Published date: 14 August 2025

Open early engagement - This means that a procurement idea is currently active, it is in the early stage of development and judging interest from potential suppliers.


Closing date: 22 August 2025

Contract summary

Industry

  • Miscellaneous business-related services - 79990000

Location of contract

Any region

Procurement reference

tender_502739/1507867

Published date

14 August 2025

Closing date

22 August 2025

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

We are seeking information on the capability and capacity of organisations to provide the services detailed below.

The purpose of the EOI is to share the department's current thinking on the development of the 6th Year of the Turing Scheme (Academic Year 26/27); and the requirements for an independent, transparent and robust assessment service to assess applications against set criteria to allow the Department of Education to make funding decisions. We additionally want to seek expert views from the sector to inform its further development.

Through this Expression of Interest (EOI), suppliers are required to confirm whether they can meet the criteria and timescales to deliver the requirements set out at section 3 and 4. We would like to understand market interest and gather insight on our delivery approaches, and your responses will inform a potential future procurement activity planned for Q3 2025/2026.

Please note the Department for Education (DfE) reserves the right to only invite those that have submitted an EOI to any future mini competition.
Please advise a) if you are interested in bidding for this opportunity
b) If you are not interested in bidding and your reason(s).

More information


Attachments

  • Expression-of-Interest Turing Scheme Year 6 Assessment Service 140825.pdf
  • n/a

Links

  • https://www.gov.uk/government/news/turing-scheme-to-open-up-global-study-and-work-opportunities
  • Suppliers wishing to be included in the potential mini competition should respond to the questions within the stipulated timescales set out in the attached Expression of Interest..
  • https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6322
  • 1. What is your interest to bid? If you are not interested, what are the barriers to your organisation bidding?
  • https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/information-for-buyers-and-suppliers/start-supplying/become-a-supplier-on-a-dynamic-purchasing-system-dps
  • 1. We envisage that up to 1000 applications will need to be assessed within a six week window, considering the above specifications; a. What capacity do you have to deliver the programme? b. Could your organisation reasonably exceed these expectations?
  • https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html
  • c. What risks have you identified? 2. How would you manage assessment accuracy between assessors?
  • https://www.gov.uk/government/news/turing-scheme-to-open-up-global-study-and-work-opportunities
  • 3. How would you manage cases of discrepancies between assessors? 4. Is there anything else we should be considering as part of this work?

Additional text

The DfE propose to compete via the CSS Framework RM6322 for any future ITT. Suppliers are encouraged to register on the CCS Fund Administration and Disbursement Services Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) as soon as possible. Note the onboarding process can take at least two weeks. To register on the DPS, please follow the CCS guidance for becoming a supplier on a DPS.

Our indicative timeframe should progress to ITT, is likely to be mid to late October 2025, and will be via our e-sourcing system Jaggaer. If you would like to respond to the ITT you will need to ensure you are registered on Jaggaer: Register to use Jaggaer.

How to apply

Follow the instructions given in the description or the more information section.

About the buyer

Contact name

DfE Commercial

Address

Head Office - Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street,
London,
SW1P 3BT
England

Email

core.procurement@education.gov.uk