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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

TVCA-PROC-0911 - Adult Skills Fund 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29

Tees Valley Combined Authority · Tender notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 25 Sept 2026, 09:00.

Opportunity overview

Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA)(the ‘Contacting Authority’), part of the Tees Valley Combined Authority Group, is inviting tenders for the provision of Adult Skills Fund 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29 with a total annual value of up to £7m and up to £21 million over a 3 academic year period, (academic years 2026/27 to 2028/2029). The required services are to deliver Adult Skills Programmes to Tees Valley residents aged 19 and over, aligned to regional skills priorities including manufacturing, construction, digital, health and social care, and emerging and everyday sectors. Providers will be expected to deliver high-quality, innovative provision that supports learner engagement, retention and progression, working collaboratively with employers, referral partners and community organisations to establish clear learner pathways. Providers must also ensure timely and accurate data returns and comply with all relevant funding, audit and contract management requirement. This provision is essential to delivering the outcome focussed Adult Skills Programme. To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://teesvalley.delta-esourcing.com/respond/BT388G5Z77 If you experience any technical difficulties from accessing the above url, then please contact the Delta eSourcing Helpdesk on call 0800 923 9236 or email helpdesk@delta-esourcing.com.

Classification

  • CPV80000000 — Education and training services
  • CPV80400000 — Adult and other education services

Lots

  • Legal Entitlement (English, Maths and Digital)£1.5m
  • Legal Entitlement (first full Level 2 and 3 qualifications)£3m
  • Pathways to Employment£7.5m
  • Employer-Led Skills Bootcamps£9m

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
TVCA-PROC-0911
Status
active
Procurement Method
open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Main Procurement Category
services
Above Threshold
Yes

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Procedure

Features
The competitive flexible procedure will be conducted in 2 stages:- Stage 1 - Participation and Compliance (including Procurement Specific Questionnaire) Stage 2 - Invitation to submit initial tenders for bidders who passed Stage 1. Quality/Social Value Assessment Full details of the multi-stage process can be found in the procurement documentation.

Covered By

GPA

Submission terms

Electronic Submission Policy
allowed

Languages

en

Tender Period

Ends
25 Sept 2026, 17:00

Enquiry period

Ends
18 Sept 2026, 15:00

Expected award period

Ends
29 Jan 2027, 23:59

Amendments

Entry 1
Description
Correction to Contract dates (estimated) for Lot 2
Id
082179-2026

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Title
Legal Entitlement (English, Maths and Digital)
Description
This Lot is for the delivery of high-quality English, maths and digital entitlement provision for Tees Valley residents aged 19 and over who need to develop their essential skills for everyday life, further learning and employment. Provision must include the full range of government-approved qualifications, from Entry Level to Level 2, enabling learners to access the most appropriate starting point and progress through clear learning pathways as their skills, confidence and aspirations develop. Delivery should be designed to engage adults who have low prior attainment, limited confidence in learning, or other barriers to participation. Providers must support learners to achieve positive outcomes, including progression into further learning, employment and improved outcomes in work. Funding through this Lot is additional to the provision already delivered by Tees Valley's grant-funded providers. Successful Bidders will therefore be expected to work collaboratively with grant-funded providers and relevant local partners to ensure that provision complements existing services, avoids unnecessary duplication, and maximises participation and access across the Tees Valley. The primary objectives of this Lot are to: - Re-engage adults who have previously had negative educational experiences or who have been disengaged from learning. - Enable adults to gain the essential English, maths and digital skills needed to participate confidently in everyday life and the workplace. - Build learners' confidence, motivation and readiness to progress into further learning, apprenticeships, employment or improved in-work opportunities. - Deliver flexible, accessible and high-quality learning that responds to individual needs and local labour market demand. - Support learners to progress through qualifications and learning pathways from Entry Level to Level 2.
Status
active
Has Renewal
Yes

Value

Including VAT
1,800,000
Amount
1,500,000
Currency
GBP

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
Quality
Description
Quality

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
80
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
Social Value
Description
Social Value

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
20
Weight
percentageExact

Selection criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
economic
Description
Please refer to tender documentation for full details.
Criterion 2
Type
technical
Description
Please refer to tender documentation for full details.

Contract period

Starts
22 Feb 2027, 00:00
Ends
31 Jul 2029, 23:59
Max Extent Date
31 Jul 2030, 23:59

Renewal

Description
Any option to extend of up to one year may include but not be limited to review of existing Delivery Plan from Year 1-3, including provision, learner numbers, priority sector areas, funding values, review of Social Value from Year 1-3.
Entry 2
Id
2
Title
Legal Entitlement (first full Level 2 and 3 qualifications)
Description
This Lot is for the delivery of high-quality Level 2 and Level 3 legal entitlement provision for Tees Valley residents aged 19 and over who do not already hold a full qualification at the level being studied. Provision must support learners to progress into employment, further learning, higher-level study and/or improved outcomes within work. Delivery must be through government-approved qualifications and/or qualifications included on the Tees Valley Flexible Qualifications List. The funding available through this Lot is additional to the provision already delivered by Tees Valley's grant-funded providers. Successful Bidders will be expected to ensure that their provision complements existing delivery, avoids unnecessary duplication, and maximises opportunities for Tees Valley residents to access learning and progress.
Status
active
Has Renewal
Yes

Value

Including VAT
3,600,000
Amount
3,000,000
Currency
GBP

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
Quality
Description
Quality

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
80
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
Social Value
Description
Social Value

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
20
Weight
percentageExact

Selection criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
economic
Description
Please refer to tender documentation for full details.
Criterion 2
Type
technical
Description
Please refer to tender documentation for full details.

