---
title: "Adult Education Budget Procurement contracts for services 2021/22"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0290d3"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0290d3"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0290d3.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0290d3.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION ACTING THROUGH THE EDUCATION AND SKILLS FUNDING AGENCY"
published: "2021-09-01"
---

# Adult Education Budget Procurement contracts for services 2021/22

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION ACTING THROUGH THE EDUCATION AND SKILLS FUNDING AGENCY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0290d3

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## Summary

The Department for Education, acting through the Education and Skills Funding Agency, has initiated a procurement process titled "Adult Education Budget Procurement contracts for services 2021/22". This procurement is categorised under adult and other education services and is focused on delivering skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and over in England, excluding residents of devolved areas. The procurement is currently at the tender stage, with the contract period commencing on 1 August 2021 and concluding on 31 July 2022. The procurement method employed is an open procedure with an accelerated timetable to support post-COVID-19 economic recovery, and bids were due to be submitted by 22 March 2021.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the education and training sectors, particularly for providers that specialise in adult education, vocational training, and skills development. With a total anticipated contract value of approximately £157 million, potential bidders include both small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and larger organisations that can deliver tailored educational services, support for unemployed adults, and flexible training programmes. Companies focusing on statutory entitlements, digital skills training, or sector-based work programmes would be particularly well-suited to compete for these contracts.

## Notice

The Adult Education Budget (AEB) is the major fund for adult learners, delivering skills provision for eligible adults aged 19+ from pre-entry to Level 3. AEB provision aims to engage adults in learning which provides the skills and learning they need for work, progression in work, an Apprenticeship or further learning. The ESFA would like to invite potential contractors to apply for ESFA funded AEB contract for services for the delivery of adult education and training to learners in England that are resident outside of the devolved areas. The contracts will start on 1 August 2021 and run for the 2021/22 academic year. The Authority is conducting a light touch procurement in accordance with Section 7 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) applying the principles of the Open Procedure as set out in the PCR 2015 and more particularly within the procurement documents, with an accelerated timetable.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The Adult Education Budget (AEB) is the major fund for adult learners, delivering skills provision for eligible adults aged 19+ from pre-entry to Level 3. AEB provision aims to engage adults in learning which provides the skills and learning they need for work, progression in work, an Apprenticeship or further learning. The ESFA would like to invite potential contractors to apply for ESFA funded AEB contract for services for the delivery of adult education and training to learners in England that are resident outside of the devolved areas. The contracts will start on 1 August 2021 and run for the 2021/22 academic year. Contracts awarded will be between the values of PS150,000 and PS3,000,000. The procurement will fund the following provision: Statutory entitlements English and maths, up to and including Level 2, for individuals aged 19 and over, who have not previously attained a GCSE grade A* - C or grade 4, or higher, and/or First full qualification at Level 2 for individuals aged 19 to 23, and/or First full qualification at Level 3 for individuals aged 19 to 23. Information technology ('digital') skills, up to and including Level 1, for individuals aged 19+, who have digital skills assessed at below Level 1. Local Flexibility which supports delivery of flexible tailored provision for adults, including qualifications and components of these and/or non-regulated learning, up to Level 2, including Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAP) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Expansion of DWP's SWAP: SWAP helps employers with immediate and future job needs by upskilling job seekers to fill locally identified vacancies. A SWAP placement has three main components: pre-employment training, work experience placements and a guaranteed job interview. The AEB funds the pre-employment training component. National Skills Fund Level 3 Adult Offer: From April 2021, any adult aged 24 and over who wants to achieve their first full Level 3 qualification, which is equivalent to a technical certificate or diploma, or 2 full A levels, will be able to access hundreds of fully funded courses. Supporting funding to provide extra support to address barriers that may prevent learners from engaging or continuing learning. This includes: Learning support - available to providers to meet the cost of making reasonable adjustments, as part of the Equality Act 2010, for learners who have an identified learning difficulty or disability, to achieve their learning goal, and/or Learner support - available to providers to support learners with a specific financial hardship, such as childcare or residential costs associated with learning. Based on the best information available to the Authority at this time the overall anticipated value for the Contracts, as set out in this Contract Notice is PS157, 000, 000.00 (one hundred and fifty seven million pounds). This includes an allowance for the Contract Period including all possible extensions (which the Authority may exercise at its discretion) and performance management adjustments which may be implemented by the Authority in accordance with the Funding Rules (and Performance Management Rules) Potential Contractors shall note that funding for the Contracts is only guaranteed for the period from the Agreement Date to 31 July 2022 and for any Learners recruited before that date to complete their Learning, provided that happens before 31 July 2023. The Authority anticipates that the combined value of the initial Contract Values of all the successful Potential Contracts will be PS73,000,000.00 (seventy three million pounds).

