Planning

Theory Test Services

  • Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-011545

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-04efa6

Published 20 March 2025, 12:39pm

This version 27 March 2025, 12:58pm

Last edited 4 April 2025, 10:29am

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Scope

Reference

T280022751

Description

The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), an executive agency of the Department for Transport (DfT), will be completing some Early Market Engagement (EME) for the Theory Test Services reprocurement. 

The UK Theory Test is a statutory service owned by the DVSA that is the prerequisite in the driving learner journey to taking the practical test. The Test is made up of two test elements, the Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQ) and Hazard Perception Test (HPT). It is the largest e-assessment in the UK, undertaking at present approximately 3.6 million tests per annum.

The service contains 16 different types of Theory Test, including: Car, Motorcycle, Large Goods Vehicles, Passenger Carrying Vehicles, Certificate of Professional Competence, Approved Driving Instructor (ADI), Enhance Rider Scheme, Examiner Car. Encompassed further within this are the additional testing types within the Northern Ireland Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) service, which are Taxi, ADI and Approved Motorcycle Instructor tests.

Total value (estimated)

  • £300,000,000 excluding VAT
  • £300,000,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 5 September 2028 to 4 September 2033
  • Possible extension to 3 September 2034
  • 5 years, 11 months, 29 days

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 80420000 - E-learning services
  • 80490000 - Operation of an educational centre
  • 72260000 - Software-related services
  • 72265000 - Software configuration services
  • 48517000 - IT software package
  • 79342300 - Customer services
  • 79710000 - Security services
  • 72820000 - Computer testing services

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Engagement

Engagement deadline

5 April 2025

Engagement process description

Key Dates:

Engagement Event 1: 26/03/2025

Engagement Event 2: 02/04/2025

Engagement Event 3: To be agreed with suppliers/ Mid to late April

Engagement Event 1: Online - Weds 26th March 2025

Location: MS Teams

The purpose of this market engagement event is to gain traction and interest in a potential future opportunity, which is subject to both internal and external approvals. We will also explain Theory Test future strategy, build upon our early assumptions with experts from the market and understand what would benefit our future engagement events. The event will be supplemented with a Supplier Questionnaire, that will be made available following the event.

Following the market engagement event, DVSA will be working through the required governance and approvals process through the use of the Cabinet Office 5 case model, currently building towards our Strategic Outline Business Case.

How to Attend 

Please note this event has now passed.

A recording of the event and the slide deck can be found on Department for Transport's portal here:

https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/go/467321710195D762A51D

To give feedback on the webinar, and to input into Engagement Event 2 (please see below) please use the link below:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=J7hVpE8kl0y1tM5dE7TQDMoFRGa_BLpIrlIdE5OjdzhUNEMzR0dDR1pRMUxONDhWQk5PVzk4UkVETS4u

Engagement Event 2: In person - Weds April 2nd 2025

Location: Nottingham (Venue TBC)

Within this event DVSA will look further into the problem statements identified within the webinar, and look to discuss the feedback from the market in response to the statements. There will also be the opportunity to discuss directly with the subject matter experts within DVSA on particular areas of interest. It is likely that the morning session will be focused on the Test Centre Network (property, staffing, hardware, invigilation) and the afternoon session on the Test Assessment Platform (software, e-assessment platform)

How to Attend 

To secure a place at the event please contact commercial.theory.test@dvsa.gov.uk for the attention of Matt Andrew, confirming the names and contact details of those attending (a maximum of 2 per organisation) by 4pm on Thursday 27th March.

Engagement Event 3: Supplier 1-1

Location: Nottingham (Venue TBC)

For suppliers who are particularly interested in either suite of contracts, there will be opportunities for one-to-one meetings with DVSA to discuss areas of interest in greater detail. Please note that to ensure transparency across all suppliers, a single structure for the sessions will be created and followed for all suppliers, and any new information shared with suppliers will be shared openly.

How to attend

These sessions will be organised with the suppliers directly.


Participation

Particular suitability

  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
  • Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)

Contracting authority

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PTMM-2614-YJDV

Berkeley House, Croydon Street

Bristol

BS5 0DA

United Kingdom

Region: UKK11 - Bristol, City of

Organisation type: Public authority - central government