Scope
Reference
DAC20178
Description
The intended contract is for the supply of official Prince2 e-vouchers to be redeemed for items such as Official Training Materials (OTM), exam vouchers and one-year PeopleCert Plus membership subscriptions to allow for mock exams and re-takes to be accessed.
The contract will supply the HSC Leadership Centre, part of Business Services Organisation, as an Authorised Training Organisation (ATO) for Prince2 training for a period of two years and 6 months, up to a contract value of £550,000 excluding VAT.
Contract 1. Provision of PRINCE2® Examination and Certification Services
Supplier
Contract value
- £550,000 excluding VAT
- £660,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Date signed
16 September 2025
Contract dates
- 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2028
- Possible extension to 31 March 2029
- 3 years, 6 months
Description of possible extension:
One year extension allowed for in case this Contract supplier is unable to join a UK procurement framework during the initial contracted period.
Main procurement category
Services
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
The option to extend to learner vouchers for other programmes such as ITIL or Managing Successful Programmes may be made from this contract. It will also cover affiliation, trainer and audit fees required to maintain Authorised Training Organisation status with the Contract supplier.
CPV classifications
- 80510000 - Specialist training services
Contract locations
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Justification for not setting key performance indicators
Not applicable as Contract value is less than £5 million
Other information
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
- Single supplier - intellectual property or exclusive rights
- Single supplier - technical reasons
This direct award to PeopleCert International is justified under the Procurement Act 2023, Section 41(1)(b), which allows a contracting authority to award a public contract without advertising where:
"the contract can only be supplied by a particular supplier for technical reasons, or because of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights."
a) Exclusive Intellectual Property Rights
PeopleCert International is the exclusive owner of the intellectual property for PRINCE2®, following its acquisition of Axelos. This includes all courseware, examination content, certification frameworks, and trademark rights. No other provider may legally replicate or certify against PRINCE2® without direct authorisation from PeopleCert International.
b) Sole Awarding Body
PeopleCert International is the sole global awarding body authorised to deliver PRINCE2® certifications. While third-party training organisations may be accredited to deliver training, all examinations, marking, and certification are exclusively administered through PeopleCert International systems and under its control.
c) No Reasonable or Lawful Alternatives
Because of PeopleCert International 'sexclusive legal control over PRINCE2®, there are no other providers capable of lawfully delivering both the training and valid certification. Any attempt to procure this service from a non-approved source would result in unaccredited training and invalid certification.
Supplier
PeopleCert International Ltd.
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PQBL-4421-ZDNM
40 Themistocli Dervi str.
Nicosia, Cyprus
1066
Cyprus
Email: tenders@peoplecert.org
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Supported employment provider: No
Public service mutual: No
Contract 1. Provision of PRINCE2® Examination and Certification Services
Contracting authority
Business Services Organisation Procurement and Logistics Service
- NHS Organisation Data Service: PWNJ-1991-NGDW
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PCQH-8657-NGMT
2 Franklin Street
Belfast
BT2 8DQ
United Kingdom
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland