Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for the procurement of Adult Skills Fund sub-contractors for DurhamLearn

{
  "id": "006766-2026",
  "tag": [
    "planning"
  ],
  "date": "2026-01-26T15:32:06Z",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-060ed4",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PMPB-8772-VYWM",
    "name": "Durham County Council"
  },
  "tender": {
    "id": "OPEN2026148",
    "lots": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "status": "planning",
        "suitability": {
          "sme": true,
          "vcse": true
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2029-07-31T23:59:59+01:00",
          "startDate": "2026-08-01T00:00:00+01:00"
        }
      }
    ],
    "items": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1",
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "region": "UKC14",
            "country": "GB",
            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
          }
        ],
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "id": "80000000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Education and training services"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "title": "Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for the procurement of Adult Skills Fund sub-contractors for DurhamLearn",
    "status": "planning",
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents",
      "scheme": "UKPGA"
    },
    "description": "he Council are inviting suppliers to participate in preliminary engagement to gain insight from the market with the purpose of making any potential future exercise, well framed, feasible, focused and of likely interest to the market.\nThis preliminary market engagement questionnaire is to gauge the scope of interest from potential providers, based in the North East Combined Authority region.\nDurhamLearn, supporting the NECA Local Growth Plan, aims to invest in skills, improve access to employment and reduce the digital divide. \"By unlocking the potential of our people through increased skills, better and more employment, and improved health outcomes, we can increase productivity and help drive the UK's Growth Mission.\"\nDurhamLearn will focus on:\n• A range of non-accredited programmes to help those furthest from the labour market\n• Accredited qualifications\n• Short intensive employer led courses, allowing skills specific training into work\nThe questionnaire focuses on the following key areas.\n• developing the authority's requirements and approach to the procurement\n• identifying providers that may be able to supply the services required.\nThe benefits to your organisation in participating in this process include:\n• the chance to assess whether the opportunity will be suitable and of interest to you\n• the chance to attract new training organisations\nThere is no commercial advantage or disadvantage to your organisation being involved in this exercise.",
    "specialRegime": [
      "lightTouch"
    ],
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services"
  },
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "GB-PPON-PMPB-8772-VYWM",
      "name": "Durham County Council",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UKC14",
        "country": "GB",
        "locality": "Durham",
        "postalCode": "DH1 5WB",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "Corten House, Dunholme Close"
      },
      "details": {
        "url": "http://www.durham.gov.uk/",
        "classifications": [
          {
            "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
            "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
          }
        ]
      },
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PMPB-8772-VYWM",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "corporate.procurement@durham.gov.uk"
      }
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "planning": {
    "documents": [
      {
        "id": "006766-2026",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006766-2026",
        "format": "text/html",
        "noticeType": "UK2",
        "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
        "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
        "datePublished": "2026-01-26T15:32:06Z"
      }
    ],
    "milestones": [
      {
        "id": "engagement",
        "type": "engagement",
        "status": "scheduled",
        "dueDate": "2026-02-27T23:59:59Z",
        "description": "Preliminary Market Engagement Questionnaire can be accessed, free of charge ,for completion and submission at www.open.org-uk using reference OPEN2026148"
      }
    ]
  },
  "initiationType": "tender"
}