Award

Centre of Excellence - Sector Capability, Capacity and Skills

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

19 Sep 2025 at 10:27

Award

22 Jul 2025 at 14:31

TenderUpdate

29 May 2025 at 13:28

Tender

29 May 2025 at 07:41

Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education (DfE) in the United Kingdom successfully completed the procurement process for the "Centre of Excellence - Sector Capability, Capacity and Skills" project. The award was made on 19th September 2025 to Social Finance Limited, a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME), under an open procedure procurement method. The project aims to support local authorities in enhancing their data and digital maturity concerning children's social care services. The contract, valued at £783,377 gross, commenced on 18th September 2025 and is set to complete by 30th June 2026, with a possible extension until September 2026. Key project activities include developing tools and resources, facilitating innovation, optimising digital systems, and providing expert support in multi-agency information sharing.

This procurement provides expansive opportunities for businesses specialising in educational services, particularly those with expertise in data management and digital solutions within the public sector. It is an ideal opportunity for SMEs seeking to engage in projects that drive digital transformation in social care services. Companies with capabilities in developing data-driven tools and training programmes, especially those able to offer collaborative solutions and consultancy to uplift sector-wide digital skills and system integration, will find fertile ground for substantial growth and partnership. The project also emphasises the development of career and skills opportunities in local authorities, attracting innovative solutions and services from businesses attuned to professional development and education technology.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Notice Title

Centre of Excellence - Sector Capability, Capacity and Skills

Notice Description

The Department for Education (the department) are looking for a provider to scope, test and begin delivering a support offer (Centre of Excellence) to help local authorities (LAs) improve their data and digital maturity with respect to children's social care (CSC) services. The incoming government has prioritised 'Multi Agency Information Sharing' (MAIS)as a key focus in their manifesto. To help ready the sector for MAIS technical solutions and get the foundations of data and digital knowledge and confident leadership across all LAs in place, the department will provide a support offer to help LAs improve their data and digital maturity with respect to CSC services. This includes the sector's ability to secure, use and share data; and to deliver user-centred case management systems (CMS). The department wants to understand what and how support could be offered for maximum impact, and to begin delivering the support offer. To deliver this work, it is recognised that the successful bidder will need to work closely with the department and those working in data and digital roles related to CSC in LAs. The supplier will: * work with the department and LAs to co-develop a vision and action plans for a data and digitally mature sector * provide expertise on CSC data and digital, including hands-on support with specific LAs * help LAs optimise how they customise and procure their digital CMS * develop tools and resources that meet the needs of users * plan research to provide a more detailed picture of CSC data quality, identifying where to focus improvements * facilitate knowledge sharing, innovation, and collaboration between LAs, to share guidance, best practice and ideas - creating spaces where LAs can learn from each other both about what works and what does not, and how to utilise future technologies * plan help with career and skills development to grow capability and capacity - training programmes and guidance that support continuous professional development, upskilling (including potentially around the use of AI), and those joining the profession; with shorter data/digital skills training/courses as well as longer ones (e.g. apprenticeships) to make building a data or digital career within LAs more achievable and attractive A Prior Information Notice for this procurement was published in February 2025 under PCR15. The links to these notices can be found here: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003474-2025 https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/fd848d6e-7db7-4312-9121-fb26dce7be2d

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: This contract includes and optional 3 month extension. This is at the authority's descretion.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05287d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058049-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£833,333 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£833,333 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
£652,813 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
£652,814 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
30 Jun 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
13 Jul 20257 months ago
Contract Period
17 Sep 2025 - 30 Jun 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION
Contact Name
Emilie Wilkinson
Contact Email
emilie.wilkinson@education.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 3BT
Post Town
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

