Published date: 15 October 2025

Open opportunity - This means that the contract is currently active, and the buying department is looking for potential suppliers to fulfil the contract.


Closing: 3 November 2025, 5pm

Contract summary

Industry

  • Education and training services - 80000000

Location of contract

South East

Value of contract

£3,000,000

Procurement reference

BIP986576212

Published date

15 October 2025

Closing date

3 November 2025

Closing time

5pm

Contract start date

1 January 2026

Contract end date

31 March 2027

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Negotiated procedure

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

Community Learning and Skills (CLS) is Kent County Council's (KCC) internally commissioned department responsible for delivering education and training to adults and young people over 16. CLS manages the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Adult Skills Fund (ASF), Greater London Authority (GLA) budget, and ESFA 'Study Programme' courses for young people aged 16-19, including those not in education, employment, or training (NEET). These initiatives support the goals and objectives of Framing Kent's Future.

In response to the Skills for Jobs White Paper and its consultation outcomes, from 1st August 2024, the Department for Education (DfE)/ESFA Adult Education Budget has been restructured to become the Adult Skills Fund. This change introduces new 'Learning Aims' for CLS's £6.7m of 'Tailored Learning Funding', covering a wide range of vocational and essential skills courses designed to support learners in various stages of their educational and career journeys.

The changes have included redefining partner organisations who CLS have previously worked with in a 'partnership delivery' relationship, as sub-contractors 'By subcontracting we mean any delivery to a learner's programme of learning by a third party.'

KCC CLS are seeking to offer a flexible opportunity of externally Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) provision for adults, to support both previously offered 'partnership' courses for niche provision such as for Deaf/deaf learners, and growth in vocational areas (those in Green in table above), that meet local labour market needs.

There is a recognised national shortage of staff with appropriate skills, experience and qualifications, especially to support for delivery in some vocational areas, which is now a focus of ESFA funding. Outsourcing delivery to appropriate partners would offer an opportunity to deliver, particularly where less than a full-time post is required i.e. whilst growing delivery in a new vocational area.

This tender process is to allow Tenderers to bid to join a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) and sign a contract with The Authority such that they can then be allocated work as the need arises.

The Dynamic Purchasing System is split into two (2) Lots which reflect the category of learner in receipt of education services.

Lot 1

Lot 1 relates to Skills programmes to be delivered to Adult Skills Fund Learners.

Adult Skills Fund Learners means learners who are eligible for funding pursuant to the Adult Skills Fund Rules. The Adult Skills Fund is the funding allocated to the Authority by the Education and Skills Funding Agency on behalf of the Department for Education for the provision of continuing learning programmes for adults.

Lot 2

Lot 2 relates to study programmes to be delivered to Study Programmes Fund Learners.

Study Programme Fund Learners means learners who are eligible for funding pursuant to the Study Programme Fund Rules. The Study Programme Fund is the funding allocat

More information

Links

How to apply

Follow the instructions given in the description or the more information section.

About the buyer

Address

County Hall
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
UK

Telephone

+443000414141

Email

jordan.gurr@kent.gov.uk