Scope
Reference
ASF-EDC-2526
Description
East Durham College is looking to secure a maximum of 2 organisations to deliver adult education courses to people aged 19 years and over who live in postcodes within the North East Combined Authority area.
The contract value will be based on an 80/20 split. The full contract value will be a maximum of £450,000 - Tenderers are invited to bid for the contract amount they can effectively deliver within the specified contract requirements, it will then be at the discretion of the College to determine the split of the contract award. This may be split as incremental awards throughout the academic year dependent on achievement of deliverables.
Adults must live in an address with a North East Combined Authority postcode, it is not the delivery location. Provision is expected to be part-time and must be linked to the North East Combined Authority Strategic Aims for each area. East Durham College is only seeking provision in subject sector areas 4 (Engineering) and 5 (Construction), which moves adults either directly into jobs or closer to the employment market. We will not accept large volumes of employability provision or distance learning. We would expect all the funded provision to be ASF funded and not Free Courses for Jobs.
The training must be delivered in full by the contracted training provider, i.e. only one level of sub-contracting is permitted, no second level subcontracting is permitted. The quality of provision and subcontractor financial health will be paramount as the College will retain responsibility to the North East Combined Authority and OFSTED for programme quality. Financial health and inspection outcomes are mandatory elements of the assessment process which can lead to instant exclusion from the tender process. Where a credit rating shows an above average risk or an Ofsted outcome is less than Good, we will reject a tender unless there are exceptional circumstances given. Where these are given, the college will require a face to face meeting for further investigation of evidence to decide whether the tender can go forward for further review.
The estimated contract value reflects the funding value of learning to be delivered and will be subject to a management fee which will not exceed 20%.
Providers must have experience of delivering provision to meet local skills needs and be able to provide verified data in the following areas:
Achievement rates which are above national averages
High levels of positive progression into employment
History of achieving contracts in the last two years
The positive progression must be into employment, further learning or improved prospects. We are not looking to deliver generic employability programmes.
We will only look to contract with providers who have a history of delivering in the North East and they must have a permanent base in the North East.
We will not accept tenders from organisations based outside of the geographical area who intend to rent premises to undertake his delivery. Checks will be carried out to ascertain longevity of operation in the North East.
Total value (estimated)
- £450,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 8 September 2025 to 31 July 2026
- 10 months, 23 days
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
Contract locations
- UKC - North East (England)
Lot constraints
Maximum number of lots a supplier can bid for: 1
Maximum number of lots a supplier can be awarded: 1
Description of how multiple lots may be awarded:
Tenderers will be awarded a maximum contract value for their lot, this may be payable in stages dependant on deliverables and needs of the College - This will be agreed on award.
Lot 1. Adult Skills Fund Course Delivery
Description
East Durham College is looking to secure a maximum of 2 organisations to deliver adult education courses to people aged 19 years and over who live in postcodes within the North East Combined Authority area.
The contract value will be based on an 80/20 split. The full contract value will be a maximum of £450,000 - Tenderers are invited to bid for the contract amount they can effectively deliver within the specified contract requirements, it will then be at the discretion of the College to determine the split of the contract award. This may be split as incremental awards throughout the academic year dependent on achievement of deliverables.
Adults must live in an address with a North East Combined Authority postcode, it is not the delivery location. Provision is expected to be part-time and must be linked to the North East Combined Authority Strategic Aims for each area. East Durham College is only seeking provision in subject sector areas 4 (Engineering) and 5 (Construction), which moves adults either directly into jobs or closer to the employment market. We will not accept large volumes of employability provision or distance learning. We would expect all the funded provision to be ASF funded and not Free Courses for Jobs.
The training must be delivered in full by the contracted training provider, i.e. only one level of sub-contracting is permitted, no second level subcontracting is permitted. The quality of provision and subcontractor financial health will be paramount as the College will retain responsibility to the North East Combined Authority and OFSTED for programme quality. Financial health and inspection outcomes are mandatory elements of the assessment process which can lead to instant exclusion from the tender process. Where a credit rating shows an above average risk or an Ofsted outcome is less than Good, we will reject a tender unless there are exceptional circumstances given. Where these are given, the college will require a face to face meeting for further investigation of evidence to decide whether the tender can go forward for further review.
