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Exploring Skills Needs in England: A Qualitative Research Study (con_31878)

Department for Education

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

23 Oct 2026 at 20:42

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education commissioned a qualitative research study, Exploring Skills Needs in England. The work is research services focused on understanding skills needs across England. The contract covers delivery of the study by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), with the Department for Education as the buyer. The procurement is presented as a single requirement rather than separate work packages, and the recorded research classification is research services. The study’s stated geographic focus is England; no more specific delivery location is described. It is a research assignment rather than a purchase of goods or construction works, and is relevant to organisations with the expertise to investigate skills needs through qualitative research and deliver findings for a government department.

The procurement has been awarded and the contract is active. The Department for Education selected the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER). This was a below-threshold limited competition, with one lot. The contract was signed on 26 January 2026 and runs from 26 January to 31 March 2026. Its value is £80,903.75 excluding VAT and £97,084.50 including VAT. The award is recorded as active, and the contract as active. The available procurement details identify the qualitative study as the requirement but do not set out further evaluation criteria or eligibility conditions. The contract period and values relate to this single awarded contract; no separate award values are reported.

For research organisations competing for comparable Department for Education work, this award shows demand for qualitative research into skills needs in England, delivered as a focused, single-lot assignment. A credible competitor would need to demonstrate the ability to design and carry out qualitative research on skills-related questions, produce findings relevant to national education and workforce policy, and manage delivery for a central government client. NFER, a large research organisation, was selected, indicating the kind of established research provider that can deliver this requirement. The procurement used a limited competition below the applicable threshold, so suppliers should be equipped to respond to a competitive process with a defined scope. Experience conducting policy-facing research and translating evidence into useful conclusions would be directly relevant to this buyer’s requirement.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Exploring Skills Needs in England: A Qualitative Research Study (con_31878)

Notice Description

This contract sets out an agreement between the Department for Education (DfE) and the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) to deliver a qualitative study titled Exploring Skills Needs in England.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078fa5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100772-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - limited competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73110000 - Research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£80,903 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Oct 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
26 Jan 2026 - 31 Mar 2026 1-6 months
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 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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER)

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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