Planning

Delivery of Apprenticeships to the Royal Corps of Signals

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

22 Apr 2026 at 12:36

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

22 Apr 2026 at 12:27

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence is initiating a procurement process titled "Delivery of Apprenticeships to the Royal Corps of Signals," aimed at supplementing its apprenticeship programme. This contract, planned to commence on 1st August 2027 and extend for five years until 31st July 2032, falls under the education and training services category. As of the planning stage, the ministry has outlined key milestones, including a preliminary market engagement, where parties interested in bidding must register their interest by 17th May 2026. Additionally, an open competitive procedure is anticipated, with a Tenderers Conference scheduled for 10th September 2026 in Tidworth. Organisations should prepare for an Invitation to Tender announcement set to be published around August 2026.

This tender presents substantial growth opportunities for businesses specialising in educational services, particularly those experienced in apprentice training. With a budget of £18 million gross, the contract seeks providers registered with APAR to deliver functional skills training, support apprentices, and manage compliant learner records. The ministry encourages SMEs and VCSEs to engage, emphasising its intention to enhance military training with civilian expertise. Suitable candidates should have robust capabilities in coaching, progress reviews, and End-Point Assessment preparation, ensuring apprentices achieve their qualifications across various standards, including cyber security, data technology, and network engineering. Engaging in this tender offers businesses the chance to extend their services nationwide, fostering expansion and expertise development in partnership with the British Army.

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

Notice Information

Notice Title

Delivery of Apprenticeships to the Royal Corps of Signals

Notice Description

The Ministry of Defence / British Army announce an upcoming contracting opportunity, for a five-year contract commencing 1st Aug 27, to support and supplement the delivery of the Royal Corps of Signals Apprenticeship Programme. Enrolment and some training is undertaken at Blandford Camp in Dorset, with the Army acting as an Apprenticeship Employer-Provider. The apprenticeship continues once learners arrive at their units which are located across the UK. The Royal Signals currently offer the following standards: Level 4 Network Engineer (ST0127), Level 3 Data Technician (ST0795), Level 3 Information Communications Technician (ST0973 Data Communications Technician pathway), Level 3 Engineering Maintenance Technician (Single Discipline) (ST1426), L2 Supply Chain Warehouse Operator (ST0259) and potentially L3 Cyber Security Technician (ST0865). There is a requirement for an APAR registered Provider to supplement the military training delivery of the apprenticeship by providing Functional Skills training where required, supporting Apprentices (for example by conducting coaching, progress reviews, and EPA preparation), creating and managing DfE / DWP compliant learner records. Full definition of the requirement will be detailed within the Invitation to Tender and UK4 Tender notice, currently scheduled to be published in August 2026. For the avoidance of any doubt this notice supercedes any previous notices published for Delivery of Apprenticeships to the Royal Corps of Signals - 715811477

Planning Information

Prior to the planned release of the full ITT, the Authority wishes to gauge the level of market interest from potential providers wishing to bid for this procurement, based on the detail of the scope and estimated value(s) as detailed within this Notice. As such, the Authority hereby request that any parties interested in competing for this upcoming procurement register its interest by sending an email to the following address: armycomrcl-procure-aap-mailbox@mod.gov.uk by 17:00 GMT on 15 May 2026. Currently it is the Authority's intention to hold a Tenderers Conference on 10 September 2026 at Tidworth, full details to be provided at a later date. Please note that it is currently the Authority's intention to hold an Open competitive procedure for this procurement. For the avoidance of doubt, this notice is not a call for competition and companies who do not register their preliminary interest at this stage will still be free to compete for the award of the aforementioned ITT upon its publication.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-068881
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036600-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£15,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Apr 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
17 Aug 20264 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Jul 2027 - 31 Jul 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
ANDOVER
Postcode
SP11 8HJ
Post Town
Salisbury
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ36 Central Hampshire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Test Valley
Electoral Ward
Andover Millway
Westminster Constituency
North West Hampshire

Further Information

Notice Documents

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-068881-2026-04-22T13:36:55+01:00",
    "date": "2026-04-22T13:36:55+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-068881",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "planning": {
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "036594-2026",
                "documentType": "plannedProcurementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK1",
                "description": "Pipeline notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036594-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-04-22T13:27:57+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "036600-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036600-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-04-22T13:36:55+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ],
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "Prior to the planned release of the full ITT, the Authority wishes to gauge the level of market interest from potential providers wishing to bid for this procurement, based on the detail of the scope and estimated value(s) as detailed within this Notice. As such, the Authority hereby request that any parties interested in competing for this upcoming procurement register its interest by sending an email to the following address: armycomrcl-procure-aap-mailbox@mod.gov.uk by 17:00 GMT on 15 May 2026. Currently it is the Authority's intention to hold a Tenderers Conference on 10 September 2026 at Tidworth, full details to be provided at a later date. Please note that it is currently the Authority's intention to hold an Open competitive procedure for this procurement. For the avoidance of doubt, this notice is not a call for competition and companies who do not register their preliminary interest at this stage will still be free to compete for the award of the aforementioned ITT upon its publication.",
                "dueDate": "2026-05-15T23:59:59+01:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ]
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PHVX-4316-ZVGZ",
            "name": "Ministry of Defence",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PHVX-4316-ZVGZ"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Army Headquarters, Marlborough Lines, Monxton Road",
                "locality": "Andover",
                "postalCode": "SP11 8HJ",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKJ36"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "ArmyComrcl-Procure-AAP-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PHVX-4316-ZVGZ",
        "name": "Ministry of Defence"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-068881",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Delivery of Apprenticeships to the Royal Corps of Signals",
        "description": "The Ministry of Defence / British Army announce an upcoming contracting opportunity, for a five-year contract commencing 1st Aug 27, to support and supplement the delivery of the Royal Corps of Signals Apprenticeship Programme. Enrolment and some training is undertaken at Blandford Camp in Dorset, with the Army acting as an Apprenticeship Employer-Provider. The apprenticeship continues once learners arrive at their units which are located across the UK. The Royal Signals currently offer the following standards: Level 4 Network Engineer (ST0127), Level 3 Data Technician (ST0795), Level 3 Information Communications Technician (ST0973 Data Communications Technician pathway), Level 3 Engineering Maintenance Technician (Single Discipline) (ST1426), L2 Supply Chain Warehouse Operator (ST0259) and potentially L3 Cyber Security Technician (ST0865). There is a requirement for an APAR registered Provider to supplement the military training delivery of the apprenticeship by providing Functional Skills training where required, supporting Apprentices (for example by conducting coaching, progress reviews, and EPA preparation), creating and managing DfE / DWP compliant learner records. Full definition of the requirement will be detailed within the Invitation to Tender and UK4 Tender notice, currently scheduled to be published in August 2026. For the avoidance of any doubt this notice supercedes any previous notices published for Delivery of Apprenticeships to the Royal Corps of Signals - 715811477",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "80000000",
                        "description": "Education and training services"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 18000000,
            "amount": 15000000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true,
                    "vcse": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2027-08-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2032-07-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "status": "planned"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-08-17T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "status": "planned"
    },
    "language": "en"
}