Notice Information
Notice Title
Kent County Council (KCC) Skills Programme DPS - SC240120
Notice Description
Community Learning and Skills (CLS) is Kent County Council's (KCC) internally commissioned department responsible for delivering education and training to adults and young people over 16. CLS manages the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Adult Skills Fund (ASF), Greater London Authority (GLA) budget, and ESFA 'Study Programme' courses for young people aged 16-19, including those not in education, employment, or training (NEET). These initiatives support the goals and objectives of Framing Kent's Future. In response to the Skills for Jobs White Paper and its consultation outcomes, from 1st August 2024, the Department for Education (DfE)/ESFA Adult Education Budget has been restructured to become the Adult Skills Fund. This change introduces new 'Learning Aims' for CLS's PS6.7m of 'Tailored Learning Funding', covering a wide range of vocational and essential skills courses designed to support learners in various stages of their educational and career journeys. The changes have included redefining partner organisations who CLS have previously worked with in a 'partnership delivery' relationship, as sub contractors ("By subcontracting we mean any delivery to a learner's programme of learning by a third party"). KCC CLS are seeking to offer a flexible opportunity of externally Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) provision for adults, to support both previously offered 'partnership' courses for niche provision such as for Deaf/deaf learners, and growth in vocational areas (those in Green in table above), that meet local labour market needs. There is a recognised national shortage of staff with appropriate skills, experience and qualifications, especially to support delivery in some vocational areas, which is now a focus of ESFA funding. Outsourcing delivery to appropriate partners would offer an opportunity to deliver, particularly where less than a full time post is required, i.e. whilst growing delivery in a new vocational area. This tender process is to allow Tenderers to bid to join a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) and sign a contract with the Authority such that they can then be allocated work as the need arises. The Dynamic Purchasing System is split into two (2) Lots which reflect the category of learner in receipt of education services. Lot 1 Lot 1 relates to Skills programmes to be delivered to Adult Skills Fund Learners. Adult Skills Fund Learners means learners who are eligible for funding pursuant to the Adult Skills Fund Rules. The Adult Skills Fund is the funding allocated to the Authority by the Education and Skills Funding Agency on behalf of the Department for Education for the provision of continuing learning programmes for adults. Lot 2 Lot 2 relates to study programmes to be delivered to Study Programmes Fund Learners. Study Programme Fund Learners means learners who are eligible for funding pursuant to the Study Programme Fund Rules. The Study Programme Fund is the funding allocated to the Council by the Education and Skills Funding Agency on behalf of the Department for Education for the provision of 16 to 19 study programmes for individuals who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) in accordance with the Study Programme Fund Rules. It is the Authority's intention to establish and begin awarding work for Lot 1 for Adult Skills Fund related study programmes from the commencement date of the contract. As per Clause 3.3 of the DPS Admission Agreement, the Authority reserves the right to vary the contract to introduce and establish Lot 2 for 16-19 aged children who are NEET and other vulnerable young people. For the avoidance of doubt, no Tenderer will be admitted to Lot 2 and/or allocated work in relation to Lot 2 until such time that the Authority, in its absolute discretion, elects to establish Lot 2.
Lot Information
Adult Skills Fund
As above (see Description)
Renewal: The Dynamic Purchasing System will be in place for an initial period of 2 years with one optional extension of up to 12 months (dependent on funding).
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-04deca
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029074-2026
- Current Stage
- Award
- All Stages
- Tender, Award
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- Tender Notice
- Procurement Type
- Dynamic, Framework
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Selective
- Procurement Method Details
- Restricted procedure
- Tender Suitability
- Not specified
- Awardee Scale
- Large, SME
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
-
- CPV Codes
80000000 - Education and training services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £3,000,000 £1M-£10M
- Lots Value
- £3,000,000 £1M-£10M
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- £1,500,000 £1M-£10M
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 30 Mar 20264 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- 3 Nov 2025Expired
- Future Notice Date
- Not specified
- Award Date
- 16 Oct 202510 months ago
- Contract Period
- Not specified - Not specified
- Recurrence
- Annually
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Complete
- Lots Status
- Cancelled
- Awards Status
- Active
- Contracts Status
- Active
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- Kent County Council
- Contact Name
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Email
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Phone
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Buyer Location
- Locality
- MAIDSTONE
- Postcode
- ME14 1XQ
- Postcode Area
- Rochester
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLJ South East (England)
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLJ4 Kent
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLJ45 Mid Kent
- Delivery Location
- TLJ4 Kent
-
- Local Authority
- Maidstone
- Electoral Ward
- Penenden Heath
- Westminster Constituency
- Maidstone and Malling
Supplier Information
- Number of Suppliers
- 17
- Supplier Names
Career Group Courses Limited TA Career Tree
Get Skills Employment & Training Limited TA Get Set UK
London School of Science & Technology Limited
RUNWAY APPRENTICESHIPS LIMITED trading as Runway Training
THE TRAINING PLACE OF EXCELLENCE LIMITED
Further Information
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
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.