Accredited learning programmes across the policy profession

Procurement description

The Civil Service Policy Profession consists of around 38,500 civil servants making it the second largest profession in government. It has a presence across the regions and nations of the UK. The work of policy professionals has a profound impact on the lives of people across the country. Building the capability of policy makers will mean they are able to develop better policies that will deliver better outcomes for the public.

The Policy Profession Unit, which is part of the Department for Education but works on behalf of policy professionals across government, has responsibility for overseeing the development of the Policy Profession. This includes building the skills and capability of individual policy makers at different stages of their careers. We are seeking to partner with higher education institutions to develop and deliver, from September 2027, a range of accredited programmes at postgraduate level that build the skills and capabilities of UK civil servants in line with the Policy Profession Standards.

We are aiming to procure three separate programmes, including a full masters for Civil Servants who would be considered policy experts (aligning to Level 3 of the Policy Profession Standards), a modular programme of post-graduate courses for practitioners (aligning to Level 2 of the Policy Profession Standards), and a tailored post-graduate award for Fast Streamers on the Government Policy Fast Stream (aligned to Level 1 of the Policy Profession Standards).

Please note, this notice is not being used to signify the commencement of any competitive process and does not constitute any commitment by the Department for Education. The Department for Education will hold this contract, however the programmes must be accessible to all civil service departments, including Civil Service Fast Streamers on the Policy Fast Stream, who are employed by Cabinet Office.

Funding estimates included within this notice are based off historic student volumes and spending. Actual contract value will be determined by actual student volumes that will be funded by individual departments. The Department makes no commitment at this stage to the final funding envelope for contractual activity.

Main category

Services

Total value (estimated)

12500000 GBP Excluding VAT

12500000 GBP Including VAT

Contract dates (estimated)

01 September 2026, 00:00AM to 31 August 2032, 23:59PM

Department for Education

Is the total value above threshold?

Above threshold

CPV classifications

• 80300000 - Higher education services

Sustainability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)

Contract start date (estimated)

01 September 2026, 00:00AM

Contract end date (estimated)

31 August 2032, 23:59PM

Engagement process description

If you are interested in attending this market engagement please register via jaggier before the event at 15:00 on 18th February 2026.

Once registered, the supplier event area can be accessed by clicking "View Opportunities" on the main page.

By registering for this market engagement event, you acknowledge that the information shared through this market engagement is provided in confidence and must not be disclosed outside your organisation. Please ensure all attendees from your organisation are aware of and comply with this requirement.

Please register for Jaggaer using the URL link below: https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html

Following registration, you will receive a message via the Jaggaer portal asking you to confirm this acknowledgement. You must respond in confirmation to this message before an event invite will be issued.

Participants who have registered an expression of interest will receive a link to join the session via Microsoft Teams.

If you do not receive the invite at least 24hrs before the event, please also email Core.PROCUREMENT@education.gov.uk to ensure you receive joining instructions in time.

The event will help attendees to:

• Gain a better understanding of our requirements for the proposed accredited learning programmes and how they relate to the three levels of the Policy Profession Standards.

• Gain a better understanding of expected delivery timelines

• Provide feedback on the feasibility of the requirements, including any constraints or pressures that may affect them- You will have the opportunity to share this feedback through a Request for Information after the event. We are aiming to develop our requirements based on market feedback and ensure our requirement is clear at the time of tender to the market.

• Gain a better understanding of Cabinet Office requirements around Modern Slavery and the planned Social Value criteria

This preliminary market engagement notice is for information only and is not a call for competition. This is intended to inform the market of a potential procurement exercise to appoint suppliers to work with the Department on providing the outlined service.

The Department reserves the right not to enter a formal procurement process and not proceed with contract award. Accordingly, the Department will not be liable for any bid cost, expenditure, work, or effort incurred by any organisation in acting on the basis of this preliminary market engagement notice

All information included in this notice is indicative and subject to change and is neither exhaustive nor binding. The authority reserves the right at its absolute discretion to amend it at the time of issue of any further notices or at any other time.

Due date

18 February 2026, 23:59PM

Has the engagement period already ended?

No