Scope
Reference
EDC-ASF-25-26
Description
2 Organisations to deliver Adult Education Courses to people aged 19 years and over who live in the North East Combined Authority area. Based on an 80/20 split the contract value will be a maximum of £450,000 and will be at the discretion of the college to determine the split between suppliers.
Provision is expected to be part time and will be linked to the North East Combined Authority Strategic Aims for each area in sector areas 4 Engineering and 5 Construction which moves adults either directly into jobs or closer to the employment market.
Positive progression will be into employment, further learning or improved prospects.
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 averagesHigh levels of positive progression into employmentHistory of achieving contracts in the last two yearsThe 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 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 averagesHigh levels of positive progression into employmentHistory of achieving contracts in the last two yearsThe 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.
Contract 1. Adult Skills Fund Course Delivery (1)
Lots
Lot 1. Adult Skills Fund Course Delivery
Supplier
Contract value
- £250,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Award decision date
3 September 2025
Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers
4 September 2025
Standstill period
- End: 16 September 2025
- 8 working days
Earliest date the contract will be signed
19 September 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 22 September 2025 to 31 July 2026
- 10 months, 10 days
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
Contract locations
- UKC - North East (England)
Contract 2. Adult Skills Fund Course Delivery (2)
Lots
Lot 2. Adult Skills Fund Course Delivery (2)
Supplier
Contract value
- £250,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Award decision date
3 September 2025
Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers
4 September 2025
Standstill period
- End: 16 September 2025
- 8 working days
Earliest date the contract will be signed
19 September 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 22 September 2025 to 31 July 2026
- 10 months, 10 days
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
Contract locations
- UKC - North East (England)
Information about tenders
Lot 1. Adult Skills Fund Course Delivery
- 9 tenders received
- 9 tenders assessed in the final stage:
- 9 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- 0 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
- 1 supplier awarded contracts
- 8 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)
Lot 2. Adult Skills Fund Course Delivery (2)
- 9 tenders received
- 9 tenders assessed in the final stage:
- 9 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- 0 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
- 1 supplier awarded contracts
- 8 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Suppliers
LEARNING CURVE GROUP LIMITED
- Companies House: 05233487
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PMCY-9543-YJZV
Learning Curve Group, 1-10 Dunelm Rise
Spennymoor
DL16 6FS
United Kingdom
Region: UKC14 - Durham CC
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Supported employment provider: No
Public service mutual: No
Contract 2. Adult Skills Fund Course Delivery (2)
STAFF POWER TRAINING LIMITED
- Companies House: 12033942
Mackies Corner Chambers
Sunderland
SR1 1TX
United Kingdom
Email: lee@staffpowergroup.com
Website: http://www.staffpowergroup.com
Region: UKC23 - Sunderland
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Supported employment provider: No
Public service mutual: No
Contract 1. Adult Skills Fund Course Delivery (1)
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