Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Skills Development Scotland Ltd
Monteith House, 11 George Square
Glasgow
G2 1DY
UK
Telephone: +44 1412856000
E-mail: procurement@sds.co.uk
NUTS: UKM
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA12862
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Other: Non departmental public body
I.5) Main activity
Education
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Framework Agreement - Standards and Frameworks
Reference number: P26-001
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Skills Development Scotland has a requirement to procure a multi lot, multi supplier framework agreement for SDS and on behalf of the Devolved Governments (DGs) of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to provide development of Standards and Frameworks.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
3 600 000.00
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
National Occupational Standards (NOS) Pre Development Scoping
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 1: National Occupational Standards (NOS) Pre Development Scoping
There is a benefit in undertaking scoping activity in advance of any review or development of NOS to better identify and improve specificity of later NOS work to be commissioned
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 70
Price
/ Weighting:
30
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
2 extension periods of up to 12 months available
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
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
National Occupational Standards (NOS), NOS Review and Development for Pan Sector, Multi Sector, Sector-Specific and Job-Specific NOS, NOS Content Update and NOS Cleansing Activity
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 2: National Occupational Standards (NOS), NOS Review and Development for Pan Sector, Multi Sector, Sector-Specific and Job-Specific NOS, NOS Content Update and NOS Cleansing Activity
Pan Sector and Multi sector will cover development and reviews relevant to all or multiple sectors, with full/partial NOS suites with the number of units in scope to be identified using 3/4-digit SOC code.
While Sector-specific and job-specific NOS will cover NOS development and reviews relevant to multiple occupations or a singular occupation in one sector, with full/partial NOS suites with the number of units in scope to be identified using 4/6-digit SOC code.
NOS Content Update includes changes to wording and minor updates
NOS Cleansing is the review of existing NOS to identify out-of-date NOS and duplicate NOS for deletion
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 70
Price
/ Weighting:
30
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Two extensions periods of up to 12 months are available
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
Lot No: 3
II.2.1) Title
Welsh Translation for NOS
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 3: Welsh Translation for NOS
Translations of NOS into Welsh. Will include project management of contract, appointment of translator, submission for quality assurance, oversight of quality, publication and promotion.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 70
Price
/ Weighting:
30
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Two extensions of up to 12 months are available
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
Lot No: 4
II.2.1) Title
Scottish Qualification Products, Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) or alternative competency-based qualifications (CBQs)
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 4: Scottish Qualification Products, Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) or alternative competency-based qualifications (CBQs).
Review and development of the relevant qualifications in Scotland.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 70
Price
/ Weighting:
30
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Two extensions of up to 12 months are available
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
Lot No: 5
II.2.1) Title
Apprenticeship Frameworks in Northern Ireland
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 5: Apprenticeship Frameworks in Northern Ireland
Review of Apprenticeship Frameworks
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 70
Price
/ Weighting:
30
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Two extension periods of up to 12 months are available
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
Lot No: 6
II.2.1) Title
Technical Expertise
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80000000
73000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Specialist technical support in LMI analysis and triangulation, AI/NLP data analysis, Behaviours, Welsh NOS Quality Assurance and NOS technical writing.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 70
Price
/ Weighting:
30
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Two extension periods of up to 12 months are available
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
Open procedure
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.
Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement: 50
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
27/11/2026
Local time: 12:00
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
Tender must be valid until:
01/03/2027
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
27/11/2026
Local time: 12:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
VI.3) Additional information
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=846525.
The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.
Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
Community Benefits is being asked as an information only question
(SC Ref:846525)
Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=846525
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
The Sheriff Clerk's Office
1 Carlton Place
Glasgow
G5 9DA
UK
Telephone: +44 1414185248
E-mail: procurement@sds.co.uk
Internet address(es)
URL: https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/court-locations/glasgow-sheriff-court-and-justice-of-the-peace-court
VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Skills Development Scotland
Monteith House, First Floor, 11 George Square
Glasgow
G2 1DY
UK
Telephone: +44 1414291999
Internet address(es)
URL: https://skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
23/10/2026