SOCIAL FINANCE

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05287d-2025-09-19T11:27:47+01:00",
    "date": "2025-09-19T11:27:47+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05287d",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PDZG-3487-DPVD",
            "name": "Department for Education",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PDZG-3487-DPVD"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "SW1P3BT",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI32"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Emilie Wilkinson",
                "email": "emilie.wilkinson@education.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PHGL-6481-HVBL",
            "name": "Social Finance Limited",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PHGL-6481-HVBL"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "87 Vauxhall Walk",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "SE11 5HJ",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI45"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "tom.rintoul@socialfinance.org.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-06402143",
            "name": "Social Finance Limited",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "06402143"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "87 Vauxhall Walk",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "SE11 5HJ",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI45"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "info@socialfinance.org.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PDZG-3487-DPVD",
        "name": "Department for Education"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05287d",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Centre of Excellence - Sector Capability, Capacity and Skills",
        "description": "The Department for Education (the department) are looking for a provider to scope, test and begin delivering a support offer (Centre of Excellence) to help local authorities (LAs) improve their data and digital maturity with respect to children's social care (CSC) services. The incoming government has prioritised 'Multi Agency Information Sharing' (MAIS)as a key focus in their manifesto. To help ready the sector for MAIS technical solutions and get the foundations of data and digital knowledge and confident leadership across all LAs in place, the department will provide a support offer to help LAs improve their data and digital maturity with respect to CSC services. This includes the sector's ability to secure, use and share data; and to deliver user-centred case management systems (CMS). The department wants to understand what and how support could be offered for maximum impact, and to begin delivering the support offer. To deliver this work, it is recognised that the successful bidder will need to work closely with the department and those working in data and digital roles related to CSC in LAs. The supplier will: * work with the department and LAs to co-develop a vision and action plans for a data and digitally mature sector * provide expertise on CSC data and digital, including hands-on support with specific LAs * help LAs optimise how they customise and procure their digital CMS * develop tools and resources that meet the needs of users * plan research to provide a more detailed picture of CSC data quality, identifying where to focus improvements * facilitate knowledge sharing, innovation, and collaboration between LAs, to share guidance, best practice and ideas - creating spaces where LAs can learn from each other both about what works and what does not, and how to utilise future technologies * plan help with career and skills development to grow capability and capacity - training programmes and guidance that support continuous professional development, upskilling (including potentially around the use of AI), and those joining the profession; with shorter data/digital skills training/courses as well as longer ones (e.g. apprenticeships) to make building a data or digital career within LAs more achievable and attractive A Prior Information Notice for this procurement was published in February 2025 under PCR15. The links to these notices can be found here: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003474-2025 https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/fd848d6e-7db7-4312-9121-fb26dce7be2d",
        "status": "complete",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "80000000",
                        "description": "Education and training services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 1000000,
            "amount": 833333.33,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "submissionMethodDetails": "https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html All tenders must be submitted via Jaggaer above. Interested bidders can create an account if they don't already have one.",
        "submissionTerms": {
            "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ]
        },
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2025-06-30T09:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "enquiryPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2025-06-24T12:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "awardPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2025-07-14T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete",
                "value": {
                    "amountGross": 1000000,
                    "amount": 833333.33,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Technical Criteria",
                            "description": "Technical Criteria including Social Value (10%)",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 70,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "price",
                            "name": "Price Criteria",
                            "description": "Price Criteria. Tender docs contain how this will be evaluated and scored.",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 30,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "selectionCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "economic",
                            "description": "All listed in the tender documents"
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "technical",
                            "description": "All listed in the tender documents"
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true,
                    "vcse": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2025-08-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2026-06-28T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2026-09-30T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "renewal": {
                    "description": "This contract includes and optional 3 month extension. This is at the authority's descretion."
                }
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            },
            {
                "id": "028310-2025",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK4",
                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028310-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-05-29T08:41:57+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "028479-2025",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK4",
                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028479-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-05-29T14:28:12+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en",
    "bids": {
        "statistics": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "measure": "bids",
                "value": 10,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "2",
                "measure": "finalStageBids",
                "value": 10,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "3",
                "measure": "smeFinalStageBids",
                "value": 8,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "4",
                "measure": "vcseFinalStageBids",
                "value": 0,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "title": "Centre of Excellence - Sector Capability, Capacity and Skills",
            "status": "active",
            "date": "2025-07-14T00:00:00+01:00",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 783377,
                "amount": 652813.96,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-PPON-PHGL-6481-HVBL",
                    "name": "Social Finance Limited"
                },
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-06402143",
                    "name": "Social Finance Limited"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "80000000",
                            "description": "Education and training services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "standstillPeriod": {
                "endDate": "2025-07-31T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2025-08-06T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2026-06-30T23:59:59+01:00",
                "maxExtentDate": "2026-09-30T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "hasRenewal": true,
            "renewal": {
                "description": "Optional 3 month extension period if required for continuation of the contract"
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "042098-2025",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042098-2025",
                    "datePublished": "2025-07-22T15:31:46+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "assessmentSummariesDateSent": "2025-07-22T00:00:00+01:00",
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2025-08-06T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "awardID": "1",
            "status": "active",
            "period": {
                "startDate": "2025-09-18T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2026-06-30T23:59:59+01:00",
                "maxExtentDate": "2026-09-30T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "hasRenewal": true,
            "renewal": {
                "description": "1 optional extension period of three months to be included so the contract can run until September 2026 if there is scope for work to be continued."
            },
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 783377,
                "amount": 652814,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "dateSigned": "2025-09-18T00:00:00+01:00",
            "agreedMetrics": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "title": "1. Service Timeliness"
                },
                {
                    "id": "2",
                    "title": "2. Successful delivery of Deliverables in accordance with their corresponding Acceptance Criteria against the specified Milestone Dates"
                },
                {
                    "id": "3",
                    "title": "3. Quality of individuals provided to deliver outcomes agreed"
                },
                {
                    "id": "4",
                    "title": "4. Social Value KPI"
                }
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "058049-2025",
                    "documentType": "contractNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK7",
                    "description": "Contract details notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058049-2025",
                    "datePublished": "2025-09-19T11:27:47+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}