Scope
Reference
9967
Description
THIS IS AN INVITATION TO A MARKET ENGAGEMENT EVENT
Physical Education is a mandatory part of the school curriculum, and many schools also offer extracurricular physical activity and sporting opportunities. However, evidence shows that access to high-quality PE, school sport, and wider physical activities is not equitable. Too many children, particularly girls and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, are missing out on meaningful opportunities to participate, progress, and benefit from sport and physical activity, both in school and in their communities.
To address this, the Department for Education actively supported by the Department for Health and Social Care and Department for Culture Media and Sport is seeking to procure a national delivery partner to design, implement, and manage a PE and School Sport Partnerships Network across England. The aim is to establish a new local partnerships network to support schools to consistently deliver high-quality experiences in PE, sport, and physical activity.
The network will focus on three core areas:
A) Support reintegrating PE, Sport and physical activity into Core Curricular and Extracurricular Activities for All Pupils to access:
- Ensuring schools are supported to embed physical education, physical activity and sport into curricular and extracurricular programmes, fostering holistic development for every student.
- Focussing on strong school-community links to maintain activity levels beyond the core school day.
- Demonstrating co-design and collaboration with schools, communities, national governing bodies and parents.
- Emphasising equal and fair access for girls and disadvantaged pupils.
- Providing targeted support within a universal offer, including flexibility to meet evolving local needs.
B) Elevate the Quality and Standards of PE Experiences for All Pupils
- Enhance the quality and standards of physical education by emphasising the importance of early positive relationships with physical activity, through structured and engaging experiences that promote physical literacy principles from a young age.
- Emphasis on upskilling the school workforce, engaging volunteers, and ensuring diverse representation. Ensure children with SEND are central to the new model (including children with long-term health conditions or mental health conditions).
C) Expand Access to High-Quality PE, Sport, and Physical Activity Opportunities
- Increase the availability and accessibility of physical education, sports, and physical activity opportunities, ensuring every student has equal opportunity to participate and benefit from high-quality experiences.
- Include a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track engagement, impact, and long-term change, whilst avoiding overburdening schools.
A strategic national delivery partner will be awarded a contract up to £30m over a 3-year period to design, implement, and manage a national infrastructure which we are currently calling the PE and School Sport Partnerships Network which will focus on enhancing PE, physical activity and school sport across England. This national delivery partner through robust processes, governance and clear accountability will be responsible for the allocation, management and distribution of a significant multimillion budget which will be confirmed following Departmental funding processes. Funding will support targeted provision in local areas where it can have the greatest impact, particularly in increasing physical activity among the least active children.
Total value (estimated)
- £45,000,000 excluding VAT
- £54,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029
- Possible extension to 31 March 2030
- 4 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 75121000 - Administrative educational services
- 80490000 - Operation of an educational centre
- 72224000 - Project management consultancy services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Engagement
Engagement deadline
24 September 2025
Engagement process description
Purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
The Department for Education (DfE) is issuing this notice to initiate market consultation regarding a potential procurement opportunity for the development of a new PE and School Sport Partnership Network.
Objectives of the notice
1. Raise awareness of a potential future procurement opportunity and allow suppliers time to engage with the Department and each other to explore delivery options.
2. Inform the market that DfE will be conducting market consultation activities over the coming weeks to:
3. Gather insights into the supply market.
4. Explore potential delivery models and their associated benefits.
5. Identify risks and issues relevant to service mobilisation and contract.
Market Engagement Activities
DfE will host a virtual engagement event via Microsoft Teams, followed by optional 1:1 commercial-in-confidence meetings with interested suppliers.
Main Event:
Wednesday, 24th September
12:00 PM - 13:00 PM
Microsoft Teams - Joining instructions will be provided to all interested suppliers prior to the market engagment event.
1:1 Sessions:
These meetings will offer suppliers the opportunity to seek clarifications and highlight aspects of the procurement that are of particular interest.
How to Register
If you wish to attend the event, please register via DfE's e-procurement portal, Jaggaer, and send your contact details (name and email address) using the messaging function. Please also indicate whether you would like to attend a follow-up 1:1 session.
Once registered against the PE and School Sport Partnerships Network opportunity, you will be able to:
1. View messages posted by DfE.
2. Submit queries related to the market engagement and upcoming procurement.
Post-Engagement Communication
Following the consultation period, DfE intends to share a summary of the main session outcomes with all interested suppliers.
NOTE:
This PME does not signify the commencement of any procurement process and does not constitute any commitment by the Department for Education to progress with the procurement process.
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
11 November 2025
Procedure
Special regime
Light touch
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