This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Tender

19 Jun 2026 at 13:05

PlanningUpdate

20 May 2026 at 07:36

Planning

15 May 2026 at 08:26

Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education is seeking to procure a supplier for the "Developing a Digital and Data Skills Pathway" project. This initiative, located in London, involves developing a national framework for digital and data skills to be integrated into schools across the United Kingdom. The contract is valued at up to £500,000 and is expected to run until March 2027, beginning in September 2026. The procurement is in the tender stage with an open procedure method, and submissions are due by 31 July 2026. Potential suppliers can submit their enquiries until 3 July 2026, with the award period concluding by 19 August 2026. The process focuses on a mix of IT services, training software development, and educational consultancy, under the industry category for IT and educational training services.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for SMEs and VCSEs with expertise in digital content development, educational technology, and consultancy services. Companies interested in participating have the chance to shape a future-proofed educational framework, providing substantial business growth potential through the reinforcement of digital integration into schooling systems. Businesses with experience in professional development and working with digital and AI in educational environments will find this tender particularly suited to their capabilities. The requirement for a co-designed solution with the sector and alignment to the national curriculum ensures a broad scope for involvement and collaboration, encouraging consortia and collaborative bids.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Developing a Digital and Data Skills Pathway

Notice Description

The Department for Education is procuring a supplier to develop a digital and data skills pathway for schools along with support to help implement it effectively. The pathway will set out the minimum and aspirational standards for the skills and expertise needed to use technology, digital, data and AI safely and effectively. It will drive an ongoing professional development journey, can be used to align sector support and new training to a consistent framework and support integration of safe and effective use of technology into pedagogical and management practices, including where it can support engagement, inclusivity, outcomes and workload reduction. The programme must be designed using a number of design principles including co-design with the sector. The contract runs to March 2027 with a budget of up to PS500,000 and will result in a GOV.UK-hosted, future-proofed national framework and support to help its implementation.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Extension at authorties discretion following funding and governance approval

Planning Information

A market engagement session will take place on 2 June 2026 from 11:00-12:00. The link for this session is: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/377473666032143?p=Km3Vwrcc6wfbbXobP1 Meeting ID: 377 473 666 032 143 Passcode: WE3Ky3uq

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0699ae
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058117-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender 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

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

72212931 - Training software development services

73220000 - Development consultancy services

80000000 - Education and training services

80200000 - Secondary education services

80420000 - E-learning services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£500,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£500,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Jun 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
31 Jul 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
15 Jun 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Aug 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION
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
SW1P 3BT
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

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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-0699ae-2026-06-19T14:05:26+01:00",
    "date": "2026-06-19T14:05:26+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0699ae",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PDZG-3487-DPVD",
            "name": "Department for Education",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PDZG-3487-DPVD"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "SW1P3BT",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI32"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Ehsan Shafiq",
                "email": "Ehsan.shafiq@education.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PDZG-3487-DPVD",
        "name": "Department for Education"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "A market engagement session will take place on 2 June 2026 from 11:00-12:00. The link for this session is: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/377473666032143?p=Km3Vwrcc6wfbbXobP1 Meeting ID: 377 473 666 032 143 Passcode: WE3Ky3uq",
                "dueDate": "2026-06-02T23:59:59+01:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "044766-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044766-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-05-15T09:26:20+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "045995-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045995-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-05-20T08:36:52+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-0699ae",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Developing a Digital and Data Skills Pathway",
        "description": "The Department for Education is procuring a supplier to develop a digital and data skills pathway for schools along with support to help implement it effectively. The pathway will set out the minimum and aspirational standards for the skills and expertise needed to use technology, digital, data and AI safely and effectively. It will drive an ongoing professional development journey, can be used to align sector support and new training to a consistent framework and support integration of safe and effective use of technology into pedagogical and management practices, including where it can support engagement, inclusivity, outcomes and workload reduction. The programme must be designed using a number of design principles including co-design with the sector. The contract runs to March 2027 with a budget of up to PS500,000 and will result in a GOV.UK-hosted, future-proofed national framework and support to help its implementation.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "72000000",
                        "description": "IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "72212931",
                        "description": "Training software development services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "73220000",
                        "description": "Development consultancy services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "80000000",
                        "description": "Education and training services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "80200000",
                        "description": "Secondary education services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "80420000",
                        "description": "E-learning services"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 600000,
            "amount": 500000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true,
                    "vcse": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-09-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2027-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2027-09-30T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "active",
                "value": {
                    "amountGross": 600000,
                    "amount": 500000,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "price",
                            "name": "Commercial",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 30,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Quality and Social Value",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 70,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "selectionCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "economic",
                            "description": "Detailed in Tender documents"
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "technical",
                            "description": "Detailed in Tender documents"
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "renewal": {
                    "description": "Extension at authorties discretion following funding and governance approval"
                }
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-06-15T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "status": "active",
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
        "submissionMethodDetails": "https://education.app.jaggaer.com/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=61209",
        "submissionTerms": {
            "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ]
        },
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-07-31T12:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "enquiryPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-07-03T12:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "awardPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-08-19T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            },
            {
                "id": "058117-2026",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK4",
                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058117-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-06-19T14:05:26+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en"
}