✓Tender information last checkedLast checked 6 Oct 2026, 12:56.
Opportunity overview
The primary purpose of this preliminary market engagement exercise (“Exercise”) is for the Education Authority (EA) to seek supplier views and feedback on potential approaches for the provision of a learning provider for Part-time Pathways to Employment Programme in line with the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC). Further information on the project is detailed within Background Information Section of this document.
The EA is seeking to appoint suppliers to provide professional formation programmes in youth work for an undergraduate programme for an initial 20-30 students, for a period of study of up to 4-years. Within the contract period, further cohorts may be added, and we would anticipate that any contract would be extended until participants have completed their studies though the EA give no guarantees of numbers of participants. Secondly, a Postgraduate programme is required for 15 students, a master’s programme for 5-10 students which meet the JNC Qualification standards for a professional career in youth work.
As part of this procurement exercise the Education Authority is seeking to understand the market capacity to provide a range of education opportunities to support the development of a suitably qualified and highly skilled workforce. This pre-market engagement exercise is intended to establish capacity, delivery models and commercial arrangements that may be available.
The EA Pathways to Employment Programme will require the supplier to address and provide their approach to the below requirements.
• Education Authority requirements in relation to our Pathways Scheme
• Capacity to offer university places for an initial cohort of between 20-30 undergraduate places over the next 4 years.
• Availability to provide up to 15 Postgraduate study places
• Capacity to facilitate 5-10 Masters places
• Cohort-based provision with greater flexibility and value for money than individual enrolment
• Flexibility to offer a block period of teaching to support part-time study towards the successful completion of modules
• Course tuition to be facilitated at EA premises for a minimum of 50% of programme delivery
• Residential teaching as an option to support academic progress
• Entry requirements in relation to EA Youth Service and the designated university stipulated
• Specific course content relating to the Northern Ireland context included
• Content of course modules, student placements and required finance agreed for each programme in advance of programme start date
Classification
CPV80000000 — Education and training services
CPV80200000 — Secondary education services
CPV80300000 — Higher education services
CPV80310000 — Youth education services
Lots
Lot 1Value not stated
Documents and notices
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a TenderOpen source ↗
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.
Suppliers are invited to attend a PME Presentation to be delivered via MS Teams on Wednesday 22 October 2026, time to be confirmed. If your organisation would like to attend, please provide contract details of your nominated attendees to via email to business.procure@eani.org.uk by 3pm on Monday 19 October to allow us to issue invites.
Due
30 Oct 2026, 23:59
Status
scheduled
Documents
Entry 1
Id
094188-2026
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.
1 VERSION
1
094188-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
PROCURAAXIS ANALYSIS
ProcuraAxis Analysis
Our approved analysis of the opportunity appears below the official tender information.
ANALYSIS PREVIEW
Opportunity intelligence at a glance
Early-stage preliminary market engagement by the Education Authority (EA) for a part-time, JNC-aligned youth-work professional formation programme. EA is seeking market feedback on capacity, delivery models and commercial arrangements for undergraduate, postgraduate and masters cohorts; this is not an open bidding opportunity.
Who this may suit
Potential fit for universities or learning providers able to deliver part-time youth-work qualifications aligned with JNC standards, including substantial delivery from EA premises in Northern Ireland.
Key points identified
Provider typeLearning provider able to provide professional formation programmes in youth work.Evidence: EA seeks supplier views on “the provision of a learning provider” and intends to appoint suppliers to provide professional formation programmes in youth work.
Undergraduate capacityCapacity for an initial cohort of 20–30 undergraduate places over the next four years.Evidence: “Capacity to offer university places for an initial cohort of between 20-30 undergraduate places over the next 4 years.”
Postgraduate capacityUp to 15 postgraduate study places.Evidence: “Availability to provide up to 15 Postgraduate study places.”
91% approved-analysis confidence12 supplier criteria identified4 risks or unknowns
ProcuraAxis structures information found in published procurement records, checks the result for consistency and publishes only approved analysis. Confidence describes the completeness and consistency of the available source information; it is not a guarantee of eligibility or contract award.
Early-stage preliminary market engagement by the Education Authority (EA) for a part-time, JNC-aligned youth-work professional formation programme. EA is seeking market feedback on capacity, delivery models and commercial arrangements for undergraduate, postgraduate and masters cohorts; this is not an open bidding opportunity.
Who this may suit
Potential fit for universities or learning providers able to deliver part-time youth-work qualifications aligned with JNC standards, including substantial delivery from EA premises in Northern Ireland.
Key deliverables
Undergraduate youth-work professional formation programme for an initial 20–30 students, with study lasting up to four years
Up to 15 postgraduate study places
Masters provision for 5–10 students
Cohort-based, flexible part-time teaching, including block teaching
At least 50% of programme delivery at EA premises
Northern Ireland-specific course content, placements and pre-agreed programme finance
SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS
12 criteria identified
JNC endorsement / JNC Qualification standards
92% confidence
Mandatory · 1
View supporting evidence
The title states “NSETS/JNC Endorsed Professional Formation Programme in Youth Work”; the description requires programmes which “meet the JNC Qualification standards for a professional career in youth work.”