Contract period

Starts
22 Feb 2027, 00:00
Ends
31 Jul 2029, 23:59
Max Extent Date
31 Jul 2030, 23:59

Renewal

Description
Any option to extend of up to one year may include but not be limited to review of existing Delivery Plan from Year 1-3, including provision, learner numbers, priority sector areas, funding values, review of Social Value from Year 1-3.
Entry 3
Id
3
Title
Pathways to Employment
Description
This Lot provides a universal offer for adults aged 19 and over who are unemployed and actively seeking work. Provision delivered through this Lot must equip learners with the skills needed to secure, sustain and progress in employment. This includes: - Essential skills, including English, maths and digital skills; - Essential employment skills (as set out in Appendix 3); and - Sector-specific technical skills aligned to local labour market opportunities and employer demand. The Pathways to Employment programme is intended to support the Government's ambition to increase the employment rate to 80% by 2035 and to contribute to reducing unemployment across the Tees Valley. Where bidders propose to include essential skills provision (English, maths and digital) as part of a Pathways to Employment programme, they must submit a separate funding request under Lot 1: Legal Entitlements (English, Maths and Digital). Any such request must meet the minimum contract value specified for that Lot. Providers must ensure that learners who are not yet ready to enter employment on completion of their initial programme are supported to continue their learning journey. This should include access to further skills development, qualifications and progression opportunities that move learners closer to sustainable employment.
Status
active
Has Renewal
Yes

Value

Including VAT
9,000,000
Amount
7,500,000
Currency
GBP

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
Quality
Description
Quality

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
80
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
Social Value
Description
Social Value

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
20
Weight
percentageExact

Selection criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
economic
Description
Please refer to tender documentation for full details.
Criterion 2
Type
technical
Description
Please refer to tender documentation for full details.

Contract period

Starts
22 Feb 2027, 00:00
Ends
31 Jul 2029, 23:59
Max Extent Date
31 Jul 2030, 23:59

Renewal

Description
Any option to extend of up to one year may include but not be limited to review of existing Delivery Plan from Year 1-3, including provision, learner numbers, priority sector areas, funding values, review of Social Value from Year 1-3.
Entry 4
Id
4
Title
Employer-Led Skills Bootcamps
Description
Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) is seeking providers to deliver collaborative, employer-led Skills Bootcamps that respond directly to identified skills shortages and workforce needs within the Tees Valley. Skills Bootcamps must be developed in partnership with employers and aligned to one or more of TVCA's priority sectors: - Advanced Manufacturing - Clean Energy - Digital, Creative and Culture - Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing - Chemical Process Industries - Foundational Economy - Construction - Business Start-up and Scale-up - Building Smarter Businesses Bidders must demonstrate clear and evidenced employer demand for their proposed Skills Bootcamp, including the skills gaps and recruitment challenges identified by participating employers. Skills Bootcamps must support Tees Valley residents aged 19 and over to: - Move into sustainable employment; - Secure improved employment outcomes, including progression into self-employment; - Progress within their current role through upskilling; or - Access new employment opportunities created through workforce development, including backfill vacancies arising from employee progression. Bidders must clearly demonstrate how employers have been involved in the design and delivery of the programme and how this collaboration will enable learners to secure, sustain and progress in employment while meeting the workforce needs of local businesses.
Status
active
Has Renewal
Yes

Value

Including VAT
10,800,000
Amount
9,000,000
Currency
GBP

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
Quality
Description
Quality

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
80
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
Social Value
Description
Social Value

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
20
Weight
percentageExact

Selection criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
economic
Description
Please refer to tender documentation for full details.
Criterion 2
Type
technical
Description
Please refer to tender documentation for full details.

Contract period

Starts
22 Feb 2027, 00:00
Ends
31 Jul 2029, 23:59
Max Extent Date
31 Jul 2030, 23:59

Renewal

Description
Any option to extend of up to one year may include but not be limited to review of existing Delivery Plan from Year 1-3, including provision, learner numbers, priority sector areas, funding values, review of Social Value from Year 1-3.

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
80000000
Description
Education and training services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
80400000
Description
Adult and other education services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKC1
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 2
Id
2
Related Lot
2

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
80000000
Description
Education and training services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
80400000
Description
Adult and other education services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKC1
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 3
Id
3
Related Lot
3

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
80000000
Description
Education and training services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
80400000
Description
Adult and other education services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKC1
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 4
Id
4
Related Lot
4

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
80000000
Description
Education and training services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
80400000
Description
Adult and other education services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKC1
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Published documents

Entry 1
Id
conflictOfInterest
Document Type
conflictOfInterest
Description
Not published
Entry 2
Id
082179-2026
Document Type
tenderNotice
Notice Type
UK4
Description
Tender notice on Find a Tender
Published
28 Aug 2026, 13:12
Format
text/html

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Name
Tees Valley Combined Authority
Id
GB-PPON-PDNG-8971-ZVCR

Identifier

Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PDNG-8971-ZVCR

Address

Street Address
Teesside Airport Business Suite, Teesside international Airport
Locality
Darlington
Postal Code
DL2 1NJ
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKC13

Contact

Name
Procurement
Telephone
01325792600

Roles

buyer

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Id
publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment
Description
Public authority - sub-central government

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Darlington · UKC13 · DL2 1NJ · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKC1 · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

2 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

2 VERSIONS
  1. 082144-2026Tender notice on Find a Tender ·
  2. 082179-2026Tender notice on Find a Tender ·