Planning

PROVISION OF UK BASED LANGUAGE TRAINING

FOREIGN, COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

17 Apr 2026 at 11:06

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is initiating a procurement process for UK-based language training services, focusing on up to 87 languages and the management of the FCDO Language Centre. This plan, currently in the planning stage, is centred around professional language training with potential Centres of Excellence for French, Arabic, Spanish, and other languages. The preliminary market engagement began on 17th April 2026, with a deadline for responses to the engagement notice set for 5th May 2026. The engagement day is planned for the week commencing 25th May 2026. Located in London, the procurement is classified under the services category with a legal basis outlined in UK legislation 2023/54. The industry category is the provision of language courses, and the procurement method involves a Competitive Flexible Procedure anticipated under PA23 after the engagement phase.

This procurement process provides significant opportunities for businesses specialising in language services to collaborate with a central government public authority. Companies with expertise in delivering scalable language training programmes in multiple languages are well-positioned to benefit from this tender. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with innovative teaching models, whether digital, blended, or in-person, have the chance to expand services to meet government needs. The total contract value is anticipated to be up to £36 million, with an initial contract period commencing in April 2028 and extending potentially until 2036, inclusive of renewal options. Given the scope and demand for diverse language skills, it presents growth opportunities for language service providers seeking strategic governmental partnerships.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

PROVISION OF UK BASED LANGUAGE TRAINING

Notice Description

FCDO intends to procure a supplier(s) for professional language services training in up to 87 languages and management of the FCDO Language Centre. FCDO are also exploring the feasibility for Centres of Excellence to deliver a range of language training including but not limited to French, Arabic and Spanish. The new language training model has been designed to be scalable to meet the future needs of FCDO and HMG in terms of both volumes and languages available. FCDO is conducting a preliminary market engagement (PME) to inform the future procurement strategy, understand market capability, and ensure the designed competitive procedure is fair, accessible, and effective.

Planning Information

1. Notice Title UK2 – Preliminary Market Engagement Notice for Languages Training 2. Contracting Authority Details Organisation Name: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Address: King Charles Street, London Postal Code: SW1A 2AH Contact Person: Salim Ahmed Email: salim.ahmed2@fcdo.gov.uk 3. Summary of Intended Procurement FCDO intends to procure a supplier(s) for professional language services training in up to 87 languages and management of the FCDO Language Centre. FCDO are also exploring the feasibility for Centre's of Excellence to deliver a range of language training including but not limited to French, Arabic and Spanish. The new language training model has been designed to be scalable to meet the future needs of FCDO and HMG in terms of both volumes and languages available. FCDO is conducting a preliminary market engagement to inform the future procurement strategy, understand market capability, and ensure the designed competitive procedure is fair, accessible, and effective. The Preliminary Market Engagement indicative timeline is as follows: Issue Pre Market Engagement Notice 17th April 2026 Deadline for Pre Market Engagement Notice Responses 5th May 2026 Pre Market Engagement Day w/c 25th May 2026 4. Purpose of Preliminary Market Engagement This engagement aims to: • Understand supplier expertise and capacity in delivering professional language services training including Arabic, Spanish, and French language services. • Explore innovative delivery models (digital, in-person, blended lessons i.e. a mix of online and in-person lessons). • Better understand cost structures, timescales, and languages service models. Participation is voluntary and will not influence future tender evaluation. All findings will be managed to ensure no supplier gains an unfair advantage. 5. Engagement Activity Details FCDO plans the following PME activities: • Face to Face or Teams Supplier Briefing – To be confirmed o Background, overview of requirement and indicative procurement timeline • Written Market Question - o What are the variables that you would consider important when forming groups of students undertaking intensive language training? Please list these as bullet points in decreasing order of importance.  o How would you take account of these when forming groups of students undertaking intensive language training?  Maximum 2 x A4 pages, Arial font size 11 1:1 Supplier Meetings (to be scheduled either face to face or via Teams) – o Review response on Written Market Question plus any further questions. 6. Proposed Engagement Event Details Face to Face or Teams Supplier Briefing – To be confirmed • Date: w/c 25th May 2025 • Time: 9-30 (arrival at venue or via Teams) • Session to run from 10-00 onwards to 17-00 (detailed agenda to follow) Suppliers wishing to participate should respond via Jaggaer confirming their attendance by noon 5th May 2026. Please include the following: • Organisation name • Contact person • Email and phone number • Written Market Question 7. Future Procurement This PME Notice does not constitute a tender. The full procurement process will begin with the publication of a Tender Notice under PA23 following the conclusion of this engagement. A Competitive Flexible Procedure is currently anticipated as the viable route to market under PA23. Participation in the PME is not a prerequisite for taking part in the future tender. Suppliers who do not participate will not be disadvantaged. 8. Publication Information Notice Date of publication and notice reference. 17th April 2026, notice reference SA/01

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-068530
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035132-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80580000 - Provision of language courses

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£28,800,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Apr 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
4 Jan 20279 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2028 - 31 Mar 2033 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
FOREIGN, COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
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
SW1A 2AH
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

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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