Options: The Contract contains extension provisions, which the Authority may exercise at its discretion. These enable the Authority to extend the Contract to (a) allow Learners who have commenced their Learning prior to the Expiry Date to complete that Learning, provided completion is by a specified Longstop Date; and (b) to extend Contract Period for such period or periods and on as many occasions as the Authority deems necessary up to an overall total of one year from the original Expiry date. Potential Contractors shall note that funding for the Contracts is only guaranteed for the period from the Agreement Date to 31 July 2022 and for any Learners recruited before that date to complete their Learning, provided that happens before 31 July 2023. Potential Contractors should note that any extension of the Contract is wholly at the discretion of the Authority.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021579-2021 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large, SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 1 Sep 2021 |
| Submission deadline | 22 Mar 2021 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 31 Jul 2021 |
| Contract period | 31 Jul 2021 - 31 Jul 2022 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £157,000,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £72,169,427 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active, Unsuccessful |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION ACTING THROUGH THE EDUCATION AND SKILLS FUNDING AGENCY |
| Locality | COVENTRY |
| Post town | Coventry |
| Postcode | CV1 2WT |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands |
| ITL 3 | TLG33 Coventry |
| Local authority | Coventry |
| Electoral ward | St Michael's |
| Westminster constituency | Coventry South |
| Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 86 |
| Supplier names | ACACIA TRAINING; ACADEMY TRANSFORMATION TRUST; ACCESS TRAINING (EAST MIDLANDS; ACHIEVEMENT TRAINING; ACORN TRAINING; ACORN TRAINING CONSULTANTS; ALM TRAINING SERVICES; ANTREC; ASPIRATION TRAINING; ASPIRE SPORTING ACADEMY; AXIA SOLUTIONS; B-SKILL; BABINGTON BUSINESS COLLEGE; BACK 2 WORK COMPLETE TRAINING; BCTG; BEST PRACTICE TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT; BRIGHT DIRECTION TRAINING; BUILDING HEROES EDUCATION FOUNDATION; CAPITA; CEDARS HEALTH & BEAUTY CENTRES; CITRUS TRAINING; COMMUNICATORS TRAINING ASSOCIATES; COMMUNITY TRAINING PORTAL; CREATIVE PROCESS DIGITAL; D.T.K. BUSINESS SERVICES; DERBY BUSINESS COLLEGE; E-TRAINING; EAT THAT FROG; EDEN TRAINING SOLUTIONS; EDUCATION AND TRAINING SKILLS; EVOLVE YOUR FUTURE; FAIRWAY TRAINING (HEALTHCARE; FAREHAM COLLEGE; FINCHALE TRAINING COLLEGE; FUNCTIONAL SKILLS; FUTURES ADVICE, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT; GATEWAY EDUCATION (LONDON; GENESIS TRAINING GROUP; GO TRAIN; GP STRATEGIES TRAINING; IMPACT FUTURES TRAINING; JBC SKILLS TRAINING; JFC TRAINING COLLEGE; JGA; JM EXCELLENCE IN TRAINING; KIWI EDUCATION; LEARNING CURVE GROUP; LOGISTICS SKILLS & CONSULTANCY; MAINSTREAM TRAINING; MI COMPUTSOLUTIONS; NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE ENGINEERING GROUP TRAINING ASSOCIATION; NORTHERN CARE TRAINING; NORTHERN REGENERATION; NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL; PERSONAL TRAINER; PLATO TRAINING (UK; PLUMPTON COLLEGE; PROFESSIONAL TRAINING SOLUTIONS; PROFOUND SERVICES; QUBE QUALIFICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT; RESOURCES (N E; SCCU; SCL EDUCATION & TRAINING; SEETEC BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY CENTRE; SKILLS EDGE TRAINING; SKILLS TO GROUP; SKILLS TRAINING; SOUTH WEST ASSOCIATION OF TRAINING PROVIDERS; SPECIALIST TRADE COURSES; STRIVE TRAINING (LONDON; TALENTED TRAINING; THE CHILD CARE COMPANY (OLD WINDSOR; THE CONSTRUCTION SKILLS PEOPLE; THE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER; THE FORWARD TRUST; THE NUMBER 4 GROUP; THE PORTLAND TRAINING; THE VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY SECTOR LEARNING AND SKILLS CONSORTIUM; THELIGHTBULB; THINK EMPLOYMENT; TOTAL TRAINING PROVISION; TRAIN 4; TRAIN TOGETHER; TRN (TRAIN; WALTHAM INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE; WORKPAYS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80400000 - Adult and other education services

## Release History

- 1 Sep 2021 at 10:31 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021579-2021
- 31 Aug 2021 at 11:12 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021434-2021
- 26 Aug 2021 at 10:59 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021133-2021
- 5 Feb 2021 at 18:13 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002412-2021

## Notice URLs

- https://education.app.jaggaer.com
- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education

## 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-h6vhtk-0290d3. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0290d3.json.