--- title: "Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for the procurement of Adult Skills Fund sub-contractors for DurhamLearn" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-060ed4" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-060ed4" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060ed4.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060ed4.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL" published: "2026-01-26" --- # Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for the procurement of Adult Skills Fund sub-contractors for DurhamLearn Buyer: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-060ed4 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-060ed4) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060ed4.json) ## Summary Durham County Council is conducting a preliminary market engagement for the procurement of Adult Skills Fund sub-contractors under the title "Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for the procurement of Adult Skills Fund sub-contractors for DurhamLearn". Categorised under education and training services, this engagement is taking place in the North East Combined Authority region of the UK. The process is currently in the planning stage, with a milestone set for potential suppliers to submit a questionnaire by 27th February 2026. The procurement process is a light-touch and service-focused initiative, indicating an open approach for gathering insights from the market to structure future procurement effectively. This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses involved in education and training services, particularly those focused on non-accredited programmes, accredited qualifications, and short employer-led courses. Suitable for SMEs and VCSEs, this opportunity aligns with DurhamLearn’s objectives to invest in skills development, enhance employment accessibility, and bridge the digital divide. Engaging in this market engagement process can provide businesses with the chance to shape the procurement and potentially secure a partnership with the council, aiding in regional growth and enhancing their offerings within the local community. ## Notice he Council are inviting suppliers to participate in preliminary engagement to gain insight from the market with the purpose of making any potential future exercise, well framed, feasible, focused and of likely interest to the market. This preliminary market engagement questionnaire is to gauge the scope of interest from potential providers, based in the North East Combined Authority region. DurhamLearn, supporting the NECA Local Growth Plan, aims to invest in skills, improve access to employment and reduce the digital divide. "By unlocking the potential of our people through increased skills, better and more employment, and improved health outcomes, we can increase productivity and help drive the UK's Growth Mission." DurhamLearn will focus on: * A range of non-accredited programmes to help those furthest from the labour market * Accredited qualifications * Short intensive employer led courses, allowing skills specific training into work The questionnaire focuses on the following key areas. * developing the authority's requirements and approach to the procurement * identifying providers that may be able to supply the services required. The benefits to your organisation in participating in this process include: * the chance to assess whether the opportunity will be suitable and of interest to you * the chance to attract new training organisations There is no commercial advantage or disadvantage to your organisation being involved in this exercise. ### Planning Information Preliminary Market Engagement Questionnaire can be accessed, free of charge ,for completion and submission at www.open.org-uk using reference OPEN2026148 ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006766-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 26 Jan 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 27 Feb 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Jul 2026 - 31 Jul 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL | | Locality | DURHAM | | Post town | Durham | | Postcode | DH1 5WB | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear | | ITL 3 | TLC41 Durham | | Local authority | County Durham | | Electoral ward | Framwellgate and Newton Hall | | Westminster constituency | City of Durham | | Delivery location | TLC14 Durham | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 80 - Education and training services ### Codes - 80000000 - Education and training services ## Release History - 26 Jan 2026 at 15:32 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006766-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006766-2026 26th January 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://www.durham.gov.uk/ - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-060ed4. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060ed4.json.