Scope
Description
T Levels are an academic option for students aged 16-19, following the recommendation by the Independent Panel on Technical Education - the Sainsbury report. The Sainsbury report also recommended that a single body or consortium should deliver each qualification under an "exclusive license" that would be awarded for a fixed time period following open competition.
The procurement will be to select and appoint Awarding Organisations (AO) to be responsible for developing and delivering the Generation 2 Wave 3 T Level Qualification, under an exclusive licensing approach.
The expected scope of the role of the AOs is they would be responsible for;
- designing the content of the qualification;
- upskilling providers (further education schools and colleges);
- providing of learning and teaching materials;
- updating content; and
- delivering qualification assessment services.
This notice is in respect of Generation 2 Wave 3 T Levels and will cover the following T Levels:
- Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing
- Engineering, Manufacturing, Process and Control
- Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing
- Management and Administration
- Accounting
TO NOTE: Potential Suppliers were required to submit a Tender for all three Engineering & Manufacturing TQs, therefore the three will be awarded to a single supplier.
All contracts will be public service concession contracts, governed by the Procurement Act 2023, as defined at Section 8 of the Act, to the extent that the same apply to services which such contract (or contracts) would relate.
This contract award notice is linked to a previous tender notice (reference ocds-h6vhtk-04eee2 Generation 2 Wave 3 T Levels - Find a Tender) published by The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education which has since moved across to the Department for Education.
As a result of this move, the previous notice does not link, therefore the procedure type currently listed is incorrect. To ensure accuracy and compliance with procurement regulations, the procedure type should be 'Competitive Flexible procedure'. Due to this, both Contract 3 and Contract 4 are listed incorrectly as 'below threshold' when they should be 'above threshold'.
Contract 1. Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing
Supplier
Contract value
- £4,371,093 excluding VAT
- £5,245,311.60 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Award decision date
4 December 2025
Earliest date the contract will be signed
12 January 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 31 January 2026 to 31 July 2034
- Possible extension to 31 July 2037
- 11 years, 6 months, 1 day
Description of possible extension:
This contract is a 1+1+1
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
Contract locations
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKI - London
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
Contract 2. Engineering, Manufacturing, Process and Control
Supplier
Contract value
- £4,347,592 excluding VAT
- £5,217,110.40 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Award decision date
4 December 2025
Earliest date the contract will be signed
12 January 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 31 January 2026 to 31 July 2034
- Possible extension to 31 July 2037
- 11 years, 6 months, 1 day
Description of possible extension:
This contract is a 1+1+1
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
Contract locations
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKI - London
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
Contract 3. Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing
Supplier
Contract value
- £5,244,053 excluding VAT
- £6,292,863.60 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Award decision date
4 December 2025
Earliest date the contract will be signed
12 January 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 31 January 2026 to 31 July 2034
- Possible extension to 31 July 2037
- 11 years, 6 months, 1 day
Description of possible extension:
This contract is a 1+1+1
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
Contract locations
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKI - London
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
Contract 4. Management and Administration
Supplier
Contract value
- £6,781,083 excluding VAT
- £8,137,299.60 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Award decision date
4 December 2025
Earliest date the contract will be signed
12 January 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 31 January 2026 to 31 July 2034
- Possible extension to 31 July 2037
- 11 years, 6 months, 1 day
Description of possible extension:
This contract is a 1+1+1
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
Contract locations
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKI - London
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
Contract 5. Accounting
Supplier
Contract value
- £3,141,615 excluding VAT
- £3,769,938 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Award decision date
4 December 2025
Earliest date the contract will be signed
12 January 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 31 January 2026 to 31 July 2034
- Possible extension to 31 July 2037
- 11 years, 6 months, 1 day
Description of possible extension:
This contract is a 1+1+1
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
Contract locations
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKI - London
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
Procedure
Procedure type
Below threshold - unknown
Special regime
- Concession
- Light touch
Supplier
PEARSON EDUCATION LIMITED
- Companies House: 00872828
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBHP-6465-TLVW
80 Strand
London
WC2R 0RL
United Kingdom
Email: pte.gov@pearson.com
Website: http://www.pearson.com
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing
Contract 2. Engineering, Manufacturing, Process and Control
Contract 3. Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing
Contract 4. Management and Administration
Contract 5. Accounting
Contracting authority
Department for Education
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDZG-3487-DPVD
Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
United Kingdom
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - central government