ID 6169288 - DFE - SERC - PROVISION OF LEARNING SUPPORT STAFF 2026

Procurement reference

ID 6169288

Procurement description

South Eastern Regional College (SERC) is seeking to establish a framework agreement for the provision Learning Support Assistants (LSA). SERC will appoint a maximum of 5 Suppliers ranked 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 after formal tender evaluation, in line with the criteria stipulated within the Instructions to Tender Document. The Framework will commence from the Date of Award for an initial period of 2 years. There will be 2 optional extension periods of up to 12 months each.

Main category

Services

Delivery regions

• UKN - Northern Ireland

Total value (estimated, excluding VAT)

1200000 GBP to 1200000GBP

Contract dates (estimated)

27 July 2026, 00:00AM to 26 July 2028, 23:59PM

Extension end date (if all the extensions are used): 26 July 2030

Is a framework being established?

Yes

South Eastern Regional College (SERC)

Procedure type

Open procedure

Is this procurement under a special regime?

Light touch

Is the total value above threshold?

Above threshold

Trade agreements

Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

Percentage fee charged to suppliers

0.0000%

Maximum number of suppliers

5

Award method when using the framework

Without reopening competition

Framework operation description

SERC will appoint a maximum of 5 Suppliers ranked 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 after formal tender evaluation, in line with the criteria stipulated within the Instructions to Tender document.

When SERC wishes to commission work, a work package will be offered to the Supplier ranked 1. The Supplier ranked 2 will be offered a commission in the event of

(a) A conflict of interest for Supplier ranked 1 or

(b) Supplier ranked 1 not having the capacity to deliver a project within the required timeframe or

(c) Supplier ranked 1 having been suspended or removed from the framework.

(d) Supplier ranked 1 not have appropriately qualified LSAs available to meet the end-users individual needs

(e) Supplier ranked 1 proposed staff not having valid Enhanced AccessNI certificates

Supplier ranked 3 will be offered a commission in the event that either (a) and/or (b) and/or (c) and/or (d) and/or (e) applies to Suppliers ranked 1 and ranked 2 and so on.

*For the avoidance of doubt SERC reserve the right to decide if there is any potential conflict of interest from the information disclosed in the relevant circumstances and reserves the right to move to the next Supplier accordingly.

CPV classifications

• 80000000 - Education and training services
• 80200000 - Secondary education services
• 80210000 - Technical and vocational secondary education services
• 80212000 - Vocational secondary education services
• 80300000 - Higher education services
• 80340000 - Special education services
• 80500000 - Training services
• 80530000 - Vocational training services
• 80532000 - Management training services

Delivery regions

• UKN - Northern Ireland

Lot value (estimated)

1200000 GBP Excluding VAT

1440000 GBP Including VAT

Contract start date (estimated)

27 July 2026, 00:00AM

Contract end date (estimated)

26 July 2028, 23:59PM

Extension end date (estimated)

26 July 2030, 23:59PM

Can the contract be extended?

Yes

Description of extensions

There will be 2 optional extension periods of up to 12 months each.

Participation

Award criteria

Tender submission deadline

24 June 2026, 15:00PM

Enquiry deadline

15 June 2026, 15:00PM

Date of award of contract

10 July 2026, 23:59PM

Submission address and any special instructions

Tenders must be submitted electronically via the relevant Call for Tender (CfT) opportunity on eTendersNI, website details immediately below.Paper submissions will not be accepted or considered and will be rejected by the Contracting Authority / Buyer.The tender documents are available with unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: URL https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps

May tenders be submitted electronically?

Yes

Languages that may be used for submission

• English