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Targeted Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (TCIAG)

Cumberland Council

This public procurement record has 7 releases in its history.

Award

26 Aug 2026 at 08:08

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

29 Jul 2026 at 12:40

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

12 May 2026 at 16:42

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

14 Apr 2026 at 13:07

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

27 Feb 2026 at 16:26

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

13 Feb 2026 at 16:16

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

05 Feb 2026 at 15:22

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cumberland Council commissioned targeted careers information, advice and guidance services for young people from Year 9 through to age 18, or age 25 for those with Education, Health and Care Plans or special educational needs and disabilities. The service provides independent careers advice, information and guidance for specified beneficiary groups, supports the council’s statutory September Guarantee duties, and tracks and reports whether 16- and 17-year-olds have suitable learning, training or employment. It also identifies young people not in education, employment or training and helps ensure sufficient education, employment and training provision. This is an education and training service, classified under CPV 80000000, delivered for Cumberland Council across its service area.

The procurement is complete: the contract was awarded to INSPIRA (01) on 20 July 2026 and signed on 25 August 2026. It used a single-lot open procedure under the light-touch regime. The contract is valued at £2.5 million excluding VAT, or £3 million including VAT. The initial contract period runs from 10 January 2027 to 9 January 2030, with one optional extension of up to 24 months, allowing the arrangement to continue until 9 January 2032 at the council’s discretion. Three bids were received, all from SMEs. Evaluation weighted quality at 60%, social value at 20% and price at 20%; quality and social value responses needed to reach the required moderation threshold.

This requirement suits providers with an established careers guidance and youth-support operation, able to deliver independent advice from Year 9 through post-16 transition and to work with young people with SEND or Education, Health and Care Plans. Credible competitors would need capacity to identify and engage young people who are not in education, employment or training, maintain accurate case and destination records, and coordinate with schools, training providers, employers and other services. Experience of delivering the September Guarantee is particularly relevant, including securing suitable learning, training or employment destinations for 16- and 17-year-olds and tracking outcomes. Strong performance reporting, reliable data management and the ability to demonstrate social value would also be important, alongside consistently high-quality practitioner-led guidance.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Targeted Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (TCIAG)

Notice Description

Cumberland Council have commissioned a provider to provide a Targeted Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (TCIAG) provider. Provision of independent cares advice, information and guidance for target beneficiary groups beginning in Year 9 and progression to aged 18 (or 25 in the care of ECHPs/SEND). Delivery of the Council's statutory requirements relating to the September Guarantee of all 16-17 year old's having a suitable place of learning/training/employment (including tracking and reporting to DfE). Identification of 16-17 year old's Not in Education. employment and training. Ensuring sufficient provision of education, employment and training. The contract will have a maximum value of PS2,5000,000. and will be in place for 3 years, with the option to extend for up to one 24 month period. The initial term is 10 January 2027 to 09 January 2030, if the possible extension of 24 months is used, the contract would end on 09 January 2032.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: If the contract runs for the initial term only it will end on 9 January 2030. The contract value for the initial term is PS1,500,000 excluding VAT. If the council implements the optional extension periods, the contract would end on 10 January 2032. The maximum contract value for the initial term, the optional extension period and any potential uplifts stated in the contract is PS2,500,000 excluding VAT. If the council implements an extension or uplift, this will be confirmed in writing to the successful supplier in advance. If the services to be provided are VAT exempt then VAT cannot be charged by the successful supplier.

Planning Information

Provider Engagement Session 8th May 2026 10am-12pm via MS teams To reserve a space on the provider engagement session please send an email to Joel Rasbash, Commissioning Manager using the following email address: Joel.Rasbash@cumbria.gov.uk A Microsoft Teams invite link will be sent to all providers who register an interest.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-064932
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081049-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, 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
£2,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,500,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£2,500,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£2,500,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
16 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
11 May 2026Expired
Award Date
20 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
10 Jan 2027 - 9 Jan 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Cumberland 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
CARLISLE
Postcode
CA1 1RD
Postcode Area
Carlisle
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD1 Cumbria
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD13 Cumberland
Delivery Location
TLD1 Cumbria
Local Authority
Cumberland
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Carlisle

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Inspira Cumbria Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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