Scope
Reference
T280022664
Description
This is a Preliminary Market Engagement Exercise and does not constitute a tendering opportunity or a call for competition. DVSA is seeking market insight from potential providers to inform the future delivery model for training new Driving Examiners. The purpose of this engagement is to shape a forthcoming procurement strategy that supports onboarding for c. 400 new entrants per year while ensuring the continued delivery of high standards in safety, consistency, and professionalism.
DVSA is initiating this market engagement to explore external delivery options for a comprehensive 7-week training programme for Driving Examiners. The programme is expected to be delivered through a blended learning model incorporating in-car, classroom, online, and virtual formats. This engagement seeks to identify innovative, scalable, and cost-effective solutions that can support DVSA's strategic objective of increasing examiner capacity while maintaining operational excellence.
The training programme is designed to:
• Equip examiners with advanced driving techniques
• Ensure consistent application of test control procedures
• Strengthen fault assessment and decision-making capabilities
• Promote high standards of customer service and professionalism
• Achieve our goal of high standards of road safety behaviour
Training Programme Overview
Week 1 - Infield Week
• Welcome, safety briefings, admin setup
• Eyesight checks, customer service fundamentals
• Introduction to theory test, sat-nav SOP, route learning
• Shadowing live driving tests
• Completion of mandatory Civil Service Learning modules
Week 2 - Virtual Training
• Online sessions covering examiner responsibilities and DVSA standards
• Deep dive into the DVSA Essential Skills manual
• Shadowing live tests and virtual coffee morning with DVSA CEO
Week 3 - Control Training (Part 1)
• Practice test delivery, standard wordings, and safety checks
• Use of Digital and Paper Test Reports (DTR/PTR)
• Online modules: Speaking Challenge, Emergency Stop
Week 4 - Control Training (Part 2)
• Full test delivery from waiting room to conclusion
• Route knowledge, feedback delivery, and customer service
• Online modules: Debriefing Faults, Customer Service & Wordings
Week 5 - Assessment Training (Part 1)
• Fault identification and assessment
• Eyesight failure procedures and customer care
• Delivered in small groups at regional centres
Week 6 - Assessment Training (Part 2)
• Differentiating fault types (minor, serious, dangerous)
• Verbal and physical interventions, test terminations
Week 7 - Assessment & Consolidation
• Full test simulations with complex scenarios
• Final progress checks and readiness assessment
As part of our strategic market engagement, we are exploring the most effective approach to delivering a comprehensive training solution. We are particularly interested in understanding how specialist providers can contribute to different components of the training offer to deliver enhanced value, flexibility, and impact. We welcome insights and proposals that demonstrate how your expertise could support our objectives and form part of a broader, high-performing solution.
Please note this is a draft outline of the requirement and will be subject to amendment prior to any potential procurement exercise. The contract start date is an estimate and may be amended prior to any potential procurement exercise.
Total value (estimated)
- £5,400,000 excluding VAT
- £6,480,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2029
- Possible extension to 31 May 2030
- 4 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80500000 - Training services
- 80510000 - Specialist training services
- 80530000 - Vocational training services
- 80531000 - Industrial and technical training services
- 80531200 - Technical training services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Engagement
Engagement deadline
31 December 2025
Engagement process description
Key Dates
Initial Engagement Event: Monday 10th November 2025
Request for Information (RFI): To be provided on Wednesday 12th November 2025 following the initial engagement event. Suppliers will need to respond to the RFI ahead of the 1:1 engagement events.
1:1 Engagement Events during week commencing 24th November : Exact date and time to be agreed with suppliers
Initial Engagement Event
The purpose of this market engagement event is to gage interest and understand the markets potential for any future opportunity, which is subject to both internal and external approvals.
The market engagement event will follow this agenda:
• Overview of the requirement from DVSA
• Brief the market on our potential future opportunity
• Set our topics we want to explore at future engagement events
• Questions from suppliers
How to Attend
The initial market engagement event will be taking place at 10am on Monday 10th November 2025 via Microsoft Teams.
If you wish to attend the initial market engagement event, please confirm your attendance and the email addresses of those attending (a maximum of 2 per supplier), by 16:00hrs on Thursday 6th November 2025.
Request For Information (RFI)
The RFI Questionnaire will be available to download on DfT's Jaggaer eSourcing platform on Wednesday 12th November 2025 after the initial market engagement event.
It is recommended you attend the initial market engagement event to fully understand the requirements before completing and submitting the RFI Questionnaire.
The deadline to submit the RFI Questionnaire is Wednesday 19th November. Please submit your responses via DfT's eSourcing Portal, Jaggaer.
1:1 Engagement Event
Following the initial market engagement event and supplier responses to the RFI Questionnaire, DVSA will be offering interested suppliers to attend 1:1 engagement event to look further into topics identified within the initial engagement event, discuss your response to the RFI Questionnaire and obtain further feedback from the market. There will also be the opportunity to discuss directly with the subject matter experts within DVSA on particular areas of interest.
This engagement will help DVSA shape any potential future requirement. These 1:1 events are likely to be carried out week commencing 24th November2025.
Please note that to ensure transparency across all suppliers, a single structure for the sessions will be created and followed for all suppliers, and any new information will be shared openly.
How to attend
These sessions will be organised with the suppliers directly.
To access the Market Engagement Instructions, and subsequent RFI Questionnaire, and respond, you will need to be registered as a supplier on Jaggaer.
This is the link to access DfT's Jaggaer eSourcing Portal:
The opportunity is listed as a PQQ in Jaggaer, please search for the opportunity 'Driver Training'
If you have any technical issues registering, contact Jaggaer's helpdesk:
0800 069 8630
Note that you will require a DUNS number (Dun and Bradstreet) to register.
If you do not know your number, search for it via the following link:
https://www.dnb.co.uk/duns-number/lookup.html
If a DUNS number is not found, follow the guidance on how to acquire one.
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
2 February 2026
Contracting authority
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PTMM-2614-YJDV
Berkeley House, Croydon Street
Bristol
BS5 0DA
United Kingdom
Region: UKK11 - Bristol, City of
Organisation type: Public authority - central government