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Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship and Associated Learning Programmes

Greater Manchester Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

14 Aug 2026 at 15:17

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Greater Manchester Combined Authority is procuring higher education services for Greater Manchester Police’s Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) and associated learning programmes. The requirement is for a higher education institution to deliver the programme jointly with the Force, supporting student officers through degree-level apprenticeship training and related provision. The work includes delivery of a qualification face-to-face at a site external to the provider’s own estate, including aspects of the Sedgley Park site. It also covers apprenticeship delivery at other qualification levels. The buyer is Greater Manchester Combined Authority, with Greater Manchester Police managing the procurement and participating in delivery. The main category is higher education and university-level adult education services.

The procurement has reached tender: the buyer invited offers through a multi-stage selective Competitive Flexible Procedure. The process includes an Invitation to Participate, longlisting to up to six institutions, an Invitation to Bid, shortlisting to up to three, dialogue, and a final Invitation to Tender seeking Best and Final Offers. Enquiries were due by 23 September 2026 at 18:00, and expressions of interest by 2 October 2026 at 12:00. The estimated value is £22,700,000 gross, with one lot. The contract is expected to run from 24 August 2027 to 23 August 2035, with an option to extend by up to two years, potentially to 23 August 2037. Evaluation is 70% quality and 30% whole-life cost. The award decision period ends 10 August 2027.

This opportunity suits a higher education institution with the infrastructure and approvals to deliver degree apprenticeships for police recruits at scale over several student intakes. Bidders must hold taught degree awarding powers and Main Provider status on the Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register. They need relevant experience administering and delivering degree-level apprenticeship programmes or equivalent, as well as apprenticeships at other qualification levels. They must also have experience delivering qualifications face-to-face away from their own estate, comply with the QAA’s UK Quality Code for Higher Education, and hold an Ofsted rating of good or better under the former system, or expected standard or better under the current system. GMCA may assess bidders’ financial standing using recognised assessment tools.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship and Associated Learning Programmes

Notice Description

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is undertaling a multi-stage Competitive Flexible Procedure, on behalf of Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), in order to identify a Higher Education Institution to deliver the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) programme for the Force. The programme will be a joint delivery between GMP and the chosen Higher Education Institute (HEI).

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The initial term of 8 years includes the teach out phase of the 3-year apprenticeship programme (i.e. the requirement for in-flight students to complete their qualification with the same provider) and means the initial term of the contract will cover student officer intakes over 5 years. There is an option to extend the contract by a further 2 years, which can be taken as a single extension or in increments. As above, it should be noted that acceptance of the full 2-year extension would increase the duration of the contract to cover intakes over a total of 7 years. Regardless of the total duration of the contract, the final 3 years will see no further intakes and a phased reduction in the number of students, as those already studying complete their qualification.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e4db
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077776-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80300000 - Higher education services

80430000 - Adult-education services at university level

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£22,700,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£22,700,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
23 Sep 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
24 Aug 2027 - 23 Aug 2035 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MANCHESTER
Postcode
M1 6EU
Postcode Area
Manchester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD33 Manchester
Delivery Location
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Local Authority
Manchester
Electoral Ward
Deansgate
Westminster Constituency
Manchester Central

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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