UK Public Sector Contracts & Tenders

THIS IS AN INVITATION TO BID This is a notice seeking bids from interested parties in relation to the Department for Education procurement of a National Delivery Partner to establish and deliver the new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network across England. The National Delivery Partner will be responsible for the strategic leadership, design, implementation, and operational delivery of the PE and School Sport Partnerships Network. The Partnerships Network will focus on reducing inequalities in access and participation and improving the quality and consistency of PE and school sport for all children. It will provide flexible local support, support schools to protect two hours of PE weekly, and strengthen school-to-club links through peer-to-peer learning and co-ordinated CPD creating a more equitable, sustainable system for physical activity and sport in schools. Of the total circa £513m programme funding, the contract value for this opportunity is circa £426,000,000 for the initial contract term. A large proportion of this is pass through funding with a price cap placed on service element of this provision. For more information on the funding set up potential bidders are encouraged to carefully read the tender documentation provided. Total values in this notice include the the value of all potential extensions. Any funding beyond the initial term will be confirmed in due course. The DfE is keen to maximise opportunities to participate in procurement for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs). Consideration will also be given to consortia and collaborative bids from all forms of organisations Note: You will need to register on the Department’s e-tendering portal, Jaggaer https://education.app.jaggaer.com/ to be able to access this opportunity.

This PME does not signify the commencement of any procurement process and does not constitute any commitment by the Department for Education (DfE). If DfE decides to commence any procurement process subject to the Procurement Act 2023 as contemplated by this notice, a separate notice(s) will be published at the relevant time. DfE would like to encourage all relevant organisations, including Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs), to participate and have made the engagement process as open as possible in order to facilitate this (please see further details in the “Engagement process description” section below). Consideration will be given to consortia and collaborative bids from all forms of organisations subject to confirmation of a competitive tender process. The Purpose: Preliminary Market Engagement is being undertaken to refine DfE's requirements as it looks to establish a route to market for schools under the Procurement Act 2023 for management information systems (MIS) that enables them to analyse, use and report on key data with a focus on interoperability. It is currently anticipated that this will be in the form of an open framework as defined in the Procurement Act 2023. As part of the preliminary market engagement, DfE is keen to work with MIS suppliers in England to explore how we can harness the potential of data to provide new and valuable insights to share with schools, academy trusts, and local authorities in England to improve outcomes for children and young people, parents and carers. This particular initiative has been branded the Data spine and was referenced in the Schools White Paper published in February 2026. It is anticipated that outcomes of this initiative will be included within the remit of aforementioned route to market. Further information on the link between the MIS route to market project and the Data spine will be shared as part of the engagement process, starting with the market engagement webinar (please see further details in the “Engagement process description” section below). We will conduct further market engagement during spring 2026 with a view to using the market engagement and stakeholders views to further inform the specifics of the proposed MIS route to market. By fully engaging in this process, including the Data spine initiative, organisations have the opportunity to feed into the design of the proposed MIS route to market and ensure it is cognizant of market capabilities.

Modified Tests Framework 2027-2031 Pre-Market Engagement The Standards and Testing Agency (STA), an Executive Agency of the Department for Education (DfE) is looking to re-establish a Modified Tests Framework for the development and delivery of modified versions of National Curriculum Tests for children with visual impairments, hearing impairments and special education needs and disabilities. (SEND) The new framework will be for four years from 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2031. Successful suppliers will be required to provide modified versions of standard tests in various formats including modified large print and Unified English Braille. Modified versions are required for all national curriculum tests including the following: Phonics Screening Check (braille version only); Key stage 1 tests in English Grammar Punctuation and Spelling, English Reading, Mathematics and; Key stage 2 tests in English Grammar Punctuation and Spelling, English Reading, Mathematics and; Key stage 3 English Reading. However, this is subject to change depending on government policy. The tests required for modification will be specified in each call-off. Suppliers will also be expected to provide: assessment reports evaluating suitability of test items including recommendations for modifications for future test development. amendments to the standard mark scheme guidance to enable consistent marking of the modified versions of the Live tests; braille proofing and quality assurance of Grade 1 and 2 UEB versions of the national curriculum tests; a specialist helpline service: to answer queries from schools and other users of modified tests; to facilitate on-demand orders of past test Braille materials and the replacements of reception baselines assessment resources to validate Modified test orders for the incumbent Test Operations Supplier to facilitate late Modified test orders for the incumbent Test Operations Supplier

The purpose of this preliminary market engagement notice is to inform the market of a forthcoming supplier engagement event regarding future support for schools and colleges to deliver careers education, information, advice and guidance for young people in England. The Department for Education (DfE) will be undertaking an online market engagement event via MS Teams at 13:30 on 4 June 2026 for interested parties. The event is anticipated to last for a duration of 120 minutes. The slide deck will be published on Jaggaer (ssq_747) following the event. If you wish to attend the market engagement event, please use the link below: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/37330634720732?p=0wulXBBrLzFePLzSOX We last carried out supplier engagement regarding future support for schools and colleges to deliver careers education, information, advice and guidance on 31 March 2026. In this event we shared our broad plans for how we want to continue to support schools and colleges to improve careers guidance from the 2027/28 academic year and to support partnership working with strategic and local authorities through careers hubs. We used a supplier survey to test bidder appetite and delivery viability with potential suppliers. The purpose of the follow up supplier engagement webinar on 4 June is to: • Respond to insights and questions gathered in the survey we issued after the supplier engagement event on 31 March, including providing further detail on proposed requirements. • Outline and test a draft service specification and outline Key Performance Indicators and seek supplier views to inform these. This Notice is not a binding statement of intent or a call for competition. It does not signify the commencement of any competitive process and does not constitute any commitment by the DfE. If DfE decides to commence any competitive process(es) as contemplated by this notice, a separate notice(s) will be published at the relevant time. The information contained in this notice, including information relating to the nature and scope of the authority's requirements, and the service classification of this requirement from the list of CPV codes, is only indicative of the authority's current thinking, and is neither exhaustive nor binding and the DfE reserves the right at its absolute discretion to amend this notice at the time of issue or at any other time. The DfE will not be liable for any bid cost, expenditure, work or effort incurred by a provider in acting on the basis of this notice. Any funding estimates referenced are indicative only and subject to change. The Department makes no commitment at this stage to the final scope or funding envelope of any future contractual activity. The current funding estimates are between £90m and £180m for a 3-5 year contract, plus a mobilisation period of up to 6 months if required.