Skills Bootcamps

Procurement description

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) intends to procure an open framework for the delivery of Skills Bootcamps in the MCA region with a duration of 3-4 years.

The Skills Bootcamps will focus on various Subject Areas including (but not limited to):

• Agriculture, Horticulture & Animal Care;

• Arts, Media & Publishing;

• Business, Administration & Law;

• Construction, Planning & the Built Environment;

• Digital Technology;

• Education & Training;

• Engineering & Manufacturing Technologies;

• Health, Public Services & Care;

• Leisure, Travel & Tourism;

• Logistics & Transport;

• Preparation for Life & Work;

• Retail & Commercial Enterprise; and

• Science & Mathematics.

Main category

Services

Delivery regions

• UKK1 - Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
• UKK2 - Dorset and Somerset

Total value (estimated)

60000000 GBP Excluding VAT

72000000 GBP Including VAT

Contract dates (estimated)

01 January 2026, 00:00AM to 31 December 2028, 23:59PM

Extension end date (if all the extensions are used): 31 December 2029

Is a framework being established?

Yes

West of England Combined Authority

Is this procurement under a special regime?

Light touch

Is the total value above threshold?

Above threshold

CPV classifications

• 80300000 - Higher education services
• 80400000 - Adult and other education services
• 80500000 - Training services

Delivery regions

• UKK1 - Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
• UKK2 - Dorset and Somerset

Sustainability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)

Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)

Contract start date (estimated)

01 January 2026, 00:00AM

Contract end date (estimated)

31 December 2028, 23:59PM

Extension end date (estimated)

31 December 2029, 23:59PM

Can the contract be extended?

Yes

Engagement process description

A Request for Information (RFI) questionnaire was issued via the Central Digital Platform on 18 August 2025, with a closing date of 5 September 2025. Based on the initial RFI responses, the Authority now wishes to gather feedback on potential commercial approaches.

As a result, the Authority is issuing an additional RFI to gain deeper insights into the market and to determine the best commercial model.

The Authority is investigating a Prime Provider by sector lot approach, enabling sector-specific specialisation, competition, and risk diversification while maintaining accountability at the prime level.

As part of the Authority commitment to fairness, openness and transparency this RFI is issued solely for the purpose of conducting pre-market engagement with the following aims:

- To understand providers ability to act as a prime supplier

- How providers who do not wish to act as Primes could work in partnership with a Prime Supplier

- How providers intend to integrate SMEs and VCSEs into their delivery model.

- Provider views on risks, incentives, and accountability in relation to potential commercial approaches.

Providers are invited to complete the RFI form by October 3rd 2025:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=yMHJPgLkaEmP9KEN614Ek6rRaX1hwVNMmKy7EXIYz4dUNkJLRE5RTVIxOFJMUkJHRlY3OFdJMzVKRy4u

Providers are advised to review the briefing pack before responding to the RFI:

https://weca-atamis.my.salesforce-sites.com/ProSpend__CS_ContractPage?SearchType=Projects&uid=a1MWS000001kY9N2AU&searchStr=&sortStr=Recently+Published&page=1&filters=&County=

Please note that to view the briefing pack, Providers will need to register via Atamis. Based on responses from RFI, the Authority may engage with Providers in 1-2-1 discussions considering relevance to potential commercial models, technical capability and track record, and market representativeness.

The Authority will ensure all engagement is conducted transparently and fairly, consistent with the obligations of the Procurement Act 2023 and the Procurement Regulations 2024.

Due date

03 October 2025, 23:59PM

Has the engagement period already ended?

No