Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Kent County Council
County Hall
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
UK
Contact person: Mr Jordan Gurr
Telephone: +44 3000414141
E-mail: jordan.gurr@kent.gov.uk
NUTS: UKJ4
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.kent.gov.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local agency/office
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
Reference number: 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 for 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 of 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 is 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 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 (Not in Education, Employment or Training) 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.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
3 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Adult Skills Fund
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKJ4
Main site or place of performance:
Kent
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
As above
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
3 000 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
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 III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Competitive procedure with negotiation
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement with several operators.
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 000-004979
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
03/11/2025
Local time: 17:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published:
Annually
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Maidstone:-Education-and-training-services./KW5Q8J8U3T
To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/KW5Q8J8U3T
GO Reference: GO-20251015-PRO-32775793
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Kent County Council
County Hall
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
UK
Telephone: +44 3000414141
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
15/10/2025