---
title: "Trialling and Sampling Framework 2025 - 2028 (2029) - Standards and Testing Agency"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-88fec39d-15f5-41d2-8094-f072c63a0bad"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-88fec39d-15f5-41d2-8094-f072c63a0bad"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-88fec39d-15f5-41d2-8094-f072c63a0bad.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-88fec39d-15f5-41d2-8094-f072c63a0bad.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION"
published: "2025-08-26"
---

# Trialling and Sampling Framework 2025 - 2028 (2029) - Standards and Testing Agency

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-88fec39d-15f5-41d2-8094-f072c63a0bad

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## Summary

The Department for Education, specifically the Standards and Testing Agency (STA), has completed the contracting process for the "Trialling and Sampling Framework 2025 - 2028 (2029)". This procurement falls under the education and training services industry category and encompasses multiple UK regions, including London, East of England, and West Midlands, among others. The procurement has reached the award stage, with a framework contract worth £18 million, starting from 31st July 2025 and ending on 30th July 2029. The procurement method used was an open procedure above the threshold, which successfully engaged multiple suppliers to deliver vital services that ensure national curriculum assessments meet regulatory standards.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in educational services, particularly those adept at delivering test development, validation, and sampling. Organisations and SMEs that focus on research, assessment design, and quality assurance within the educational sector stand to benefit greatly from participation in such frameworks. With a four-year period and opportunities to collaborate with other awarded suppliers like ACER UK and Pearson Education, businesses can leverage this framework to expand their footprint in the educational assessments market. SMEs and VCSEs are also considered suitable under the framework, promoting diverse participation.

## Notice

Following the completion of the tender evaluation process, the Department for Education, Standards and Testing Agency (STA) have appointed five suppliers to the STA Trialling and Sampling Framework. The initial term of the framework is three years, with the option to extend for an additional 12 months. This framework will support the delivery of high-quality, reliable test development services, including Item Validation Trials (IVTs), Technical Pre-Tests (TPTs), and sampling activities. These services are essential to the STA's delivery of national curriculum assessments, helping to ensure that assessments remain inclusive, free from bias, and aligned with Ofqual's regulatory requirements.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/01e09f05-54ec-45d7-9eda-31498a48791e |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure (above threshold) |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 26 Aug 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 27 Mar 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 29 Jul 2025 |
| Contract period | 30 Jul 2025 - 30 Jul 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £18,000,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £18,000,000 |
| 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 | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 3BT |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 5 |
| Supplier names | ACER INTERNATIONAL UNITED KINGDOM LIMITED (ACER; NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH; PEARSON EDUCATION; PWC; SCOTTISH QUALIFICATION AUTHORITY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80000000 - Education and training services

## Release History

- 26 Aug 2025 at 16:39 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/01e09f05-54ec-45d7-9eda-31498a48791e

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/01e09f05-54ec-45d7-9eda-31498a48791e
  26th August 2025 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## 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-b5fd17-88fec39d-15f5-41d2-8094-f072c63a0bad. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-88fec39d-15f5-41d2-8094-f072c63a0bad.json.