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AI and Automation Practitioner Level 4 ST1512 X 50

Defra Commercial

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

11 Aug 2026 at 15:11

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Defra Commercial commissioned services for 50 participants on the AI and Automation Practitioner Level 4 apprenticeship, standard ST1512. The requirement covers education and training in artificial intelligence and automation, rather than the supply of software or equipment. The buying organisation is Defra Commercial, based at 17 Smith Square, London. Delivery is associated with the United Kingdom and may also cover Europe, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, British Overseas Territories and other international locations. The opportunity is classified as education and training services and is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprise organisations. It is therefore relevant to apprenticeship providers and specialist training organisations able to deliver Level 4 AI and automation practitioner training at this scale.

This procurement has been awarded and the tender is complete. Defra Commercial used a direct single-tender action below the threshold. The tender submission deadline was 15 June 2026 at 12:00. The contract was awarded to Cambridge Spark Ltd on 11 August 2026 for £900,000. The contract period runs from 15 July 2026 to 15 January 2028. The awarded supplier is responsible for the full requirement covering 50 AI and Automation Practitioner Level 4 apprenticeships. The published process identifies education and training services as the main category. The award information records Cambridge Spark Ltd as the selected supplier and the contract value in pounds sterling.

Although this contract has already been awarded, it provides a clear benchmark for providers targeting comparable Defra requirements. A credible competitor would need to deliver the AI and Automation Practitioner Level 4 apprenticeship standard ST1512 to a cohort of 50 participants, with sufficient teaching, learner-support and programme-management capacity for a substantial public-sector engagement. Relevant strengths would include specialist expertise in artificial intelligence and automation, an established apprenticeship delivery model, and the ability to support learners across the United Kingdom and potentially wider locations. The procurement also shows that Defra uses a direct below-threshold route for this type of service, and that the requirement can be suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community or social enterprise organisations.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

AI and Automation Practitioner Level 4 ST1512 X 50

Notice Description

AI and Automation Practitioner Level 4 ST1512 X 50

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-d6849ada-ebc0-4bba-a238-96620135a141
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/25258f8d-520c-4dfa-b959-ed6a0bb0fbd4
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Single tender action (below threshold)
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£900,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
15 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
11 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
15 Jul 2026 - 15 Jan 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Defra Commercial
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Cambridge Spark Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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