The Provision of Engineering Aerospace Commissioning Scheme (EPACS)

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

TenderCancellation

23 Jun 2026 at 13:19

Tender

23 Feb 2026 at 17:14

Planning

28 Oct 2025 at 15:49

Planning

28 Oct 2025 at 11:16

Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence has conducted a procurement process for the "Engineering Aerospace Commissioning Scheme (EPACS)" that involved multiple stages including planning, tendering, and cancellation. The buying organization, operating from RAF High Wycombe, was tasked with selecting Higher Education Institution providers to validate a degree programme aligned with UK regulatory requirements aimed at professional development in aeronautical engineering. Initially planned and announced in 2025, the tender opened in February 2026 with key deadlines including a submission deadline in March 2026. However, as of late June 2026, the tender process was cancelled due to inconsistencies in pricing submissions, highlighting the challenges in the interpretation of requirements. The procurement method used was an open procedure under central government oversight.

This procurement presented substantial opportunities for businesses involved in higher education and professional training, particularly those capable of delivering adult education services at a university level and personal development training. Businesses with experience in collaborating with government authorities and professional institutions for programme accreditation would find this opportunity particularly advantageous. While the tender ultimately faced cancellation, it initially proposed a contract period extending up to 2031, with options for renewal, reflecting a significant potential for long-term growth and partnership for suitable enterprises in the aerospace and education sectors.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

The Provision of Engineering Aerospace Commissioning Scheme (EPACS)

Notice Description

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) requires Higher Education Institution (HEI) providers to collaborate with the Authority to validate a degree programme which complies with regulations set by the relevant government authorities (Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in the UK, The Office for Students in England, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales in Wales, and the Scottish Funding Council in Scotland). Course validation must be in place to allow qualifications to be awarded to students on completion of their courses. The programme of study should be designed to make it suitable for accreditation by an appropriate professional institution. The Supplier and Authority will collaborate over the duration of the contract with the aim of achieving professional accreditation within the contract period. The intent is to enable completing students to apply for professional registration as Incorporated Engineers with the Engineering Council. The role of the DCTT is to train and educate Aeronautical Engineering (AE) to meet the Defence requirement.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: The contracting authority reserves the right to directly award a contract for similar goods, works or services - Engineering Profession Aerospace Commissiong Scheme without further competition pursuant to PA23 Schedule 5 paragraph 8 including to other parts of the Ministry of Defence.

Renewal: Additional optional +1+1 years added to the initial period at the Authorities discretion.

Planning Information

Further instructions are included in the uploaded docuement - 20251024_715090450_EPACS_PREM. For inflormation purposes a draft Statement of Requirement (SoR) - 20250805-715090450_Draft_SoR_EPACS has also been uploaded. The closing date and time for resposne to this RFI is 21 November 2025 at 09:00hrs.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d503
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058996-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

80430000 - Adult-education services at university level

80570000 - Personal development training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£560,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£560,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Jun 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
27 Mar 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
8 Dec 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
7 Jun 2026 - 7 Jun 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Additional Buyers

MISSING

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NAPHILL
Postcode
HP14 4UE
Post Town
Hemel Hempstead
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ13 Buckinghamshire
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Buckinghamshire
Electoral Ward
Ridgeway West
Westminster Constituency
Mid Buckinghamshire

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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