Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Kent County Council
County Hall
Maidstone
ME141XQ
UK
Contact person: Edward Dews
E-mail: edward.dews@kent.gov.uk
NUTS: UKJ4
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.kent.gov.uk/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
Other: Local Authority
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Kent County Council (KCC) Skills Programme DPS - SC240120
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Community Learning and Skills (CLS) is Kent County Council's (KCC) internally commissioned department responsible for delivering education and training to adults and young people over 16. CLS manages the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Adult Skills Fund (ASF), Greater London Authority (GLA) budget, and ESFA 'Study Programme' courses for young people aged 16-19, including those not in education, employment, or training (NEET). These initiatives support the goals and objectives of Framing Kent's Future.
In response to the Skills for Jobs White Paper and its consultation outcomes, from 1st August 2024, the Department for Education (DfE)/ESFA Adult Education Budget has been restructured to become the Adult Skills Fund. This change introduces new 'Learning Aims' for CLS's £6.7m of 'Tailored Learning Funding', covering a wide range of vocational and essential skills courses designed to support learners in various stages of their educational and career journeys.
The changes have included redefining partner organisations who CLS have previously worked with in a 'partnership delivery' relationship, as sub contractors ("By subcontracting we mean any delivery to a learner's programme of learning by a third party").
KCC CLS are seeking to offer a flexible opportunity of externally Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) provision for adults, to support both previously offered 'partnership' courses for niche provision such as for Deaf/deaf learners, and growth in vocational areas (those in Green in table above), that meet local labour market needs.
There is a recognised national shortage of staff with appropriate skills, experience and qualifications, especially to support delivery in some vocational areas, which is now a focus of ESFA funding. Outsourcing delivery to appropriate partners would offer an opportunity to deliver, particularly where less than a full time post is required, i.e. whilst growing delivery in a new vocational area.
This tender process is to allow Tenderers to bid to join a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) and sign a contract with the Authority such that they can then be allocated work as the need arises.
The Dynamic Purchasing System is split into two (2) Lots which reflect the category of learner in receipt of education services.
Lot 1
Lot 1 relates to Skills programmes to be delivered to Adult Skills Fund Learners. Adult Skills Fund Learners means learners who are eligible for funding pursuant to the Adult Skills Fund Rules. The Adult Skills Fund is the funding allocated to the Authority by the Education and Skills Funding Agency on behalf of the Department for Education for the provision of continuing learning programmes for adults.
Lot 2
Lot 2 relates to study programmes to be delivered to Study Programmes Fund Learners.
Study Programme Fund Learners means learners who are eligible for funding pursuant to the Study Programme Fund Rules. The Study Programme Fund is the funding allocated to the Council by the Education and Skills Funding Agency on behalf of the Department for Education for the provision of 16 to 19 study programmes for individuals who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) in accordance with the Study Programme Fund Rules.
It is the Authority's intention to establish and begin awarding work for Lot 1 for Adult Skills Fund related study programmes from the commencement date of the contract.
As per Clause 3.3 of the DPS Admission Agreement, the Authority reserves the right to vary the contract to introduce and establish Lot 2 for 16-19 aged children who are NEET and other vulnerable young people. For the avoidance of doubt, no Tenderer will be admitted to Lot 2 and/or allocated work in relation to Lot 2 until such time that the Authority, in its absolute discretion, elects to establish Lot 2.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
3 000 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKJ4
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
As above (see Description)
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Restricted procedure
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
A dynamic purchasing system was set up
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2025/S 000-065744
Section V: Award of contract
Contract No: SC240120
Title: Round 2
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
11/03/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 24
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
All Dimension Limited
06646330
Bromley
UK
NUTS: UKI61
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Career Group Courses Limited TA Career Tree
10897129
North Harrow
UK
NUTS: UKI7
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
CXK
04399340
Ashford
UK
NUTS: UKJ4
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Get Skills Employment & Training Limited TA Get Set UK
07083531
London
UK
NUTS: UKI
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
London School of Science & Technology Limited
04640769
London
UK
NUTS: UKI
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Salt Training Limited
15145438
Herne Bay
UK
NUTS: UKJ4
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Social Enterprise Kent CIC
01937728
Margate
UK
NUTS: UKJ4
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
That Nail Place Limited TA TNB Skills Training
05515542
Folkestone
UK
NUTS: UKJ4
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Twin Training International Limited
03118260
London
UK
NUTS: UKI
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 1 500 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Kent County Council
Sessions House
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
30/03/2026