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South West - Digital and Technology Skills Programme

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

Award

02 Sep 2026 at 11:39

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

17 Jul 2026 at 14:39

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

10 Jun 2026 at 17:40

UK4 - Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

10 Jun 2026 at 15:18

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

26 May 2026 at 13:39

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology procured regional delivery partner services for the South West Digital and Technology Skills Programme. The work supports on-the-ground delivery of the TechFirst youth programme, including digital skills-building activities and career inspiration days for schools and colleges. The partner works with local industry and academia to encourage young people to pursue digital and computing qualifications, with particular focus on girls and people from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. The wider programme aims to strengthen the technology talent pipeline and improve confidence with artificial intelligence and technology careers. The procurement is for computer-related professional services, with information technology services also included. Delivery covers the South West of England.

The procurement has been awarded through a completed, above-threshold open procedure. The sole lot was evaluated on technical capability weighted at 80% and price at 20%. Seven bids reached the final stage, including five from SMEs and four from voluntary, community or social enterprises. Spark South West was awarded the contract on 17 July 2026 for £1,369,690.46 excluding VAT, or £1,643,628.55 including VAT. The estimated lot value was £1,375,000 excluding VAT, or £1,650,000 including VAT. The tender enquiry deadline was 3 June 2026 at 10:00 and the bid deadline was 25 June 2026 at 10:00. The signed contract runs from 10 September 2026 to 31 March 2029; two extensions may apply, reaching 31 March 2029 as the maximum extent.

This procurement shows demand for organisations able to coordinate regional digital and technology education programmes at substantial scale. A credible future supplier would need to deliver structured skills-building and careers activity across schools and colleges, engage young people effectively, and address participation barriers affecting underrepresented groups. The requirement also favours organisations able to build and manage partnerships with local technology businesses, academic institutions and education providers. Strong technical capability is central to the buyer’s evaluation approach, so evidence of successful programme design, stakeholder management, digital skills delivery and measurable participant engagement would be important. The participation of SME and voluntary-sector bidders indicates that the requirement can attract smaller specialist organisations, although delivery capacity and regional reach remain commercially significant.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

South West - Digital and Technology Skills Programme

Notice Description

DSIT is seeking a Regional Delivery Partner who will be responsible for ensuring successful on-the-ground delivery of the TechFirst youth programme in the South West. TechFirst is the Government's flagship digital and technology skills programme, created to remove skills as a barrier to growth in the sector. The sector relies on specialist digital and STEM skills, but there is a clear gap between demand and supply. This programme aims to build the sustainability and diversity of the tech talent pipeline, creating the foundations for long-term growth in one of the Government's 8 growth-driving sectors. The youth strand of TechFirst, TechYouth, aims to reach 1 million students in schools and colleges across the UK with opportunities to develop their digital skills, gain confidence with AI and insight into a range of potential tech careers. Regional delivery partners will support the programme at a local level, delivering skills building activities and career inspiration days for schools and colleges in the area. They will work in partnership with local industry and academia to achieve this. With the support of Regional Delivery Partners, the TechYouth programme should spark young people's interest in technology and encourage more to pursue digital and computing qualifications at age 14 and 16, both academic and vocational. It will particularly encourage uptake from currently underrepresented groups, including girls and those from socioeconomic disadvantage. These students will form the pipeline of future technology researchers and professionals needed for the sector to achieve its potential growth.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a39a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082989-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

72222300 - Information technology services

72590000 - Computer-related professional services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,375,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,375,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£1,369,690 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£1,369,690 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
25 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
17 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
10 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
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
SW1A 2EG
Postcode Area
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Spark South West

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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