Find a TenderPast planning noticePlanned procurement notice
Published 25 May 2025, 15:26 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Managed Service Provider (MSP) for Computer Based Testing Support Services (CBT) in India.

Official notice

Authority: British Council (Local council)

ServicesCompetitive flexible procedureAbove thresholdSME suitable
Sectors: Education & Training (80) Delivery listed: India (IN)
Planned pipeline value£6,900,000pipeline notice, not a live tender · 1 value update
Tender notice expected 2 Mar 2026from the planned procurement notice
Contract term 2 yrsends 14 Jun 2028 · up to 14 Jun 2030 with extensions · starts 15 Jun 2026
Notice summaryFrom the published notice

BC Education India Private Limited (BCE) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Council, United Kingdom. BCE delivers various types of Pen and Paper (P&P) and Computer-Based Testing (CBT) examinations across India for a wide range of UK-based qualifications, including its own assessments. Through this tender, BCE seeks to empanel suitable MSP/s for examination support services including venue, laptops with installed required software across India that can effectively conduct the CBT examinations.

What is being bought

Published requirement description

BC Education India Private Limited (BCE) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Council, United Kingdom. BCE delivers various types of Pen and Paper (P&P) and Computer-Based Testing (CBT) examinations across India for a wide range of UK-based qualifications, including its own assessments. Our vision is to be recognised by test takers, partners and stakeholders as India's most trusted, secured, and customer-centric provider of innovative international examination services. BCE aims to create highly valued life and career opportunities through these services while offering unrivalled solutions, efficient delivery mechanisms, and comprehensive wraparound services.

CBT examinations form one of BCE's core service offerings. These include International Distribution Exams. These examinations are conducted in multiple cities across India to ensure accessibility and convenience for candidates. Through this tender, BCE seeks to empanel suitable MSP/s for examination support services including venue, laptops with installed required software across India that can effectively conduct the CBT examinations. We are looking to partner with MSP who possess:

  • A strong operational presence in all India regions,
  • The ability to provide permanent examination venues that meet BCE's technical and security requirements, and
  • The capacity to deliver services without involuntary reschedules, ensuring exam continuity and a seamless experience for test takers as exam reschedules directly impact students and BCE's service reputation.

Vendors with established, fully equipped, and compliant venues across key Indian cities are encouraged to participate,

  • The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 1 Oct 2029, 23:59 BST.
  • How the procedure runs: 2-stage evaluation will be followed where PSQ including conditions of participation will shortlist the suppliers at Stage-1 and at Stage-2 submissions will be assessed as per award criteria including pricing approach.

CPV: Education and training services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1PlannedRenewal 2 yrsSMEPublished value£6,900,000
Contract period: 15 Jun 2026 – 14 Jun 2028 (2 yrs) · up to 14 Jun 2030 with extensionsValue: £6,900,000 exc. VAT · £7,080,000 inc. VAT
Delivery listed: India (IN)Eligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: Based on meeting KPI threshold, the contracts can be extended for 2 times with each extension duration of 12 months.Second stage: 3–null candidates invited to tender

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: 50%Price: 40%Social value: 10%
Published sub-criteria (4)
  • Quality: 20%
  • Methodology and Approach: 30%
  • Pricing Approach: 40%
  • Social value: 10%
Published award criteria (4)
  • Social value
  • Quality
  • Methodology and Approach
  • Pricing Approach
What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.

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
Past planning notice
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
Yes · next expected 1 Oct 2029
First published
25 May 2025, 15:26 BST
Last source update
24 Feb 2026, 04:38 GMT
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 20 May 2026
Authority reference
BC Education India Pvt Ltd
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-016289
Latest notice
Planned procurement notice (UK3)
Classification (CPV)
Education and training services
Delivery area in notice
India (IN)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0525f6 Find a Tender
How it runs

2-stage evaluation will be followed where PSQ including conditions of participation will shortlist the suppliers at Stage-1 and at Stage-2 submissions will be assessed as per award criteria including pricing approach.

How it was run

Official notice
Requests to participate (first stage)
18 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
Submission deadline
18 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
Clarification deadline
16 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en

Timeline

25 May 2025 → 15 Jun 2026 · 7 dates
  1. Planning notice published
    25 May 2025, 15:26 BST
  2. Latest notice published251 days ago
    24 Feb 2026, 04:38 GMT
  3. Tender notice expected245 days ago
    2 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
  4. Clarification questions by231 days ago
    16 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
  5. Submission deadline229 days ago
    18 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
  6. Award decision expected by166 days ago
    20 May 2026, 23:59 BST
  7. Contract starts141 days ago
    15 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST

Notice history

4 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 25 May 2025
  1. Pipeline notice published
    25 May 2025, 15:26 BST
    UK1
  2. Planned procurement notice published
    24 Feb 2026, 04:38 GMT
    UK3
  3. Published value updated to £6,900,000
    24 Feb 2026, 04:38 GMT
    was £6,000,000
  4. Procurement method changed
    24 Feb 2026, 04:38 GMT

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Pipeline notice
Awards (0)
No award published
Contracts (0)
No contract published
Bid statistics
No aggregate bid statistics published

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

BRITISH COUNCIL(THE)

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-COH: RC000060 · GB-PPON: PHTN-1551-GCQH 1 Redman Place, Stratford,, London, London, E20 1JQContact name, email

Official documents & specifications (2)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Planned procurement notice planningPlanned procurement noticeUK3Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
  • Pipeline notice planningPipeline noticeUK1Pipeline notice on Find a Tender