✓Tender information last checkedLast checked 20 Oct 2026, 09:31.
Opportunity overview
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is considering the appointment of an independent Evaluation and Learning Partner to evaluate Stage 1 of the MBacc Award. The commission would assess the programme’s implementation, effectiveness, inclusivity and early outcomes, drawing on engagement with young people, schools, colleges, employers and other key stakeholders.
The partner would be expected to develop and deliver a proportionate mixed-method evaluation, provide timely learning to support programme development, and produce interim and final evaluation reports. The evaluation would include appropriate consideration of disadvantaged learners, including young people with special educational needs and disabilities and those in alternative provision.
GMCA is currently undertaking preliminary market engagement to inform the scope, budget and procurement approach for this potential future opportunity.
Classification
CPV73200000 — Research and development consultancy services
CPV80000000 — Education and training 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.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is inviting prospective suppliers to take part in preliminary market engagement for the potential future appointment of an independent Evaluation and Learning Partner for the MBacc Award.
The potential commission would evaluate the programme’s implementation, effectiveness, inclusivity and early outcomes, drawing on engagement with young people, schools, colleges, employers and other key stakeholders. The partner would be expected to develop and deliver a proportionate mixed-method evaluation, provide timely learning to inform programme development, and produce interim and final evaluation reports. The evaluation would include appropriate consideration of disadvantaged learners, including young people with special educational needs and disabilities and those in alternative provision.
Through this engagement, GMCA is seeking supplier feedback on the proposed scope and methodology, deliverability and timescales, data and research requirements, market capacity, commercial considerations and the potential procurement approach. In particular, feedback is requested on indicative costs, key pricing assumptions and principal cost drivers.
How to respond
Suppliers wishing to participate in this market engagement excerise can find all relevant information on the Chest via the following link:
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=711200b2-c2cb-f111-8141-6045bdf14b1f
Deadline for clarification questions: 5pm Monday 26th October 2026
Deadline for market engagement responses: 5pm Friday 30th October 2026
This market engagement exercise does not form part of a formal procurement process and does not commit GMCA to undertake a procurement, enter into a contract or reimburse suppliers for any costs incurred in responding. Any information provided at this stage is indicative, subject to change and will not be evaluated as part of any future procurement process.GMCA will consider the feedback received when refining the potential commission, but may not adopt all suggestions.
Due
30 Oct 2026, 23:59
Status
scheduled
Documents
Entry 1
Id
098739-2026
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Buyer location · Manchester · UKD33 · M1 6EU · United Kingdom
Delivery location · UKD3 · United Kingdom
Notice and amendment history
1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.
1 VERSION
1
098739-2026Preliminary 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/planned market engagement for a potential Greater Manchester Combined Authority commission to appoint an independent Evaluation and Learning Partner for Stage 1 of the MBacc Award. The contemplated work covers a proportionate mixed-method evaluation of implementation, effectiveness, inclusivity and early outcomes, stakeholder engagement, timely learning, and interim and final reports.
Who this may suit
Potential fit for independent evaluation, research and learning organisations with mixed-method evaluation capability in education and inclusion contexts. This is not an open tender: GMCA is undertaking preliminary market engagement and the final scope, budget and procurement approach are unknown.
Key points identified
Evaluation approachDevelop and deliver a proportionate mixed-method evaluation.Evidence: "develop and deliver a proportionate mixed-method evaluation"
Evaluation focusAssess implementation, effectiveness, inclusivity and early outcomes of Stage 1 of the MBacc Award.Evidence: "assess the programme’s implementation, effectiveness, inclusivity and early outcomes"
Stakeholder engagementDraw on engagement with young people, schools, colleges, employers and other key stakeholders.Evidence: "drawing on engagement with young people, schools, colleges, employers and other key stakeholders"
94% approved-analysis confidence9 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/planned market engagement for a potential Greater Manchester Combined Authority commission to appoint an independent Evaluation and Learning Partner for Stage 1 of the MBacc Award. The contemplated work covers a proportionate mixed-method evaluation of implementation, effectiveness, inclusivity and early outcomes, stakeholder engagement, timely learning, and interim and final reports.
Who this may suit
Potential fit for independent evaluation, research and learning organisations with mixed-method evaluation capability in education and inclusion contexts. This is not an open tender: GMCA is undertaking preliminary market engagement and the final scope, budget and procurement approach are unknown.
Key deliverables
Proportionate mixed-method evaluation
Learning to support programme development
Interim evaluation reports
Final evaluation report
Consideration of disadvantaged learners, including young people with SEND and those in alternative provision
SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS
9 criteria identified
Evaluation approach
98% confidence
Develop and deliver a proportionate mixed-method evaluation.
View supporting evidence
"develop and deliver a proportionate mixed-method evaluation"
Evaluation focus
98% confidence
Assess implementation, effectiveness, inclusivity and early outcomes of Stage 1 of the MBacc Award.
View supporting evidence
"assess the programme’s implementation, effectiveness, inclusivity and early outcomes"
Stakeholder engagement
97% confidence
Draw on engagement with young people, schools, colleges, employers and other key stakeholders.
View supporting evidence
"drawing on engagement with young people, schools, colleges, employers and other key stakeholders"
Learning outputs
97% confidence
Provide timely learning to support programme development.
View supporting evidence
"provide timely learning to support programme development"
Reporting
99% confidence
Produce interim and final evaluation reports.
View supporting evidence
"produce interim and final evaluation reports"
Inclusion consideration
98% confidence
Include appropriate consideration of disadvantaged learners, including young people with special educational needs and disabilities and those in alternative provision.
View supporting evidence
"include appropriate consideration of disadvantaged learners, including young people with special educational needs and disabilities and those in alternative provision"
Supplier eligibility criteria
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No eligibility criteria are stated in the supplied preliminary market engagement notice.
SME suitability
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
"suitable_for_sme": null
VCSE suitability
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
"suitable_for_vcse": null
COMMERCIAL AND DELIVERY
Contract intelligence
Commercial
Budget/value
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
"value_min": null; "value_max": null; GMCA is undertaking engagement "to inform the scope, budget and procurement approach".
Currency
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
"currency": null
Commercial terms
98% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No commercial terms are stated in the supplied notice.
Delivery
Delivery location
96% confidence
UKD3, United Kingdom.
View supporting evidence
Delivery location: region "UKD3", country "United Kingdom".
A planning lot with ID 1 is supplied but has no title, description, value or deadline; no distinct lot scope can be identified.
View supporting evidence
Lot 1: "title": null; "description": null; "value_amount": null; "submission_deadline": null.
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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