---
title: "Apprenticeships Digital Development, Testing and Architecture - DfE"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-074b1c5e-72ae-4fc5-9162-47f4436fcd0b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-074b1c5e-72ae-4fc5-9162-47f4436fcd0b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-074b1c5e-72ae-4fc5-9162-47f4436fcd0b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-074b1c5e-72ae-4fc5-9162-47f4436fcd0b.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION"
published: "2026-01-06"
---

# Apprenticeships Digital Development, Testing and Architecture - DfE

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-074b1c5e-72ae-4fc5-9162-47f4436fcd0b

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-074b1c5e-72ae-4fc5-9162-47f4436fcd0b)  
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## Summary

The Department for Education, located in Darlington, conducted a procurement process titled "Apprenticeships Digital Development, Testing and Architecture - DfE". The contract falls under the Information Technology Services category, specifically focusing on agile digital development and solution architecture capabilities. The procurement was pursued through a selective method as a call-off from a framework agreement. The contract, valued at £12,500,000, was awarded to Talent International UK Limited on 12 December 2025, covering the period from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027. The services are intended for delivery in the West Midlands, United Kingdom.

This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses specialising in digital development and IT architectural services, particularly those capable of meeting Government Digital Service (GDS) compliance standards. Companies that are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) may find this contract particularly accessible due to the suitability criteria. Participating in such a contract can aid in expanding a company's portfolio, enhance credibility, and provide substantial growth opportunities within the public sector.

## Notice

Apprenticeship Service require agile digital development, testing and solution/technical architecture capability services to support development of GDS compliant digital services users to support development and live running of the service.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c7dfc7e2-a773-4a54-b8b1-9618ded6a680 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a framework agreement |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 6 Jan 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 2 Oct 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 12 Dec 2025 |
| Contract period | 1 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £12,500,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £12,500,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION |
| Locality | DARLINGTON |
| Post town | Darlington |
| Postcode | DL1 5QE |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC3 Tees Valley |
| ITL 3 | TLC33 Darlington |
| Local authority | Darlington |
| Electoral ward | Park East |
| Westminster constituency | Darlington |
| Delivery location | TLG West Midlands (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | TALENT INTERNATIONAL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 72222300 - Information technology services

## Release History

- 6 Jan 2026 at 11:01 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c7dfc7e2-a773-4a54-b8b1-9618ded6a680

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c7dfc7e2-a773-4a54-b8b1-9618ded6a680
  6th January 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/3fd577ba-fb7f-4a0c-9efd-386ed7037b34
  n/a

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-074b1c5e-72ae-4fc5-9162-47f4436fcd0b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-074b1c5e-72ae-4fc5-9162-47f4436fcd0b.json.