Planning

The Delivery of Level 3 Military Engineering Construction Technician (L3 MECT) Apprenticeship (ST0414) Apprenticeship Assessment (AA)

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

14 May 2026 at 11:04

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

14 May 2026 at 10:23

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence is initiating a procurement process under the Planning stage for delivering Level 3 Military Engineering Construction Technician Apprenticeship Assessments. Located in Andover, the contracting process is for services within the education and training category, specifically engaging Apprenticeship Assessment Organisations for the Royal Engineers. The procurement will follow the Open Procedure method due to commence formally in December 2027, with an end date set for January 2033. Initial market engagement ends on the 14th of June 2026, with interested parties encouraged to register by this date to join the upcoming online tender briefing.

This tender presents lucrative opportunities for businesses operating in education and training services, particularly those adept in apprenticeship assessments related to military applications. SMEs and VCSEs are particularly encouraged to participate, as the project requires comprehensive management of assessment facilities, delivery of assessments across various specialisations, and significant engagement in the provision of associated resources. The contract value, estimated at up to £2.65 million over five years, represents a substantial growth opportunity for suitable firms to expand their portfolio in government contracting. Furthermore, the utilisation of military assessors and facilities offers a unique advantage for organisations aiming to integrate with defence-related apprenticeship programs.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

The Delivery of Level 3 Military Engineering Construction Technician (L3 MECT) Apprenticeship (ST0414) Apprenticeship Assessment (AA)

Notice Description

The British Army is hereby advising the market of an upcoming contracting opportunity for Apprenticeship Assessment Organisations (AAO) to tender to deliver AA to the Royal Engineers (RE) for the L3 MECT Apprenticeship Standard, over a five-year period, commencing in January 2027, through to January 2033. The existing contract for AA provision of the L3 MECT Apprenticeship Standard ends in January 2028. As such, this contract is to be in place by June 2027, to allow for AAs to commence from January 2028. The L3 MECT Apprenticeship Standard covers the following five pathway options, all of which the AAO will be required to support: Carpenter & Joiner. Bricklayer & Concreter. Building & Structural Finisher. Plumbing & Heating Engineer. Plant Operator Mechanic. AAO will be required to support all pathways. The value of the contract is estimated to be worth up to PS2,650,000 (Ex VAT) over 5 years. In addition to delivery of AAs, the AAO will be responsible for management of AA facility locations at Brompton Barracks, Chatham, Kent, and Wainscott Camp, near Rochester, Kent. Such facility management responsibilities are likely to include the following: - Day to day management of both AA facility locations. - The AAO may wish to use Military Assessors for some or all the assessment plans. - Training and supervision of all Military Assessors. Up to three per specialisation / pathway. - Assessment Waste segregation. - Maintenance, servicing, and replacement of assessment related tools. - Provision of all assessment related trade and building materials. - Provision of all IT for AA staff and assessment purposes. - Provision of Wi-Fi connectivity. - Provision of all office and classroom furniture. AAO will be required to be registered with Skills England for L3 MECT before submission of tender. Specialisation

Planning Information

We are seeking feedback from the market to inform the design of a proportionate, deliverable, and commercially balanced procurement under the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23). The current intention is that the procurement will be conducted using the Open Procedure, with a single-stage tender process. The Authority retains the right to change its approach to the planned procurement process should this be required. This preliminary market engagement (PME) does not constitute a call for competition. Any future procurement will be advertised via the relevant UK e-notification service in accordance with the requirements of the Procurement Act 2023. A formal Invitation to Tender, with full Statement of Requirement, will be issued on the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) in December 2027. To aid the Authority in gauging the level of market interest, interested parties are requested to formally register their interest in taking part in this procurement by 17:00 hrs on 14th June 2026, by sending an email to armycomrcl-procure-aap-mailbox@mod.gov.uk. Failure to register interest by the aforementioned time will not result in the tenderer being excluded from the ITT process.  Upon expiration of the Engagement Period of the 14th of June 2026, it is the Authority’s intention to host an Online Tender Briefing (OTB) where futher information on the requirment will be provided. All suppliers who have formally registered their interest in taking part in the procurement competition will be invited to attend the OTB.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06988f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044320-2026
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, 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
£2,650,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 May 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
14 Dec 20268 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
19 Jan 2028 - 18 Jan 2033 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 8HT
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

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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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