--- title: "Targeted Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (TCIAG)" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-064932" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-064932" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-064932.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-064932.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "CUMBERLAND COUNCIL" published: "2026-07-29" --- # Targeted Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (TCIAG) Buyer: CUMBERLAND COUNCIL Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-064932 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-064932) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-064932.json) ## Summary Cumberland Council has successfully concluded the procurement process for the Targeted Careers Information, Advice and Guidance Service. The award stage was completed on 29th July 2026, with the contract set to commence on 10th January 2027. The process, initiated as an open procedure, was titled "Targeted Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (TCIAG)" and focuses on providing essential career services across the 8 Community Panel areas of Cumberland. The awarded contract with INSPIRA (01) will initially run for three years, with an optional extension of up to 24 months, potentially extending up to 9th January 2032. The total contract value for the initial term and any extensions is capped at £2,500,000 excluding VAT. The procurement falls under the education and training services category, with all milestones achieved as scheduled throughout the planning, tender, and award stages. This tender offers substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in education and training services, particularly those experienced in offering guidance to young people aged 16-18 or those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The procurement sought competitively positioned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a significant emphasis on quality and social value. Businesses with expertise in tracking educational participation and facilitating employment services would find this contract beneficial to their growth. The open procedure allowed for fair competition, encouraging multiple submissions, and indicating a responsiveness to innovative approaches within the service delivery framework. ## Notice Cumberland Council intends to award a contract for Targeted Careers Information Advice and Guidance Service to commence on 10th January 2027. The Provider will deliver the following activities across the 8 Community Panel areas of Cumberland: Provision of independent careers advice, information and guidance for target beneficiary groups beginning in Year 9 and progressing to 18 (or 25 in the case of EHCPs/SEND). Delivery of the Council's statutory requirements relating to the September Guarantee of all 16-17 having a suitable place of learning/training/employment (including tracking and reporting to DfE). Identification of 16-17-year-olds Not in Education Employment or Training (NEET) Ensuring sufficient provision of education, employment and training. The council proposes to enter into the contract for an initial term of 3 years with the successful tenderer. There is one optional extension period available of up to 24 months. Use of the extension period is at the absolute discretion of the council. If the contract runs for the initial term only it will end on 9 January 2030. If the council implements the optional extension periods, the contract would end on 9 January 2032. The maximum contract value for the initial term, the optional extension period and any potential uplifts is PS2,500,000 excluding VAT. The maximum contract value for year one is PS500,000. If the council implements the extension or any uplifts, this will be confirmed in writing to the successful supplier in advance. ### Lot Information Lot 1 Renewal: If the contract runs for the initial term only it will end on 9 January 2030. The contract value for the initial term is PS1,500,000 excluding VAT. If the council implements the optional extension periods, the contract would end on 10 January 2032. The maximum contract value for the initial term, the optional extension period and any potential uplifts stated in the contract is PS2,500,000 excluding VAT. If the council implements an extension or uplift, this will be confirmed in writing to the successful supplier in advance. If the services to be provided are VAT exempt then VAT cannot be charged by the successful supplier. ### Planning Information Provider Engagement Session 8th May 2026 10am-12pm via MS teams To reserve a space on the provider engagement session please send an email to Joel Rasbash, Commissioning Manager using the following email address: Joel.Rasbash@cumbria.gov.uk A Microsoft Teams invite link will be sent to all providers who register an interest. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071668-2026 | | Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | SME | | All stages | Planning, Tender, Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 29 Jul 2026 | | Submission deadline | 16 Jun 2026 | | Future notice date | 11 May 2026 | | Award date | 19 Jul 2026 | | Contract period | 10 Jan 2027 - 9 Jan 2030 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £2,500,000 | | Lots value | £2,500,000 | | Awards value | £2,500,000 | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Complete | | Awards status | Pending | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | CUMBERLAND COUNCIL | | Locality | CARLISLE | | Post town | Carlisle | | Postcode | CA1 1RD | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD1 Cumbria | | ITL 3 | TLD13 Cumberland | | Local authority | Cumberland | | Electoral ward | Castle | | Westminster constituency | Carlisle | | Delivery location | TLD1 Cumbria | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | INSPIRA (01 | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 80 - Education and training services ### Codes - 80000000 - Education and training services ## Release History - 29 Jul 2026 at 11:40 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071668-2026 - 12 May 2026 at 15:42 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043620-2026 - 14 Apr 2026 at 12:07 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033744-2026 - 27 Feb 2026 at 16:26 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018132-2026 - 13 Feb 2026 at 16:16 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013598-2026 - 5 Feb 2026 at 15:22 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010593-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071668-2026 29th July 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043620-2026 12th May 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033744-2026 14th April 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018132-2026 27th February 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013598-2026 13th February 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010593-2026 5th February 2026 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://www.inspira.org.uk - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents - https://www.the-chest.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-064932. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-064932.json.