The estimated contract value reflects the funding value of learning to be delivered and will be subject to a management fee which will not exceed 20%.
Providers must have experience of delivering provision to meet local skills needs and be able to provide verified data in the following areas:
Achievement rates which are above national averages
High levels of positive progression into employment
History of achieving contracts in the last two years
The positive progression must be into employment, further learning or improved prospects. We are not looking to deliver generic employability programmes.
We will only look to contract with providers who have a history of delivering in the North East and they must have a permanent base in the North East.
We will not accept tenders from organisations based outside of the geographical area who intend to rent premises to undertake his delivery. Checks will be carried out to ascertain longevity of operation in the North East.
Lot value (estimated)
- £225,000 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2. Adult Skills Fund Course Delivery (2)
Description
East Durham College is looking to secure a maximum of 2 organisations to deliver adult education courses to people aged 19 years and over who live in postcodes within the North East Combined Authority area.
The contract value will be based on an 80/20 split. The full contract value will be a maximum of £450,000 - Tenderers are invited to bid for the contract amount they can effectively deliver within the specified contract requirements, it will then be at the discretion of the College to determine the split of the contract award. This may be split as incremental awards throughout the academic year dependent on achievement of deliverables.
Adults must live in an address with a North East Combined Authority postcode, it is not the delivery location. Provision is expected to be part-time and must be linked to the North East Combined Authority Strategic Aims for each area. East Durham College is only seeking provision in subject sector areas 4 (Engineering) and 5 (Construction), which moves adults either directly into jobs or closer to the employment market. We will not accept large volumes of employability provision or distance learning. We would expect all the funded provision to be ASF funded and not Free Courses for Jobs.
The training must be delivered in full by the contracted training provider, i.e. only one level of sub-contracting is permitted, no second level subcontracting is permitted. The quality of provision and subcontractor financial health will be paramount as the College will retain responsibility to the North East Combined Authority and OFSTED for programme quality. Financial health and inspection outcomes are mandatory elements of the assessment process which can lead to instant exclusion from the tender process. Where a credit rating shows an above average risk or an Ofsted outcome is less than Good, we will reject a tender unless there are exceptional circumstances given. Where these are given, the college will require a face to face meeting for further investigation of evidence to decide whether the tender can go forward for further review.
The estimated contract value reflects the funding value of learning to be delivered and will be subject to a management fee which will not exceed 20%.
Providers must have experience of delivering provision to meet local skills needs and be able to provide verified data in the following areas:
Achievement rates which are above national averages
High levels of positive progression into employment
History of achieving contracts in the last two years
The positive progression must be into employment, further learning or improved prospects. We are not looking to deliver generic employability programmes.
We will only look to contract with providers who have a history of delivering in the North East and they must have a permanent base in the North East.
We will not accept tenders from organisations based outside of the geographical area who intend to rent premises to undertake his delivery. Checks will be carried out to ascertain longevity of operation in the North East.
Lot value (estimated)
- £225,000 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Lot 1. Adult Skills Fund Course Delivery
Lot 2. Adult Skills Fund Course Delivery (2)
Please see Tender Details (Schedules)
Technical ability conditions of participation
Lot 1. Adult Skills Fund Course Delivery
Lot 2. Adult Skills Fund Course Delivery (2)
Please see Tender Details (Schedules)
Particular suitability
Lot 1. Adult Skills Fund Course Delivery
Lot 2. Adult Skills Fund Course Delivery (2)
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
11 August 2025, 12:00pm
Tender submission deadline
15 August 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
No
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
26 August 2025
Recurring procurement
Publication date of next tender notice (estimated): 1 July 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | As per tender schedules |
Quality | 85% |
| Added/Social Value | As per tender schedules |
Quality | 15% |
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Concession
Contracting authority
East Durham College
- UK Register of Learning Providers (UKPRN number): 10002111
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PXPM-1872-RCYW
Willerby Grove
Co Durham
SR8 2RN
United Kingdom
Region: UKC14 - Durham CC
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government