--- title: "Kent Test (11+) Examination Services" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06b227" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06b227" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06b227.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06b227.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "KENT COUNTY COUNCIL" published: "2026-06-19" --- # Kent Test (11+) Examination Services Buyer: KENT COUNTY COUNCIL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06b227 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06b227) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06b227.json) ## Summary Kent County Council is currently in the tender stage of a procurement process to select a provider for the Kent Test (11+) Examination Services, with the objective of identifying candidates in the top 25% of the ability range for secondary school admission. The procurement will be conducted via a competitive flexible procedure as per the Procurement Act 2023. Key procurement stages include the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) for initial selection, followed by assessments of quality and price. The process involves a down-select mechanism at the PSQ stage to ensure only capable providers proceed, with transparency throughout the draft Specification and ITT stages. The tender relates to primary education services within the UKJ4 region, focusing on locations around Maidstone, United Kingdom. Interested parties must note that the expression of interest deadline is on the 24th of June 2026, with enquiries closing on the 19th of June 2026, and an estimated contract period commencing on the 2nd of November 2026. This tender provides a valuable opportunity for businesses specialising in educational services, specifically those with expertise in developing and delivering examination materials and processes. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), are encouraged to compete, particularly those with capabilities in producing confidential test papers, marking software, and support for administrative operations. The contract represents an opportunity to enhance market presence, innovate in examination services provision, and create durable partnerships with a leading UK local authority. Prospective providers should be prepared to deliver high-quality, innovative solutions that meet the council's requirements, marking excellent potential for business growth through successful contract acquisition. The total estimated contract value is £835,000, with possibilities for extensions based on performance. ## Notice Kent County Council (The Council) wishes to appoint a suitable provider to deliver Kent wide 11+ Examination Services. The Council currently runs a process which aims, principally through testing, to identify candidates in the top 25% of the ability range as eligible for admission to Year 7 of any of the county's grammar schools at age 11. Entry to the process is voluntary, with approximately 67% of the local cohort opting to take part, plus a significant number of external candidates. Provision is currently made for approximately 19,000 candidates. Summary of key areas of service delivery (please reference Specification for full details) *Production of generic test familiarisation materials - for annual use by schools and parents *Bespoke confidential test papers and multiple-choice answer sheets (which can be read accurately and quickly by consumer grade scanners) *Administration instructions *Printable, bar-coded, double-sided scannable answer sheets with pupil data Software (and related) requirements to include: - *Marking software (alongside a small quantity of printed marking manuals) *Standardisation software and printable standardisation tables *Support for the Council's employees in the use of the materials and software through the cycle of the testing process. The opportunity is being tendered using competitive flexible procedure under Procurement Act 2023 and will follow a process that will include: - -Stage One - Conditions of Participation using the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) (Selection) -Stage Two - Tender Questionnaire Submissions (Quality) -Stage Three - Price Evaluation To minimise the risk of service failure and any consequent impact to secondary school placement allocations, a down select process is to be carried out at the PSQ stage. Providers that cannot demonstrate their ability to deliver the core competencies, will not be down selected to proceed to the tender stage. For transparency, and to make potential bidders aware of the nature, type and scope of the services, copies of draft Specification, ITT and Contract will be available for information at PSQ and Tender stages. Guidance to support Conditions of Participation, Award Criteria and submission requirements will be provided as part of the guidance materials published at PSQ and Tender stages. If you have any questions and/or queries please contact via the messaging function on the Kent Business Portal using the link to the event provided. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Kent Business Portal portal at: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/tenders/UK-Maidstone:-Primary-education-services./CT7XZS797H To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/respond/CT7XZS797H If you experience any technical difficulties from accessing the above url, then please contact the Delta eSourcing Helpdesk on call 0800 923 9236 or email helpdesk@delta-esourcing.com ### Lot Information Lot 1 Renewal: 2 x 1 year extension options, subject to requirements and performance. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057961-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 19 Jun 2026 | | Submission deadline | 4 Aug 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 2 Nov 2026 - 31 Oct 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £835,000 | | Lots value | £835,000 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## 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 | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 80 - Education and training services ### Codes - 80100000 - Primary education services ## Release History - 19 Jun 2026 at 10:23 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057961-2026 - 19 Jun 2026 at 09:36 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057912-2026 - 10 Jun 2026 at 14:58 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054875-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057961-2026 19th June 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057912-2026 19th June 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054875-2026 10th June 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/tenders/UK-Maidstone:-Primary-education-services./CT7XZS797H For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Kent Business Portal portal at: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/tenders/UK-Maidstone:-Primary-education-services./CT7XZS797H To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/respond/CT7XZS797H If you experience any technical difficulties from accessing the above url, then please contact the Delta eSourcing Helpdesk on call 0800 923 9236 or email helpdesk@delta-esourcing.com. ## Notice URLs - https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/ - https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/-2stage(restricted)process-stage1=PSQ(returndate24thJUNE2026),thoseshortlistedinvitedtostage2=Tender(estimatedpublicationdate8thJULY2026) - https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/respond/CT7XZS797H - 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-06b227. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06b227.json.