Scope
Reference
project_10123
Description
This Direct Award is to King's College London for the delivery of the King's College London Post Graduate Award for the 2025 Government Policy Fast Stream cohort with teaching of the first module beginning in March. Designed with the UK Civil Service the KCL Post Graduate Award is designed for Government Policy Fast Streamers to support their development across the policy profession standards. This offer has been designed to complement the fast stream programme.
This direct award aims to provide learners continuity of service and provision, ensuring that there is no break in our ability to deliver accredited learning to fast streamers whilst we identify a longer-term procurement strategy and the Learning Framework 2.0 is established. If this Direct Award were not to proceed, we would have a gap in learning provision for this cohort, as KCL are the only supplier available to provide this programme in this timeframe.
Contract 1. Post Graduate Award in Policy
Supplier
Contract value
- £731,170 excluding VAT
- £731,170 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
- Possible extension to 31 May 2029
- 3 years, 7 months, 22 days
Description of possible extension:
Optional extension if an additional cohort needs to be onboarded to this contract if frameworks are unavailable
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
King's College London is the only provider able to deliver the PGA cohort starting enrolment in October and delivery in March 2026. Onboarding a new supplier in time is not feasible due to development and approval timelines. Their estimated savings are £140,000 based on current learner numbers. The existing framework is expiring, and the replacement is not yet ready, with no confirmed supplier. A direct award ensures continuity, allows time to test future requirements, and includes an optional extension to safeguard delivery of two cohorts if the new framework proves unsuitable.
Supplier
King's College London
- Companies House: RC000297
King's College London, Strand
London
WC2R 2LS
United Kingdom
Email: policy-institute@kcl.ac.uk
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. Post Graduate Award in Policy
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