Published date: 1 October 2025

Awarded contract - This means that the contract has been awarded to a supplier.


Closing: 30 April 2025, 12pm

Contract summary

Industry

  • Education and training services - 80000000

Location of contract

North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West

Value of contract

£0

Procurement reference

tender_470443/1520598

Published date

1 October 2025

Closing date

30 April 2025

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

1 September 2025

Contract end date

31 August 2029

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (above threshold)

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

This procedure can be used for procurements above the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

Following the completion of the procurement process, the Department for Education has awarded framework contracts to three suppliers under the Item Writing Service Framework:

ACER International (UK)
NFER
Pearson Education Limited

The initial term of the framework is three years, with an option to extend for an additional 12 months. The maximum value of the framework, including the extension period, is £2,500,000. The value of each call off will vary.

Future work will be awarded through call-offs, which will be conducted via further competition. All three framework suppliers will be invited to submit bids for each opportunity.
The framework procurement was carried out in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015, and all subsequent call-off contracts will also fall under PCR 2015.

Award information

Awarded date

2 September 2025

Contract start date

1 September 2025

Contract end date

31 August 2029

Total value of contract

£0

This contract was awarded to 3 suppliers.

Pearson Education Limited

Address

80 Strand, London, England, WC2R 0RL

Reference

No reference - other

Supplier is SME?

No

Supplier is VCSE?

No

National Foundation for Educational Research

Address

The Mere, Upton Park, Slough, Berks, SL1 2DQ

Reference

No reference - other

Supplier is SME?

No

Supplier is VCSE?

No

ACER International United Kingdom Limited (ACER UK)

Address

Column House, London Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, United Kingdom, SY2 6NN

Reference

No reference - other

Supplier is SME?

No

Supplier is VCSE?

No

About the buyer

Address

Cheylesmore House, 5 Quinton Rd,
Coventry
CV1 2WT
England

Email

TendersTD.STA@education.gov.uk