Award

Exams venue - Karagandy

BRITISH COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

19 Mar 2026 at 10:29

Tender

27 Jan 2026 at 06:39

Summary of the contracting process

The British Council, a public authority under sub-central government in the United Kingdom, is actively seeking partners for its procurement process titled "Exams venue - Karagandy". This initiative aims to deliver computer-based examinations through a contracted venue located in Karaganda, Kazakhstan. The procurement falls under the services category, specifically event services, with Upgrade Studio already awarded the contract as the supplier. This process, initiated as a tender under an open procurement method, features a contract period beginning on 2nd March 2026 and potentially extending until 1st March 2032 through annual renewals. The contract was formally signed on 1st March 2026, and it emphasises opportunities for serving the Kazakhstan region.

This tender creates significant opportunities for businesses specialising in event services, particularly those proficient in computer-based exam venues. Small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) would be particularly suitable to compete, given the procurement method supports below-threshold open competition. The contract's considerable gross value of £207,000 opens avenues for lucrative growth, especially for large-scale industry players able to navigate the intricacies of annual contract renewals. This tender promotes a competitive landscape, encouraging businesses to leverage quality over commercial factors, where 80% quality criteria could enhance their standing in securing future contracts with the British Council.

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

Notice Title

Exams venue - Karagandy

Notice Description

British Council Kazakhstan is entering into a contract with a venue to deliver computer based examinations.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: option to extend 4 additional times annually

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060f15
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025007-2026
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
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security


CPV Codes

79952000 - Event services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£155,172 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£155,172 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£178,448 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Mar 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
12 Feb 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
1 Mar 20261 months ago
Contract Period
2 Mar 2026 - 1 Mar 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
BRITISH 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
LONDON
Postcode
E20 1JQ
Post Town
East London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI41 Hackney and Newham
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Newham
Electoral Ward
Stratford Olympic Park
Westminster Constituency
Stratford and Bow

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

UPGRADE STUDIO

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-060f15-2026-03-19T10:29:52Z",
    "date": "2026-03-19T10:29:52Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-060f15",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PHTN-1551-GCQH",
            "name": "British Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PHTN-1551-GCQH"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "1 Redman Place",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "E20 1JQ",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI41"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Suzan Dogru Asik",
                "email": "Suzan.Asik@britishcouncil.org"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.britishcouncil.org",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-177770",
            "name": "Upgrade Studio",
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Office 318.1 3rd floor Miras Business Centre 40 Shakhterov St.",
                "locality": "Karaganda",
                "postalCode": "100011",
                "country": "KZ",
                "countryName": "Kazakhstan",
                "region": "KZ"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "Suzan.Asik@britishcouncil.org"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "large",
                "vcse": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PHTN-1551-GCQH",
        "name": "British Council"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-060f15",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Exams venue - Karagandy",
        "description": "British Council Kazakhstan is entering into a contract with a venue to deliver computer based examinations.",
        "status": "complete",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79952000",
                        "description": "Event services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "KZ",
                        "country": "KZ",
                        "countryName": "Kazakhstan"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 180000,
            "amount": 155172,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Below threshold - open competition",
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": false,
        "submissionMethodDetails": "https://tap.tcsapps.com/tap2/#/bc-supplier-registration",
        "submissionTerms": {
            "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed"
        },
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-02-12T09:00:00Z"
        },
        "enquiryPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-02-06T04:00:00Z"
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete",
                "value": {
                    "amountGross": 180000,
                    "amount": 155172,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-03-02T00:00:00Z",
                    "endDate": "2028-03-01T23:59:59Z",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2032-03-01T23:59:59Z"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "renewal": {
                    "description": "option to extend 4 additional times annually"
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "description": "%80 quality, %20 commercial"
                }
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "006869-2026",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK4",
                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006869-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-01-27T06:39:27Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en",
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "status": "active",
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-FTS-177770",
                    "name": "Upgrade Studio"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "79952000",
                            "description": "Event services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "KZ",
                            "country": "KZ",
                            "countryName": "Kazakhstan"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "awardID": "1",
            "status": "active",
            "period": {
                "startDate": "2026-03-02T00:00:00Z",
                "endDate": "2028-03-01T23:59:59Z",
                "maxExtentDate": "2032-03-01T23:59:59Z"
            },
            "hasRenewal": true,
            "renewal": {
                "description": "option to extend 4 additional times annually"
            },
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 207000,
                "amount": 178448,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "aboveThreshold": false,
            "dateSigned": "2026-03-01T00:00:00Z",
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "025007-2026",
                    "documentType": "contractNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK7",
                    "description": "Contract details notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025007-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-03-19T10:29:52Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}