Scope
Description
The Department for Education (DfE) is hosting a virtual early market engagement event with potential suppliers to explore the overall training and professional development needs of the FE sector, including future delivery options for supporting T Level providers and employers.
We are exploring options for:
- Professional Development to support the Further Education workforce, including specific support for the T Level workforce and the wider technical education landscape
- Provider and employer support for the implementation and growth of T Levels and other reformed technical qualifications, including:
* operational delivery support for T Level provider staff and senior leaders to implement T Levels
* direct support for providers in securing and overseeing the delivery of industry placements
* direct support for employers to host industry placements for the first time and expand their capacity to deliver high quality opportunities at scale.
In this context, providers are any school, college or other institution who are already delivering T Levels or looking to deliver in the future.
This engagement exercise will focus on the design and development of a new model for delivering T Level services from September 2026 onwards, in the context of the wider FE professional development landscape. It will provide an opportunity for the DfE to share its early thinking on how we might best support providers and employers through future service contracts and seek feedback from the supplier market to help shape our approach.
Suppliers with a broad range of perspectives and expertise are welcome to attend the event; we are particularly keen to hear from suppliers with the capability and capacity to deliver these services across England.
We look forward to you attending the event and hearing your views.
Total value (estimated)
- £15,000,000 excluding VAT
- £18,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 June 2026 to 31 August 2028
- Possible extension to 31 August 2029
- 3 years, 3 months
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
Contract locations
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
Engagement
Engagement deadline
12 August 2025
Engagement process description
Market Engagement Event Invitation
Date: Tuesday 12th August 2025
Time: 10:00 - 11:30am
Location: Microsoft Teams Online Webinar
How to Register
To register your interest and secure a place at the event, please use this link
Next Steps
Following the event, participants will be invited to complete a survey to provide structured feedback on the proposed delivery and commercial models.
Important: Please note that this is not a call for competition and does not commit the Department to procuring, or procuring services in any specific way. Any future opportunities will be subject to budgetary decisions and the availability of funding.
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
13 January 2026
Contracting authority
Department for Education
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDZG-3487-DPVD
Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street
London
SW1P3BT
United Kingdom
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - central government