This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

19 Jun 2026 at 17:08

Tender

07 Apr 2026 at 11:11

Summary of the contracting process

In a recently completed procurement process, Northern Trains Limited, a central government public authority based in York, United Kingdom, awarded a contract for the provision of End Point Assessments for Train Driver (Level 3) Apprentices. The procurement followed an open procedure, culminating in a contract valued at £1,550,000. Northern Trains Limited required a single supplier to deliver education and training assessment services within the education and training industry category. The contract was officially awarded on 19th June 2026 to Explosive Learning Solutions Limited, an SME located in Didcot, with the contract period set to commence on 1st July 2026 and extend until 30th June 2028, with options for renewal.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in educational assessments targeting the transportation sector, particularly those registered as End Point Assessment Organisations (EPAO). SMEs and businesses familiar with OFQUAL standards for train driver assessments were highly suitable for this proposal, given the technical nature of the services required. Such contracts enable companies to solidify their position within the government procurement landscape and expand their expertise and market presence in the specialised domain of railway-related training and assessments.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

End Point Assessment - Drivers

Notice Description

Provision of End Point Assessments for Train Driver (Level 3) Apprentices

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: this will be a 1+1+1 year contract

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-067cda
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058275-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
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
£1,550,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,550,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£1,550,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Jun 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
13 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
18 Jun 20261 months ago
Contract Period
30 Jun 2026 - 30 Jun 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITED
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
YORK
Postcode
YO1 6JT
Post Town
York
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE2 North Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE21 York
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
York
Electoral Ward
Micklegate
Westminster Constituency
York Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

EXPLOSIVE LEARNING SOLUTIONS

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-067cda-2026-06-19T18:08:34+01:00",
    "date": "2026-06-19T18:08:34+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-067cda",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-03076444",
            "name": "NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "03076444"
            },
            "additionalIdentifiers": [
                {
                    "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                    "id": "PZCJ-2164-HJQZ"
                }
            ],
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "George Stephenson House",
                "locality": "York",
                "postalCode": "YO1 6JT",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKE21"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "procurement@northernrailway.co.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-05576577",
            "name": "EXPLOSIVE LEARNING SOLUTIONS LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "05576577"
            },
            "additionalIdentifiers": [
                {
                    "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                    "id": "PJBD-1939-PNNY"
                }
            ],
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "4 The Terraces",
                "locality": "Didcot",
                "postalCode": "OX11 0SG",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKJ14"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "busdev@explosivelearningsolutions.com"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://elsbusinesstraining.co.uk/",
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-COH-03076444",
        "name": "NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITED"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-067cda",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "End Point Assessment - Drivers",
        "description": "Provision of End Point Assessments for Train Driver (Level 3) Apprentices",
        "status": "complete",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "80000000",
                        "description": "Education and training services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 1550000,
            "amount": 1550000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "submissionMethodDetails": "https://www.delta-esourcing.com/ Access code: 2JP37HC7B7",
        "submissionTerms": {
            "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ]
        },
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-05-13T12:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "awardPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-06-10T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete",
                "value": {
                    "amountGross": 1550000,
                    "amount": 1550000,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "price",
                            "name": "Commercial",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 70,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Quality",
                            "description": "Social value",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 10,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Quality",
                            "description": "Quality",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 20,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "selectionCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "technical",
                            "description": "Suppliers must be a recognised member of OFQUAL for end point assessment level 3 train drivers ST0645."
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-07-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2027-06-30T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2029-06-30T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "renewal": {
                    "description": "this will be a 1+1+1 year contract"
                }
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            },
            {
                "id": "031398-2026",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK4",
                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031398-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-04-07T12:11:52+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ],
        "specialRegime": [
            "utilities"
        ]
    },
    "language": "en",
    "bids": {
        "statistics": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "measure": "bids",
                "value": 4,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "2",
                "measure": "finalStageBids",
                "value": 4,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "3",
                "measure": "smeFinalStageBids",
                "value": 4,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "4",
                "measure": "vcseFinalStageBids",
                "value": 0,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "title": "End Point Assessments - Drivers",
            "status": "active",
            "date": "2026-06-19T00:00:00+01:00",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 1550000,
                "amount": 1550000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-05576577",
                    "name": "EXPLOSIVE LEARNING SOLUTIONS LIMITED"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "80000000",
                            "description": "Education and training services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-07-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2028-06-30T23:59:59+01:00",
                "maxExtentDate": "2029-06-30T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "hasRenewal": true,
            "renewal": {
                "description": "2+1 year contract"
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "058275-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058275-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-06-19T18:08:34+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "assessmentSummariesDateSent": "2026-06-19T00:00:00+01:00",
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2026-07-01T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}