Adult Skills and Learning DPS
Crown Commercial ServiceEstimated Value
£1,000,000,000 – £0
Deadline
27 October 2028
869 days remaining
Published
16 July 2024
Type
services
Overview
Crown Commercial Service (CCS) as the Authority intends to put in place a Pan Government Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) to support the provision of Adult Learning and Skills requirements that can be utilised by all public sector organisations, for example, Combined Authorities, Devolved Administrations, Local Authorities, Education Establishments and Central Government Departments. The new agreement will offer a range of pre-qualified regional and national providers to support UK public sector bodies in running procurements for Adult Learning and Skills provisions.
CCS will be creating a supply market that enables the procurement of education and training for adults (aged 19 years and above) and young adults (aged 16 to 18) to help them develop the skills they require to progress into, or within, work; or to equip them for an apprenticeship and/or other tertiary qualifications. The new agreement will provide a route to market for all available 16 to 18 and 19+ funding streams, including but not limited to the adult skills fund, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Multiply, any future iterations of existing funding types, any future funding types. However, it excludes apprenticeship levy funding. .
AI Analysis
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The UK government is creating a pre-qualified supplier list (called a Dynamic Purchasing System) for adult education and skills training. If you're approved, public sector organisations across the UK — like councils, combined authorities, and government departments — can buy your training services through this framework without having to run separate tenders each time.
Requirements
- Must be able to deliver adult learning and skills training (for ages 16+)
- Must be able to work with multiple UK funding streams (adult skills fund, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Multiply, and future funding types)
- Must be willing to operate on a regional or national basis
- Must be pre-qualified and approved by CCS before being added to the supplier list
- Must comply with public sector procurement standards and CCS terms
- No apprenticeship levy funding provision required
Key Tasks & Deliverables
- Deliver education and skills training for adults aged 19 and above
- Deliver training for young adults aged 16 to 18
- Support learners to develop work-related skills and progress into employment
- Prepare learners for apprenticeships and other tertiary qualifications
- Deliver training using various government funding streams (adult skills fund, UKSPF, Multiply, and future funding schemes)
- Respond to individual procurement requests from public sector buyers once approved on the framework
How to Read This Tender
- 1This is a framework agreement, not a single contract — it's a 'pre-qualified supplier list'. Being approved means you're eligible to bid on future jobs, but it doesn't guarantee work. You'll need to bid competitively when public sector organisations request proposals.
- 2The DPS (Dynamic Purchasing System) means new buyers can join and new suppliers can apply over time — it's not a closed, fixed-duration framework. Check the CCS website for the specific application window and deadlines.
- 3Funding streams are crucial: the contract covers adult skills fund, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Multiply, and future schemes — but explicitly excludes apprenticeship levy. Make sure your training offer aligns with at least one of these funding sources.
- 4Regional vs. national coverage: decide whether you want to bid for a specific region or offer services nationally. This affects your competition and the size of potential contracts.
- 5Look for the full tender documents on Contracts Finder or the CCS portal — this summary is just the headline. The detailed application requirements, evaluation criteria, and terms will be in the full specification.
Tips for Small Businesses
- Consider joining a consortium: if you're small, you might struggle to bid solo for large multi-region contracts. Partner with other training providers to offer broader coverage and share the bid costs.
- Focus on your specialism: you don't have to offer all training types. Identify what you do best (e.g. digital skills, construction, hospitality) and bid strongly for that niche rather than trying to be everything to everyone.
- Subcontracting route: if you can't deliver nationwide, negotiate partnerships with larger approved suppliers who can deliver through you in your local area. This lets you access work without bearing all the bid costs.
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How to Apply
Step-by-step submission guide
Submission Portal
Contracts Finder
Open the original notice
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Find the submission method
Look for "How to apply" section — most tenders link to an eSourcing platform (e.g. In-Tend, ProContract, Jaggaer)
Create an account
Register on the eSourcing platform for free — you'll need a company email and DUNS number
Download tender documents
Download the ITT (Invitation to Tender), specification, pricing schedule, and any templates
Submit your response
Upload completed documents through the portal before the deadline — late bids are automatically rejected
Most buyers do NOT accept email submissions. You must submit through their eSourcing platform. Check the notice for the exact link.
Useful Resources
Buyer Profile
Crown Commercial ServiceKey Dates
Published
16 July 2024
Submission deadline
27 October 2028
Notice type
Contract
Source
contracts finder
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