Procurement description
The Department for Education (DfE) intends to procure a Supplier to deliver the T Level Industry Placement Support Services contract.
The Supplier will deliver a comprehensive support service that strengthens employer and provider capability to implement high-quality T Level industry placements. The service must achieve the specified outcomes across the five work strands set out below, while allowing flexibility for innovative approaches. Delivery should be responsive to emerging needs, lessons learned, and changes in policy or demand. The Department expects the Supplier to propose creative, evidence-based solutions that meet the objectives of the specification, ensuring value for money and sustainable impact.
This planned procurement follows earlier market engagement activity, during which the DfE outlined the evolving strategic direction for T Level Industry Placement Support Services. The contracted service will focus on:
-Enhance employer and provider awareness of T Level Industry Placements and encourage greater use of the digital service.
-Strengthen provider capability and confidence to embed and scale high‑quality industry placement delivery.
-Build employer capability and readiness to deliver meaningful placements at scale.
-Foster sustainable collaboration across employers, providers and wider partners within the T Level ecosystem.
-Generate actionable intelligence and insights to inform ongoing policy, strategy, and delivery decisions.
The contract is expected to commence on 1 August 2026, allowing for a one‑month mobilisation period prior to the start of live delivery from September 2026.
Upcoming “How to Bid” Webinar - To support potential suppliers, the DfE will host an online “How to Bid” webinar on Wednesday 1 April 2026 at 2pm, providing an overview of the procurement, key requirements, and the bidding process.
Webinar link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/c5ff7c98-baec-474f-870e-65a2fc6303f0@fad277c9-c60a-4da1-b5f3-b3b8b34a82f9
The DfE is keen to maximise opportunities to participate in procurement for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs). Consideration will also be given to consortia and collaborative bids from all forms of organisations.