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Learning, Skills and Employability Service Adult Skills Programme Flexible Framework

Sunderland City Council

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

21 Aug 2026 at 11:06

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

01 Jul 2026 at 12:50

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

22 Jun 2026 at 18:25

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

08 May 2026 at 09:00

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Sunderland City Council procured a flexible framework for adult learning, skills and employability services under its Adult Skills Programme. The requirement covers education and training services (CPV 80000000) delivered in Sunderland. It is divided into three service areas: Skills Foundation, Skills Activation and Skills for Work. The framework is intended to support adult training and education provision, with call-off activity aligned to curriculum and funding themes. The Council may use several providers in the same area to provide learner choice, sufficient delivery capacity and geographical and service coverage. The opportunity was suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises across all three lots.

The procurement is complete and awards were made under an accelerated open procedure using a two-stage flexible framework. Lot 1, Skills Foundation, was awarded on 1 August 2026 at £1,462,500 net (£1,755,000 gross); Lot 2, Skills Activation, on 11 August 2026 at £3,802,500 net (£4,563,000 gross); and Lot 3, Skills for Work, on 11 August 2026 at £900,000 net (£1,080,000 gross). Awards were made to multiple suppliers: 34 for Lot 1, 38 for Lot 2 and 26 for Lot 3. Contract periods run from 27 August 2026 to 31 July 2029. Quality was the stated evaluation criterion, alongside pass/fail legal, financial and technical participation requirements. A 20% win fee applied against each award value.

This award shows sustained local demand for providers able to deliver adult education, employability and skills programmes at framework scale across three distinct curriculum areas. A credible future competitor would need demonstrable legal and financial standing, technical and professional ability, and the capacity to satisfy mandatory, pass/fail and discretionary requirements. The process required a completed Procurement Specific Questionnaire, accurate supplier information on the Central Digital Platform and a satisfactory response to technical ability questions. Delivery organisations should be able to produce clear, high-quality method statements and proposals, align provision with funding themes and strategic priorities, and support learner choice and geographical coverage. The successful supplier pool includes training providers, employment organisations, social enterprises and specialist providers, indicating scope for both broad and focused delivery models.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Learning, Skills and Employability Service Adult Skills Programme Flexible Framework

Notice Description

Provision of Learning, Skills and Employability Service Adult Skills Programme Flexible Framework This framework commenced 1st August 2026 to 31st July 2029

Planning Information

Please register www.open-uk.org to obtain pre market engagement documents Adult Skills Programme Reference Number OPEN2026997

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069410
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079810-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£6,165,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£6,165,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£6,165,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Aug 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
17 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
15 May 2026Expired
Award Date
1 Aug 20263 weeks ago
Contract Period
27 Aug 2026 - 31 Jul 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Sunderland City 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
SUNDERLAND
Postcode
SR1 3AA
Postcode Area
Sunderland
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC44 Sunderland
Delivery Location
TLC23 Sunderland
Local Authority
Sunderland
Electoral Ward
Millfield
Westminster Constituency
Sunderland Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
51
Supplier Names

ACORN TRAINING LTD

ALD Skills Academy Ltd

B-SKILL LIMITED

BALTIC TRAINING SERVICES LIMITED

BREAKTHROUGH SOCIAL ENTERPRISE LIMITED

BRIGHT DIRECTION TRAINING LIMITED

BRIGHTSPARKS TRAINING COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY

CENTRAL EMPLOYMENT AGENCY (NORTH EAST) LIMITED

Code Institute

D.T.K. BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED

EDEN TRAINING ACADEMY LIMITED

EMPLOYER LINKS LTD

ENTERPRISE MADE SIMPLE LTD

EVOLUTION TRAINING AND CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED

FIRST FACE TO FACE LTD

FOUNDATION OF LIGHT

GROUNDWORK NORTH EAST

HANDCRAFTED PROJECTS

I N F I N I T Y 27 LTD.

LEARNING CURVE GROUP LIMITED

LET ME PLAY LIMITED

LOGISTICS SKILLS & CONSULTANCY LTD

LOKMAN TRAINING LTD

MEDEX (GROUP) LTD

NC GROUP LTD

NORTH EAST DANCE COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY

OPTIMUM SKILLS LIMITED

ORANGEBOX TRAINING SOLUTIONS UK LIMITED

PARKER ENTERPRISE COMPANY LTD

PENSHAW VIEW TRAINING LIMITED

PETER SMYTHE TRANSPORT TRAINING LIMITED

PITMAN TRAINING GROUP LIMITED

RE:GEN ACADEMY LIMITED

REALISE LEARNING AND EMPLOYMENT LIMITED

SKILLS-UK, EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED

SPORTSCAPE TRAINING LTD

STAFF POWER TRAINING LIMITED

SUNDERLAND BANGLADESH INTERNATIONAL CENTRE LIMITED

THE INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED

THE PORTLAND TRAINING COMPANY LIMITED

THE SOCIAL CO ACADEMY LIMITED

THE SQUARE METRE LIMITED

THE TRAINING BROKERS LIMITED

THREE13 TRAINING AND ENTERPRISE LTD

TRAINING IN CHILDCARE LIMITED

TRIAGE CENTRUM LIMITED

TRN (TRAIN) LTD.

UPLIFT ASSOCIATES LTD

UTRAINING LIMITED

VIRIDIS GREEN LIMITED

WINNOVATION LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079810-2026
    21st August 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061697-2026
    1st July 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058715-2026
    22nd June 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042238-2026
    8th May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
  • www.open-uk.org
    The opportunity can be accessed via the NEPO eTender system, Open. Suppliers wishing to be considered to be subsequently invited to tender for this Contract must register their expression of interest and submit the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) through the Open eTendering System. If not already registered, suppliers should register on the NEPO eTendering System at https://www.open-uk.org/ The PSQ responses must be submitted using the link above. Responses submitted via postal or email methods will not be accepted. If you need technical assistance from the Open Support team, this can be requested via open.support@nepo.org PLEASE NOTE: Open is accessible 24/7 however, technical support is available Monday - Thursday 8:30 - 5pm and Friday 8.30 - 4.30pm.

Notice URLs

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