NSETS endorsement
62% confidence
Unclear · 1
View supporting evidence
The opportunity title refers to an “NSETS/JNC Endorsed Professional Formation Programme in Youth Work”, but does not define NSETS or state the evidence suppliers must provide.
Provider type
94% confidence
Learning provider able to provide professional formation programmes in youth work.
View supporting evidence
EA seeks supplier views on “the provision of a learning provider” and intends to appoint suppliers to provide professional formation programmes in youth work.
Undergraduate capacity
96% confidence
Capacity for an initial cohort of 20–30 undergraduate places over the next four years.
View supporting evidence
“Capacity to offer university places for an initial cohort of between 20-30 undergraduate places over the next 4 years.”
Postgraduate capacity
96% confidence
Up to 15 postgraduate study places.
View supporting evidence
“Availability to provide up to 15 Postgraduate study places.”
Masters capacity
96% confidence
Capacity for 5–10 Masters places.
View supporting evidence
“Capacity to facilitate 5-10 Masters places.”
Cohort delivery model
95% confidence
Cohort-based provision offering greater flexibility and value for money than individual enrolment.
View supporting evidence
“Cohort-based provision with greater flexibility and value for money than individual enrolment.”
Teaching flexibility
95% confidence
Ability to offer block teaching to support part-time module completion.
View supporting evidence
“Flexibility to offer a block period of teaching to support part-time study towards the successful completion of modules.”
Northern Ireland content
93% confidence
Include course content specific to the Northern Ireland context.
View supporting evidence
“Specific course content relating to the Northern Ireland context included.”
Programme planning
96% confidence
Agree module content, student placements and required finance before each programme starts.
View supporting evidence
“Content of course modules, student placements and required finance agreed for each programme in advance of programme start date.”
Entry requirements
75% confidence
Requirements are to be stipulated by EA Youth Service and the designated university; detailed criteria are unknown.
View supporting evidence
“Entry requirements in relation to EA Youth Service and the designated university stipulated.”
Other supplier eligibility criteria
97% confidence
Unknown at this preliminary market engagement stage.
View supporting evidence
No legal, financial, insurance, size, or geographic eligibility criteria are stated.
COMMERCIAL AND DELIVERY
Contract intelligence
Commercial
Estimated value
77% confidence
Up to GBP 1,000,000 stated in source data; basis and whether this is a final contract value are unknown.
View supporting evidence
Opportunity value_max is 1000000 GBP.
Commercial model
95% confidence
EA is seeking market input on potential commercial arrangements; final terms are unknown.
View supporting evidence
The exercise is intended to establish “capacity, delivery models and commercial arrangements that may be available.”
Student volumes
96% confidence
Initial volumes are stated, but further cohorts may be added and participant numbers are not guaranteed.
View supporting evidence
“Further cohorts may be added” and EA “give no guarantees of numbers of participants.”
Delivery
Delivery location
95% confidence
Northern Ireland; at least 50% of programme delivery must be facilitated at EA premises.
View supporting evidence
Delivery region is UKN and the requirement states “Course tuition to be facilitated at EA premises for a minimum of 50% of programme delivery.”
Residential teaching
91% confidence
Residential teaching should be available as an option to support academic progress.
View supporting evidence
“Residential teaching as an option to support academic progress.”
Duration
91% confidence
Undergraduate study is expected to last up to four years. Any future contract may be extended to allow participants to complete studies, with no guarantee of participant numbers.
View supporting evidence
“For a period of study of up to 4-years” and “any contract would be extended until participants have completed their studies.”
PROCEDURE
How to respond
Procurement status
99% confidence
Upcoming early-stage preliminary market engagement; bidding is not stated to be open.
View supporting evidence
Stage is “planning”, display status is “upcoming”, and notice type is “Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender”.
Purpose of engagement
97% confidence
To obtain supplier feedback on capacity, delivery approaches and commercial arrangements.
View supporting evidence
EA is seeking “supplier views and feedback” and intends to establish “capacity, delivery models and commercial arrangements.”
Submission deadline
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No submission deadline is supplied.
Procurement route
97% confidence
Unknown; a future competition is not confirmed.
View supporting evidence
The notice describes a preliminary market engagement exercise and gives no procurement method.
RISKS AND UNKNOWNS
Points requiring attention
Participant volume uncertainty
96% confidence
EA does not guarantee participant numbers and may add further cohorts.
View supporting evidence
“Further cohorts may be added” and EA “give no guarantees of numbers of participants.”
Extended delivery exposure
90% confidence
A future contract may need to continue until participants complete their studies, potentially beyond the initially anticipated study period.
View supporting evidence
EA anticipates that “any contract would be extended until participants have completed their studies.”
Commercial and procurement uncertainty
98% confidence
Commercial arrangements, final delivery model, procurement route, timetable and submission requirements are not yet stated because this is a planned market-engagement exercise.
View supporting evidence
The exercise seeks to establish available delivery models and commercial arrangements; no route, deadline or contract dates are provided.
Delivery-site dependency
91% confidence
At least half of teaching is expected at EA premises, creating dependency on venue availability and operational coordination.
View supporting evidence
“Course tuition to be facilitated at EA premises for a minimum of 50% of programme delivery.”
ProcuraAxis analysis supplements, but does not replace, the original notice and tender documents. Always verify eligibility, deadlines and commercial terms with the issuing authority.
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