AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
Sellafield Limited published a transparency notice for a proposed direct award to Lakes College for continuity of higher- and further-education provision for learners already on programme. The detailed notice data marks award 1 as pending and shows a future signature date; it does not confirm that a contract has been signed or started.
Published outcomeLakes College is named as the supplier on the published award record. The source also contains a second flattened award record marked active, creating an unresolved status conflict.
Market significanceThe notice concerns continuity of learner provision over a stated period approaching five years, using a below-threshold direct procedure without competition.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
2 supplier records analysed
Lakes College
98% confidenceAward 1 · Lots 1 · 1365122.66 GBP · pending
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Detailed award ID 1 names Lakes College as supplier, relates to lot 1, and gives a GBP 1,365,122.66 amount.
Lakes College
75% confidenceAward 2 · Lots 1 · 1365122.66 GBP · active
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The supplied flattened awards data lists award ID 2 as active, for Lakes College, lot 1, at GBP 1,365,122.66. This conflicts with the detailed award data and is not evidence that a contract was signed.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Published notice
99% confidenceTransparency notice published 8 October 2026
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Award document 095221-2026 is described as a Transparency notice on Find a Tender and dated 2026-10-08.
Detailed award status
99% confidencePending
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details_json.awards[0] (award ID 1) has status "pending".
Conflicting flattened award status
90% confidenceActive
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The supplied awards list contains award ID 2 with status "active" and award date 2026-10-08.
Signature milestone
99% confidenceScheduled for 22 October 2026
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Award 1 milestone type futureSignatureDate has dueDate 2026-10-22T23:59:59+01:00 and status scheduled.
Contract conclusion
99% confidenceNot confirmed
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The detailed award remains pending and only a future signature milestone is supplied.
VALUES
Published values explained
Award 1 net amount
99% confidenceGBP 1,365,122.66
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Detailed award 1 value.amount is 1365122.66 GBP.
Award 1 gross amount
99% confidenceGBP 1,638,147.20
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Detailed award 1 value.amountGross is 1638147.2 GBP.
Individual lot value
99% confidenceUnknown
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Lot 1 has no value in the supplied lot data.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Notice publication
99% confidence8 October 2026
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Award notice document datePublished is 2026-10-08T13:53:20+01:00.
Active-record award date
85% confidence8 October 2026
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Flattened award ID 2 has award_date 2026-10-08.
Stated contract start
98% confidence22 October 2026
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Detailed award 1 contractPeriod.startDate is 2026-10-22.
Stated contract end
98% confidence31 August 2030
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Detailed award 1 contractPeriod.endDate is 2030-08-31T23:59:59+01:00.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Requirement
99% confidenceContinuity of higher- and further-education provision for learners already enrolled on programmes
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The notice description says the direct award is intended to avoid disruption or changes to the learning environment for current learners.
Procurement category
99% confidenceServices
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Detailed award 1 mainProcurementCategory is services.
Classification
99% confidenceCPV 80570000 — Personal development training services
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Award item 1 includes this CPV classification.
Delivery geography
95% confidenceUnited Kingdom
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Award item 1 delivery address is region UK, country GB.
Lot
99% confidenceLot 1; no published title or description
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Award 1 relates to lot 1; supplied lot data has null title and description.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procedure
99% confidenceDirect award
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Tender procurementMethod is direct.
Procedure detail
99% confidenceBelow threshold — without competition
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Tender procurementMethodDetails states "Below threshold - without competition".
Regime
99% confidenceLight touch
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Tender specialRegime includes lightTouch.
Competition information
98% confidenceNo competition was used; bid count and evaluation information were not supplied
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Procedure detail states without competition; no bid or evaluation data is present.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Stated period
98% confidence22 October 2026 to 31 August 2030
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Detailed award 1 contractPeriod gives these dates.
Duration description
97% confidenceThe notice description refers to a period of five years
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Process description states that Sellafield Ltd are putting a direct award in place for a period of five years.
Signature status
99% confidenceFuture signature scheduled; signature not confirmed
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A scheduled futureSignatureDate is supplied for 22 October 2026, while detailed award 1 is pending.
Extensions or options
99% confidenceUnknown
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Information not supplied in the published notice.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Continuity rationale
99% confidenceThe buyer cites protection of existing learners from unnecessary disruption as the rationale for the direct award.
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The notice description explicitly refers to learners already enrolled and the need to complete qualifications without disruption.
Commercial value interpretation
98% confidenceThe detailed record provides both net and gross amounts; the pricing basis and tax treatment beyond those fields are not explained.
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Award 1 gives amount and amountGross but no further pricing breakdown.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Conflicting award records
99% confidenceThe supplied data contains award 1 as pending and award 2 as active, each with the same title, supplier, lot and net value.
View supporting evidence
Detailed award 1 status is pending; flattened award ID 2 status is active. Both list GBP 1,365,122.66 and lot 1.
Signature and start not established
99% confidenceThe detailed notice schedules a future signature date and does not demonstrate execution or commencement.
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Award 1 is pending and has a scheduled futureSignatureDate.
Supplier identity
99% confidenceLakes College is the published supplier name, but no verified legal company name was supplied.
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verified_company_name is null and supplier identity status is not_applicable.
Lot detail
99% confidenceLot 1 has no published title, description or standalone value.
View supporting evidence
Supplied lot fields are null for title, description and value.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- The source contains conflicting lifecycle information: detailed award 1 is pending, while flattened award 2 is active. Neither is treated as proof of a signed or active contract.
- No award decision date is supplied for detailed award 1; the 8 October 2026 date belongs only to the conflicting flattened active record.
- No verified legal company name or company number was supplied for Lakes College.
- Information not supplied in the published notice: bid count, evaluation, pricing breakdown, lot title, lot description, individual lot value, extension terms and renewal terms.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
Sellafield LimitedLakes Collegehigher educationdirect awardtransparency noticetraining services
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Who is named as the supplier?
Lakes College is named as the supplier in the published data.
Has the contract been signed?
Not confirmed. The detailed award is pending and shows a scheduled future signature date of 22 October 2026.
What is the stated award value?
The detailed award lists GBP 1,365,122.66 net and GBP 1,638,147.20 gross.
Why was a direct award used?
The notice cites continuity for learners already enrolled on multi-year higher- and further-education programmes.
ProcuraAxis award analysis supplements, but does not replace, the official award notice, contract data or procurement documents. “Awarded” does not by itself prove that a contract has been signed.