Planning

Skills Bootcamps

WEST OF ENGLAND COMBINED AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Planning

29 Sep 2025 at 13:13

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

21 Aug 2025 at 10:59

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

23 May 2025 at 13:55

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The West of England Combined Authority is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "Skills Bootcamps," intended for the delivery of skills training across various industries including Agriculture, Arts, Business, and Digital Technology. The initiative aims to establish an open framework with a duration of 3-4 years to support skill development within the region, starting from 1 January 2026. The contracting process involves a Request for Information (RFI) phase, which will close on 3 October 2025, aiming to engage the market on potential commercial models. Based in Bristol, the procurement process targets the South West region of the United Kingdom, classified under service-based procurement and following a framework agreement approach.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and organisations involved in adult education, training services, and various vocational disciplines. The framework is designed to support sector-specific expertise, offering a promising growth avenue for businesses capable of providing high-quality educational services. Entities skilled in acting as prime suppliers, or those interested in collaborative delivery models, particularly stand to benefit. The engagement aims to integrate SMEs and Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprises (VCSEs), thereby fostering a robust supply chain that enhances competitiveness and service diversification in the education sector.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Skills Bootcamps

Notice Description

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) intends to procure an open framework for the delivery of Skills Bootcamps in the MCA region with a duration of 3-4 years. The Skills Bootcamps will focus on various Subject Areas including (but not limited to): * Agriculture, Horticulture & Animal Care; * Arts, Media & Publishing; * Business, Administration & Law; * Construction, Planning & the Built Environment; * Digital Technology; * Education & Training; * Engineering & Manufacturing Technologies; * Health, Public Services & Care; * Leisure, Travel & Tourism; * Logistics & Transport; * Preparation for Life & Work; * Retail & Commercial Enterprise; and * Science & Mathematics.

Planning Information

A Request for Information (RFI) questionnaire was issued via the Central Digital Platform on 18 August 2025, with a closing date of 5 September 2025. Based on the initial RFI responses, the Authority now wishes to gather feedback on potential commercial approaches. As a result, the Authority is issuing an additional RFI to gain deeper insights into the market and to determine the best commercial model. The Authority is investigating a Prime Provider by sector lot approach, enabling sector-specific specialisation, competition, and risk diversification while maintaining accountability at the prime level. As part of the Authority commitment to fairness, openness and transparency this RFI is issued solely for the purpose of conducting pre-market engagement with the following aims: - To understand providers ability to act as a prime supplier - How providers who do not wish to act as Primes could work in partnership with a Prime Supplier - How providers intend to integrate SMEs and VCSEs into their delivery model. - Provider views on risks, incentives, and accountability in relation to potential commercial approaches. Providers are invited to complete the RFI form by October 3rd 2025: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=yMHJPgLkaEmP9KEN614Ek6rRaX1hwVNMmKy7EXIYz4dUNkJLRE5RTVIxOFJMUkJHRlY3OFdJMzVKRy4u Providers are advised to review the briefing pack before responding to the RFI: https://weca-atamis.my.salesforce-sites.com/ProSpend__CS_ContractPage?SearchType=Projects&uid=a1MWS000001kY9N2AU&searchStr=&sortStr=Recently+Published&page=1&filters=&County= Please note that to view the briefing pack, Providers will need to register via Atamis. Based on responses from RFI, the Authority may engage with Providers in 1-2-1 discussions considering relevance to potential commercial models, technical capability and track record, and market representativeness. The Authority will ensure all engagement is conducted transparently and fairly, consistent with the obligations of the Procurement Act 2023 and the Procurement Regulations 2024.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05236f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060525-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Dynamic, Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Dynamic market
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80300000 - Higher education services

80400000 - Adult and other education services

80500000 - Training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£60,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Sep 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
3 Oct 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2028 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
WEST OF ENGLAND COMBINED AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
commercial@westofengland-ca.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS1 6LS
Post Town
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK51 Bristol, City of
Delivery Location
TLK1 Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area, TLK2 Dorset and Somerset
Local Authority
Bristol, City of
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Bristol Central

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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