- Defining future learning requirements in line with changing priorities of the Contracting Authority
- Delays to the delivery of services due to complexity, stakeholder and Subject Matter Expertise
- Technical compatibility with the Contracting Authority's Virtual Learning Environment which is outside of the scope of this contract and currently being procured in a separate exercise
This contract includes additional service days to provide for continuous improvement
and also to cover for unknown risks that may arise throughout the contract period. The
additional services days may be used to cover the following as a minimum; Minor developments and Minor content updates. The Pricing Schedule includes an area for Suppliers to insert their daily rate for the provision of additional services throughout the contract period.
The Contracting Authority has concluded that there is a possibility that the contract may have to be modified as a result of a materialisation of the known risk/s at a later date in accordance with Schedule 8 paragraph 5 of the Procurement Act 2023.
Exclusions
If at any time during the procurement, or post award, it comes to the attention of the Contracting Authority (CA) or CPD, by whatever means, that a Supplier has become ‘excluded’ or ‘excludable’ as per Sec 57 of the PA 2023, the CA, after compliance with its obligations under the PA 23, reserves the right to exclude said Supplier from the procurement procedure or terminate any contract they have been awarded.
The Contracting Authority expressly reserves the rights:
(I). not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice;
(II). to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the tendering Competition;
(III). to award (a) contract(s) in respect of any part(s) of the [services] covered by this notice; and
(IV). to award contract(s) in stages.
and in no circumstances will the Authority be liable for any costs incurred by candidates.
This project will be used to progress the Government’s wider social, economic and environmental objectives.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 20 Jan 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 9 Jan 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
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
15 Dec 2025 → 20 Mar 2026 · 7 dates- Tender notice published311 days ago15 Dec 2025, 16:06 GMT
- Clarification questions by286 days ago9 Jan 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Submission deadline275 days ago20 Jan 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by268 days ago26 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract starts255 days ago9 Feb 2026
- Assessment summaries sent233 days ago3 Mar 2026
- Latest notice published216 days ago20 Mar 2026, 13:22 GMT
Notice history
5 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 15 Dec 2025- Tender notice published15 Dec 2025, 16:06 GMTUK4
- Contract award notice published4 Mar 2026, 11:36 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete4 Mar 2026, 11:36 GMT
- Contract signature expected16 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
- Contract details notice published20 Mar 2026, 13:22 GMTUK7
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SKILLSET LIMITEDSME18 Mar 2026 – 17 Mar 2029 · up to 17 Mar 2031Extensions: One optional extension of up to two years. · Options: The Contracting Authority reserves the right to request additional e-learning content and videos throughout the duration of the contract based on the Buyer's changing priorities. At the Buyer's request, the Supplier must also undertake post-production support and maintenance for all delivered Courses and Video Assets. Such work will be treated as Additional Services and may include, but not be limited to minor developments and content updates. | £255,900 | 3 Mar 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
ID 6002309 - DAERA - CAFRE - Development of SelfDirected Learning Packages for Farmers · SKILLSET LIMITEDSME
- Signed
- 16 Mar 2026
- Value
- £255,900
- Period
- 18 Mar 2026 – 17 Mar 2029 · up to 17 Mar 2031 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- One optional extension of up to two years.
- Options
- The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to request additional e-learning content and videos throughout the duration of the contract based on the Buyer's changing priorities. At the Buyer's request, the Supplier must also undertake post-production support and maintenance for all delivered Courses and Video Assets. Such work will be treated as Additional Services and may include, but not be limited to minor developments and content updates.
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7final-stage tenders | 7 | 1 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
3 public bodies on the noticeOther 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
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- SkillSet Ltd.Awarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender