---
title: "Adult Skills and Learning Framework: 2026 - 2034"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-068727"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-068727"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068727.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068727.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "West Sussex County Council"
published: "2026-04-21"
---

# Adult Skills and Learning Framework: 2026 - 2034

Buyer: West Sussex County Council  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-068727

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## Summary

West Sussex County Council is initiating the procurement process for an "Adult Skills and Learning Framework" spanning from 2026 to 2034. The contract aims to enhance adult education services across the UKJ2 region, including East Sussex and Brighton & Hove, focusing on adult skills development funded mainly through government grants. Noteworthy is the council's participation in the Pathway to Devolution pilot for academic year 2026/27, which promotes transitioning to devolved adult skills funds. The procurement is currently in the planning stage with a planned start date for service delivery set for 1st June 2026. Interested parties should note the key communication deadline of 31st May 2026 for future notice details.

This tender represents a substantial opportunity for businesses specialising in adult education services, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and ventures that support social value. Given the contract's light touch regime and regional focus, organisations with innovative methods in skills and learning can find a niche in this framework. By establishing a new Pan-Sussex Framework, West Sussex aims to facilitate a compliant market route, encouraging collaboration and comprehensive service delivery across partner authorities. This initiative promises significant business growth potential by aligning with government funding strategies and expanding access to adult learning resources.

## Notice

West Sussex County Council's Adult Learning Service, commissions and delivers adult skills and learning provision funded primarily through grant allocations from the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions, alongside other current and future government funding streams and initiatives. The Council currently operates an Adult Learning and Skills Framework, established in 2024, to support commissioning across a range of programmes including Adult Skills Fund provision, Free Courses for Jobs, Skills Bootcamps, Tailored Learning and 16 to 19 Study Programmes. West Sussex County Council has been invited to participate in the Government's Pathway to Devolution pilot for Academic Year 2026/27. The pilot is intended to support transition towards devolved Adult Skills Fund responsibilities and provides additional formula-funded allocation of monies for delivery to participating Local Authorities. East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council have also indicated their intention to participate in the pilot and have requested support from West Sussex Adult Learning Service to access a compliant route to market to support commissioning of provision. The existing West Sussex Framework does not permit access by partner authorities therefore authority is sought to commence a procurement process to establish a new Framework that could be utilised pan-Sussex for the commissioning of Adult Learning and Skills.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036006-2026 |
| Notice type | UK1 - Pipeline 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 | 21 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 31 May 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Jun 2026 - 31 May 2034 |
| 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 | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | West Sussex County Council |
| Locality | CHICHESTER |
| Postcode area | Portsmouth |
| Postcode | PO19 1RG |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex |
| ITL 3 | TLJ27 West Sussex (South West) |
| Local authority | Chichester |
| Electoral ward | Chichester Central |
| Westminster constituency | Chichester |
| Delivery location | TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80400000 - Adult and other education services

## Release History

- 21 Apr 2026 at 11:36 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036006-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036006-2026
  21st April 2026 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.westsussex.gov.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-068727. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068727.json.