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Test Operations Service - Future Service Management Programme

Department for Education

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

02 Oct 2026 at 11:52

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education, through its Standards and Testing Agency (STA), is considering future services for delivering statutory National Curriculum Assessments, including the phonics screening check and Key Stage 2 assessments, as well as optional Key Stage 1 assessments. The service areas under consideration include print production, collation and logistics, scanning, marking, customer support, systems provision, data processing and integration. The work would support the operational delivery of these assessments. Suppliers may have expertise in one or more of these areas. The Department is based in London; no delivery location is established as part of the current planning. The programme is examining options for how assessment services might be delivered in future.

This process is at the planning stage: STA is undertaking early market engagement to inform its assessment of future delivery options, not inviting tenders. The main online supplier event is planned for 15 October 2026, with sessions covering print, collation, logistics, scanning and marking, helpline services and service integration. Dedicated one-to-one discussions for systems and data integration or reporting suppliers are planned for 14 October 2026. Further engagement could include questionnaires, workshops, requests for information or discussions. Current assessment delivery arrangements are due to expire after assessments in 2029. The stated contract period for the planned procurement runs from 1 December 2027 to 28 February 2035. One lot is shown as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises. No procurement procedure or estimated value is set out at this stage.

The programme may suit providers of one or several assessment-operation services, including print, collation, logistics, scanning, marking, customer support, systems, data processing and integration. STA is seeking input from organisations with relevant expertise and experience, and wants to understand current market capability, emerging technology, innovative delivery approaches, commercial models, and possible opportunities and constraints. Suppliers specialising in systems or data integration and reporting can contribute to focused discussions on requirements, delivery approaches, integration and reporting capabilities. The main event is organised around service areas, so suppliers can focus on relevant sessions. SMEs are expressly included in STA’s aim for inclusive market engagement. Participation is voluntary, and engagement feedback will not be used in any future procurement evaluation or give a supplier an advantage.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Test Operations Service - Future Service Management Programme

Notice Description

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA), an executive agency of the Department for Education (DfE), is responsible for the delivery of statutory National Curriculum Assessments (NCAs), including Key Stage 1 assessments (optional), Phonics screening check (statutory) and Key Stage 2 assessments (statutory). The current arrangements for the delivery of assessment operations for these assessments are due to expire following the delivery of assessments in 2029. To inform future decisions, STA has established the Future Service Management Programme to consider our delivery options. The programme is considering a range of potential options for the future delivery of assessment services. These services include, but are not limited to, print production, collation and logistics, scanning, marking, customer support services, systems provision, data processing and integration. The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is to advise the market of STA's intention to undertake early market engagement activities to inform the assessment of our options. This engagement is intended to improve STA's understanding of current market capability, emerging technologies, innovative delivery approaches, commercial models and potential opportunities and constraints associated with the future provision of assessment services. STA is seeking input from organisations with relevant expertise and experience in one or more aspects of the service. Details of the market engagement activity can be found in the engagement section of this notice. Following the engagement activities, STA may invite interested organisations to participate in further market engagement through questionnaires, workshops, requests for information or additional discussions. Feedback gathered through these activities will help shape STA's understanding of the market and support the development of future recommendations. Participation in this market engagement process will not form part of any future procurement evaluation and will not provide any supplier with an advantage in any subsequent procurement process. The publication of this notice does not signify the commencement of any procurement process and does not constitute any commitment by STA to undertake any procurement exercise. Any future procurement strategy will be determined following completion of the Delivery Model Assessment, approval of recommendations through the appropriate governance channels and consideration of government priorities. STA wishes to ensure that potential providers have early visibility of the programme and future opportunities to engage. This supports STA's objective of promoting open, transparent and inclusive engagement with the market, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). STA reserves the right to amend, suspend or discontinue any aspect of the programme or market engagement activities at any time without liability. Participation in this engagement process is entirely voluntary and participants will bear their own costs associated with involvement in any engagement activity. Any information provided by STA during market engagement activities is indicative only and should not be relied upon as a commitment regarding future service requirements, procurement arrangements or delivery model decisions. The Authority administers its procurement activity electronically through Jaggaer https://education.app.jaggaer.com , the Department for Education's e-sourcing system, and further details of any future opportunities will be published at the appropriate time through the relevant procurement channels.

Planning Information

The market engagement activity will consist of an online supplier engagement event delivered by STA. The event will provide an overview of the programme, the scope of services under consideration and specific questions on which STA is seeking supplier feedback. The main event will be held on 15 October 2026, see agenda below. All suppliers are expected to attend the Welcome and Introductions session. Following this, suppliers should attend only the session(s) relevant to the services they currently provide or are interested in providing. There is no requirement to attend the entire event. Event Agenda – 15 October 2026 • 09:00 – 09:30 Welcome and Introductions • 09:30 – 10:20 Print • 10:30 – 11:20 Collation • 11:30 – 12:20 Logistics • 12:20 – 12:50 Lunch • 13:00 – 13:50 Scanning and Marking • 14:00 – 14:50 Helpline • 15:00 – 16:50 Service Integration To support more detailed discussions regarding technology and systems capabilities, STA will also offer dedicated 60-minute one-to-one engagement sessions for system and data integration/reporting suppliers on 14 October 2026. These sessions will provide suppliers with an opportunity to discuss systems and data requirements, delivery approaches, integration requirements, reporting capabilities and other technology-related considerations. The available one-to-one session times are below. These will be given on a first come, first serve basis: • 10:00 – 11:00 • 11:00 – 12:00 • 13:00 – 14:00 • 14:00 – 15:00 Further details on how to register for the engagement event and book one-to-one sessions will be provided through the Department for Education's e-sourcing portal, Jaggaer, https://education.app.jaggaer.com , to access follow the "View Opportunities" link. Suppliers will then need to access the following SSQ: ssq_860 - Test Operations Service - Future Service Management Programme. Following the engagement activities, STA may invite interested organisations to participate in further market engagement through questionnaires, workshops, requests for information or additional discussions. Feedback gathered through these activities will help shape STA's understanding of the market and support the development of future recommendations.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077f8c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093267-2026
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Dec 2027 - 28 Feb 2035 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

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
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

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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