---
title: "Kent County Council (KCC) Skills Programme DPS - SC240120"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04deca"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04deca"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04deca.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04deca.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "KENT COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2026-03-30"
---

# Kent County Council (KCC) Skills Programme DPS - SC240120

Buyer: KENT COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04deca

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## Summary

Kent County Council (KCC) is overseeing the Skills Programme Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) to facilitate the delivery of education and training services, with a focus on adults and young people over 16 years of age. Classified under the CPV code 80000000 for education and training services, this procurement is conducted via a restricted procedure and is currently at the award stage as of 30th March 2026. The procurement process includes two lots: Lot 1 for Adult Skills Fund Learners and Lot 2 for Study Programme Fund Learners, targeting individuals who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). The completion date for bidding was set on 17th March 2025.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses in the education and training sector, particularly those that cater to niche markets like services for Deaf/deaf learners or vocational areas aligned with local labour market needs. The DPS setup allows businesses to become subcontractors for KCC's programme delivery, thereby expanding their market presence through public funding. SME businesses, given their agility and specialised expertise, may particularly benefit by providing services in areas experiencing a national shortage of skilled professionals. The competitive procedure with negotiation offers a dynamic avenue for businesses to tailor their bidding strategies and secure contracts, thereby fostering growth and long-term sustainability.

## Notice

Community Learning and Skills (CLS) is Kent County Council's (KCC) internally commissioned department responsible for delivering education and training to adults and young people over 16. CLS manages the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Adult Skills Fund (ASF), Greater London Authority (GLA) budget, and ESFA 'Study Programme' courses for young people aged 16-19, including those not in education, employment, or training (NEET). These initiatives support the goals and objectives of Framing Kent's Future. In response to the Skills for Jobs White Paper and its consultation outcomes, from 1st August 2024, the Department for Education (DfE)/ESFA Adult Education Budget has been restructured to become the Adult Skills Fund. This change introduces new 'Learning Aims' for CLS's PS6.7m of 'Tailored Learning Funding', covering a wide range of vocational and essential skills courses designed to support learners in various stages of their educational and career journeys. The changes have included redefining partner organisations who CLS have previously worked with in a 'partnership delivery' relationship, as sub contractors ("By subcontracting we mean any delivery to a learner's programme of learning by a third party"). KCC CLS are seeking to offer a flexible opportunity of externally Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) provision for adults, to support both previously offered 'partnership' courses for niche provision such as for Deaf/deaf learners, and growth in vocational areas (those in Green in table above), that meet local labour market needs. There is a recognised national shortage of staff with appropriate skills, experience and qualifications, especially to support delivery in some vocational areas, which is now a focus of ESFA funding. Outsourcing delivery to appropriate partners would offer an opportunity to deliver, particularly where less than a full time post is required, i.e. whilst growing delivery in a new vocational area. This tender process is to allow Tenderers to bid to join a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) and sign a contract with the Authority such that they can then be allocated work as the need arises. The Dynamic Purchasing System is split into two (2) Lots which reflect the category of learner in receipt of education services. Lot 1 Lot 1 relates to Skills programmes to be delivered to Adult Skills Fund Learners. Adult Skills Fund Learners means learners who are eligible for funding pursuant to the Adult Skills Fund Rules. The Adult Skills Fund is the funding allocated to the Authority by the Education and Skills Funding Agency on behalf of the Department for Education for the provision of continuing learning programmes for adults. Lot 2 Lot 2 relates to study programmes to be delivered to Study Programmes Fund Learners. Study Programme Fund Learners means learners who are eligible for funding pursuant to the Study Programme Fund Rules. The Study Programme Fund is the funding allocated to the Council by the Education and Skills Funding Agency on behalf of the Department for Education for the provision of 16 to 19 study programmes for individuals who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) in accordance with the Study Programme Fund Rules. It is the Authority's intention to establish and begin awarding work for Lot 1 for Adult Skills Fund related study programmes from the commencement date of the contract. As per Clause 3.3 of the DPS Admission Agreement, the Authority reserves the right to vary the contract to introduce and establish Lot 2 for 16-19 aged children who are NEET and other vulnerable young people. For the avoidance of doubt, no Tenderer will be admitted to Lot 2 and/or allocated work in relation to Lot 2 until such time that the Authority, in its absolute discretion, elects to establish Lot 2.

### Lot Information

Adult Skills Fund

As above (see Description)

Renewal: The Dynamic Purchasing System will be in place for an initial period of 2 years with one optional extension of up to 12 months (dependent on funding).

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029074-2026 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Dynamic, Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Restricted procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large, SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 30 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 3 Nov 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 15 Oct 2025 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Annually |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £3,000,000 |
| Lots value | £3,000,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £1,500,000 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | KENT COUNTY COUNCIL |
| Locality | MAIDSTONE |
| Post town | Rochester |
| Postcode | ME14 1XQ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ4 Kent |
| ITL 3 | TLJ45 Mid Kent |
| Local authority | Maidstone |
| Electoral ward | Penenden Heath |
| Westminster constituency | Maidstone and Malling |
| Delivery location | TLJ4 Kent |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 17 |
| Supplier names | ALL DIMENSION; CAREER GROUP COURSES LIMITED TA CAREER TREE; CXK; GET SKILLS EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING LIMITED TA GET SET; LONDON SCHOOL OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY; LONDON VESTA COLLEGE; PARENTA TRAINING; ROLE TRAINING; RUNWAY APPRENTICESHIPS LIMITED TRADING AS RUNWAY TRAINING; SALT TRAINING; SKILLS PROVIDER; SOCIAL ENTERPRISE KENT; THAT NAIL PLACE LIMITED TA TNB SKILLS TRAINING; THE BLACKTHORN TRUST; THE FORWARD TRUST; THE TRAINING PLACE OF EXCELLENCE; TWIN TRAINING INTERNATIONAL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80000000 - Education and training services

## Release History

- 30 Mar 2026 at 12:09 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029074-2026
- 22 Oct 2025 at 11:06 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067432-2025
- 15 Oct 2025 at 18:05 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065744-2025
- 13 Oct 2025 at 13:53 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064829-2025
- 13 Feb 2025 at 15:36 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004979-2025

## Notice URLs

- https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=dcee82ee-ab5f-ef11-812e-005056b64545
- https://www.kent.gov.uk/
- https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/

## 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-04deca. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04deca.json.