Scope
Reference
ID 5827234
Description
The Department for the Economy (DfE) is seeking suppliers for the delivery of ApprenticeshipsNI 2025 (Apps25) programme. The Apps25 programme provides Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeship training provision for employed people who are contracted to work a minimum of 21 hours or more per week. The programme provides an opportunity to work towards completing an industry approved apprenticeship framework at Level 2 and/or Level 3. The core components of the framework include Employee Rights and Responsibilities, a relevant competence-based qualification, a knowledge-based qualification (or a combined qualification, as appropriate), and Essential Skills, if required. The Buyer will fund the cost of the off-the-job training up to the amounts specified in the pricing schedule for all eligible apprentices, and across all supported sectors at Levels 2 and 3. Suppliers should refer to the Specification Schedule for details.
Total value (estimated)
- £180,000,000 excluding VAT
- £216,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2029
- 4 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80210000 - Technical and vocational secondary education services
- 80211000 - Technical secondary education services
- 80212000 - Vocational secondary education services
- 80310000 - Youth education services
- 80330000 - Safety education services
- 80340000 - Special education services
- 80500000 - Training services
- 80520000 - Training facilities
- 80521000 - Training programme services
- 80530000 - Vocational training services
- 80531000 - Industrial and technical training services
- 80531100 - Industrial training services
- 80531200 - Technical training services
- 80532000 - Management training services
- 80533000 - Computer-user familiarisation and training services
- 80533100 - Computer training services
- 80533200 - Computer courses
- 80540000 - Environmental training services
- 80550000 - Safety training services
- 80560000 - Health and first-aid training services
- 80561000 - Health training services
- 80570000 - Personal development training services
Contract locations
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Participation
Technical ability conditions of participation
As per Tender documentation.
Submission
Enquiry deadline
13 June 2025, 3:00pm
Tender submission deadline
23 June 2025, 3:00pm
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
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
28 July 2025
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| AC1 - Compliance with Completion of the Bid Spreadsheet | As per Tender documentation. |
Quality |
| AC2 - Teaching and Learning | As per Tender documentation. |
Quality |
| AC3 - Staffing | As per Tender documentation. |
Quality |
| AC4 - Resource Access | As per Tender documentation. |
Quality |
| AC5 - Leadership and Management | As per Tender documentation. |
Quality |
| AC6 - Partnerships | As per Tender documentation. |
Quality |
| AC7 - Social Value | As per Tender documentation. |
Quality |
Weighting description
Qualitative Criteria 100%
Other information
Payment terms
For further details on invoicing procedures please see : https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/ar ticles/account-ni-good-invoicing-practice
Contract Value
The estimated value figure indicated in the Scope Section represents an overall estimated contract value. This value reflects the potential scale of the contract. Neither CPD nor the contracting Authority can provide any guarantee as to the level of business under this contract. The Contracting Authority does not bind itself to accept any tender. Suppliers remain responsible for all costs and expenses incurred by them or by any third party acting under instructions from the Supplier in connection with taking part in this procurement process regardless of whether such costs arise as a consequence, directly or indirectly of any amendments made to the procurement documents by the Contracting Authority at any time. No legally binding contract shall arise (and a Supplier shall have no legitimate expectation that a contract will be entered into) until such time as entry into the Contract has been confirmed by the Contracting Authority.
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Contracting authority
Department for the Economy
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PZXX-5679-MBYZ
39/49 Adelaide Street
BELFAST
BT2 8FD
United Kingdom
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland
Other organisation
These organisations are carrying out the procurement, or part of it, on behalf of the contracting authorities.
CPD - Supplies & Services Division
Summary of their role in this procurement: Construction and Procurement Delivery - Supplies and Services Division, is a Centre of Procurement Expertise and provides a central procurement function for central government in Northern Ireland
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVWG-8426-YWXV
303 Airport Road West
BELFAST
BT3 9ED
United Kingdom
Region: UKN06 - Belfast