Planning

HCC May 2026 - Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for Skills Bootcamps

HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

13 May 2026 at 14:07

PlanningUpdate

13 May 2026 at 13:55

Planning

12 May 2026 at 13:37

Summary of the contracting process

Hertfordshire County Council is engaging in a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) process for the design and provision of Skills Bootcamps in Hertfordshire. The current procurement stage is planning, with the council seeking to gather feedback to help shape the forthcoming Skills Bootcamps programme. An online information webinar is scheduled for 4th June 2026 at 10 am, and organisations interested in participating must submit their Supplier Questionnaires by 28th May 2026. The procurement falls under the services category, particularly focusing on education and training, and is classified under several CPV codes related to technical, vocational, and personal development training services. This stage, while collaborative, does not commit Hertfordshire County Council to a formal procurement process, allowing for open dialogue without commitment.

This tender presents significant growth opportunities for businesses involved in education and training services, especially those specialising in technical and vocational education. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), are encouraged to participate, as the project aims to understand market capacity, innovation, and emerging trends. Engaging in this PME will allow businesses to align their services and innovations with the council's strategic objectives and potentially influence the design of a delivery model that will benefit both learners and employers. By partaking in this engagement, businesses can position themselves as potential partners in the future formal procurement process for Skills Bootcamps.

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Notice Title

HCC May 2026 - Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for Skills Bootcamps

Notice Description

The purpose of the Council's Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) is to engage with organisations with relevant experience to help inform the future design of Skills Bootcamps provision in Hertfordshire. This includes: * Share and explore initial ideas relating to the intended outcomes and scope of Skills Bootcamp provision, without commitment from either the Council or participating organisations. * Engage with the market to gain a better understanding of delivery challenges, employer needs, and the Council's strategic objectives for Skills Bootcamps. * Gather informal feedback to help shape the Council's Skills Bootcamps delivery model, technical requirements, and commissioning approach. * Understand current market capacity, innovation, and emerging trends in employer led training and rapid skills provision. * Identify potential delivery approaches, sector specialisms, and models of employer engagement that could support successful outcomes for learners and employers. This stage is intended to support open dialogue with the market and help shape future decisions. It does not form part of a formal procurement process. The PME will comprise: * Online Information Webinar: The Council will host an online webinar to provide an overview of the Skills Bootcamps programme, the proposed scope, and to answer questions. The webinar will take place online at 10am on 4th June 2026. * Webinar registration: In order to register to attend, organisations are invited to complete and return the Supplier Questionnaire (see link in Appendix A) in accordance with the instructions provided. Completed questionnaires must be submitted by 28th May 2026, following which respondents will receive a Microsoft Teams invitation. * Optional Follow up Engagement: Subject to the responses received, the Council may use information gathered through the Supplier Questionnaires and webinar to inform the next stages of engagement and the development of the commissioning approach. For the avoidance of doubt, this stage of the project is not part of a formal procurement process, and the Council is not committing, at this stage, to carrying out such a process. Participation or non-participation in this PME shall not prevent any supplier participating in a potential procurement process; nor is it intended that any information supplied shall place any supplier at an advantage in any forthcoming procurement process. To access this opportunity please visit https://in-tendhost.co.uk/supplyhertfordshire

Planning Information

The PME will comprise: • Online Information Webinar: The Council will host an online webinar to provide an overview of the Skills Bootcamps programme, the proposed scope, and to answer questions. The webinar will take place online at 10am on 4th June 2026. • Webinar registration: In order to register to attend, organisations are invited to complete and return the Supplier Questionnaire (see link in Appendix A) in accordance with the instructions provided. Completed questionnaires must be submitted by 28th May 2026, following which respondents will receive a Microsoft Teams invitation. • Optional Follow up Engagement: Subject to the responses received, the Council may use information gathered through the Supplier Questionnaires and webinar to inform the next stages of engagement and the development of the commissioning approach. For the avoidance of doubt, this stage of the project is not part of a formal procurement process, and the Council is not committing, at this stage, to carrying out such a process. Participation or non-participation in this PME shall not prevent any supplier participating in a potential procurement process; nor is it intended that any information supplied shall place any supplier at an advantage in any forthcoming procurement process. Supplier Collaboration Questionnaire or follow the QR code provided. Completing the Supplier Questionnaire (via MS forms link) Please answer all questions as fully as possible and within each response area provided. Any questions which you feel are not relevant; please enter “Not Applicable”. Company brochures or other general marketing information should not be attached in addition to this. Any supporting documents must be cross-referenced to the relevant question. If the Council requires further information concerning your response, your organisation will be contacted. However, please provide full details and answer all questions, as the Council reserves the right not to ask organisations for any further information.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0696ca
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044016-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
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

80210000 - Technical and vocational secondary education services

80500000 - Training services

80510000 - Specialist training services

80521000 - Training programme services

80530000 - Vocational training services

80570000 - Personal development training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 May 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Jul 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Nov 2026 - 1 Nov 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY 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
STEVENAGE
Postcode
SG1 2FQ
Post Town
Stevenage
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH26 North and East Hertfordshire
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Stevenage
Electoral Ward
Symonds Green
Westminster Constituency
Stevenage

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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