Scope
Description
Subject of the Contract:
Provision of regulated qualifications and assessments from specified awarding bodies.
Description of the Contract:
Dudley College intends to directly award contracts for the provision of qualifications and assessments to a defined list of approved exam boards. These include:
• Pearson Edexcel
• AQA
• City & Guilds
• NCFE
This decision is based on curriculum alignment, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. No competitive tendering procedure will be undertaken for this procurement.
Justification for Direct Award:
Under Section 41 and Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023, Dudley College is permitted to make a direct award where:
• The goods or services can only be supplied by a particular supplier due to technical or educational requirements.
• The contract value and nature do not warrant a competitive procedure.
• The decision supports continuity and consistency in curriculum delivery.
Estimated Contract Value:
£5-£6 million.
Contract Duration:
3 years with optional 1-year extension
Contract 1
Suppliers (4)
Contract value
- £6,000,000 excluding VAT
- £6,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
1 September 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2029
- 4 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
Contract locations
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKI - London
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
Other information
Description of risks to contract performance
Students unable to complete exams without contract which would impact College performance and student experience.
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Special regime
Light touch
Direct award justification
- Single supplier - technical reasons
- Extreme and unavoidable urgency
Under Section 41 and Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023, Dudley College is permitted to make a direct award where:
• The goods or services can only be supplied by a particular supplier due to technical or educational requirements.
• The contract value and nature do not warrant a competitive procedure.
• The decision supports continuity and consistency in curriculum delivery.
Suppliers
AQA
- Companies House: 03644723
Devas Street
Manchester
M15 6EX
United Kingdom
Region: UKD33 - Manchester
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1
CITY AND GUILDS OF LONDON INSTITUTE
- Companies House: RC000117
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PGZW-9515-MWNT
Giltspur House, 5-6 Giltspur Street
London
EC1A 9DE
United Kingdom
Email: Tracker.Inbox@cityandguilds.com
Website: http://www.cityandguilds.com
Region: UKI31 - Camden and City of London
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1
NCFE
- Companies House: 02896700
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PQMG-6939-YRZN
Q6 Quorum Park
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE12 8BT
United Kingdom
Email: bidding@ncfe.org.uk
Website: https://www.ncfe.org.uk/
Region: UKC22 - Tyneside
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1
PEARSON EDUCATION LIMITED
- Companies House: 00872828
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBHP-6465-TLVW
80 Strand
London
WC2R 0RL
United Kingdom
Email: pte.gov@pearson.com
Website: http://www.pearson.com
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1
Contracting authority
DUDLEY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNPV-7259-DHXD
Dudley College of Technology
DUDLEY
DY1 4AS
United Kingdom
Email: finance@dudleycol.ac.uk
Region: UKG36 - Dudley
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government