Scope
Reference
Project_10047
Description
This Direct Award is to the London School of Economics for the delivery of the 2026-28 Cohort of the Executive Masters in Public Policy, and the final month of delivery for the 25-27 cohort. Designed in conjunction with the UK Civil Service the Executive Masters in Public Policy is an expert level course designed to equip senior policy makers with the skills and knowledge required to become excellent policy makers.
This direct award aims to provide learners continuity of service and provision, ensuring that there is no break in our ability to deliver expert level accredited learning whilst we undertake a full procurement. This will cover the final month of delivery of the 25-27 cohort, which falls outside of our current contract, and the delivery of a full Cohort starting in September 2026-28. If this Direct Award were not to proceed, the full delivery of the 2025-27 cohort would be in jeopardy. Proceeding via a direct award is the favourable option in comparison to other available contracting vehicles, as it represents a significant saving on the per-student cost in comparison to the per-student cost for the 2025-27 cohort.
The Direct Award will also allow us to undertake a full procurement exercise for delivery of Accredited Learning from September 2027, allowing us to test the requirements of the policy profession against the wider higher education market.
Contract 1. Executive Masters in Public Policy: Direct Award
Supplier
Contract value
- £1,072,820 excluding VAT
- £1,072,820 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
10 October 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 10 October 2025 to 31 May 2028
- 2 years, 7 months, 22 days
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80300000 - Higher education services
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
Single supplier - technical reasons
London School of Economics (LSE) is the only supplier that could deliver the conclusion of the 2025-27 cohort without disruption to learners, due to the conclusion of the current frameworks. Due to recruitment timelines (beginning December 2025), it will be impossible to have a new supplier in place for the delivery of the 2026-28 cohort. A quotation from the supplier indicates an estimated saving of £55,137.50 across government when compared to the existing arrangements, based off student volumes for 2025-27. This extension would allow time for us to test requirements against the open market through a full procurement exercise.
Supplier
London School of Economics and Political Science
- Companies House: 00070527
The London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street
London
WC2A 2AE
United Kingdom
Email: execmpa@lse.ac.uk
Website: https://www.lse.ac.uk/
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. Executive Masters in Public Policy: Direct Award
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