Accredited learning programmes across the policy profession

Published facts

What the notice says

Buyer

Department for Education

Published status

complete

Latest release reference

090195-2026

CPV codes

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) codes: 80300000

Published tags

award, contract

Latest record Bidwake loaded from this source

10 Oct 2026

The Civil Service Policy Profession consists of approximately 38,500 civil servants, making it the second largest profession in government. It has a presence across the regions and nations of the UK. The work of policy professionals has a significant impact on the lives of people across the country. Investing in the development of policy makers supports the creation of stronger policies and improved outcomes for the public. The Policy Profession Unit, part of the Department for Education and operating on behalf of policy professionals across government, is responsible for overseeing the development of the Policy Profession. This includes building the skills and capability of policy professionals at different stages of their careers. Following a competitive procurement process, the Department for Education has awarded contracts for the development and delivery of accredited postgraduate learning programmes designed to build the skills and capabilities of UK civil servants in line with the Policy Profession Standards. The programmes will be available from September 2027 and will support policy professionals across government departments. The procurement was divided into two lots: Lot 1 (itt_3995): A contract for the delivery of five cohorts of an accredited 180-credit Master's programme, with one cohort delivered per academic year from Academic Year 2027/28. The programme is designed for experienced civil service policy leaders and will strengthen advanced policy capability, enabling participants to apply academic rigour and best practice to complex government policy challenges while continuing in their roles. Lot 2 (itt_3999): A contract for the delivery of a postgraduate accredited learning offer for civil service policy professionals, including standalone modules and qualifications at Postgraduate Award, Certificate and Diploma level for experienced practitioners. The contract also includes a separate 30-credit Postgraduate Award for Government Policy Fast Streamers, delivered annually through a structured three-year programme. The Department for Education will hold the contracts on behalf of the Civil Service Policy Profession; however, the programmes will be accessible to participants from all UK Government departments. The estimated values published are based on historic student volumes and expenditure. Actual contract expenditure will be determined by future learner numbers and departmental demand over the contract term. The Department for Education does not guarantee any minimum level of spend under the contracts and reserves the right to vary volumes in accordance with operational requirements.

Open the official Find a Tender notice

Observed notice trail

How the published record developed

Events follow the publisher date where one is available. “Seen by Bidwake” is the date this service first found the record.

1. Planning notice observed

   19 Sept 2025

   Latest variant observed by Bidwake on 16 Jul 2026.

   Open this official Find a Tender notice

   Record references

   Release reference

   058129-2025

   Published tags

   planning

2. Planning record updated

   19 Sept 2025

   Latest variant observed by Bidwake on 16 Jul 2026.

   Open this official Find a Tender notice

   Record references

   Release reference

   058130-2025

   Published tags

   planningUpdate

3. Planning record updated

   2 Oct 2025

   Latest variant observed by Bidwake on 16 Jul 2026.

   Open this official Find a Tender notice

   Record references

   Release reference

   061682-2025

   Published tags

   planningUpdate

4. Planning notice observed

   4 Feb 2026

   Latest variant observed by Bidwake on 16 Jul 2026.

   Open this official Find a Tender notice

Awards and suppliers

Published award and contract facts

• Accredited learning programmes across the policy profession Lot 1

  Buyer: Department for EducationSupplier: THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

  End date in notice

  31 Aug 2031

  Value shown in notice

  £6,409,780Published award value

  Official source

  Open the official Find a Tender notice for Accredited learning programmes across the policy profession Lot 1

  View record references

  Source

  Find a Tender

  Award or lot reference

  1

• Accredited learning programmes across the policy profession Lot 2

  Buyer: Department for EducationSupplier: KING'S COLLEGE LONDON

  End date in notice

  31 Aug 2032

  Value shown in notice

  £12,436,000Published award value

  Official source

  Open the official Find a Tender notice for Accredited learning programmes across the policy profession Lot 2

Related evidence

Published terms and linked processes

• Options are statedLot 1

  DfE reserves the right to extend this Contract by any period or periods of its choosing. Any extension shall be exercised by DfE giving the Supplier no less than three (3) months’ written notice prior to the expiry of the then current term. DfE further reserves the right to extend the Contract to cover additional cohorts or cohort volumes. Where such extensions are exercised, the maximum value of the Contract extension must not exceed 100% of the initial Contract value, in accordance with the pricing mechanism to be set out in Schedule 3 (Charges), provided that the overall nature of the Contract remains unchanged.

  Published 10 Jun 2026.Open supporting notice 054697-2026
• Renewal information is statedLot 1

  DfE reserves the right to extend this Contract by any period or periods of its choosing. Any extension shall be exercised by DfE giving the Supplier no less than three (3) months’ written notice prior to the expiry of the then current term. DfE further reserves the right to extend the Contract to cover additional cohorts or cohort volumes. Where such extensions are exercised, the maximum value of the Contract extension must not exceed 100% of the initial Contract value, in accordance with the pricing mechanism to be set out in Schedule 3 (Charges), provided that the overall nature of the Contract remains unchanged.

  Published 10 Jun 2026.Open supporting notice 054697-2026
• Options are statedLot 2

  DfE reserves the right to extend this Contract by any period or periods of its choosing. Any extension shall be exercised by DfE giving the Supplier no less than three (3) months’ written notice prior to the expiry of the then current term. DfE further reserves the right to extend the Contract to cover additional cohorts or cohort volumes. Where such extensions are exercised, the maximum value of the Contract extension must not exceed 100% of the initial Contract value, in accordance with the pricing mechanism to be set out in Schedule 3 (Charges), provided that the overall nature of the Contract remains unchanged.

  Published 10 Jun 2026.Open supporting notice 054697-2026
• Renewal information is statedLot 2

  DfE reserves the right to extend this Contract by any period or periods of its choosing. Any extension shall be exercised by DfE giving the Supplier no less than three (3) months’ written notice prior to the expiry of the then current term. DfE further reserves the right to extend the Contract to cover additional cohorts or cohort volumes. Where such extensions are exercised, the maximum value of the Contract extension must not exceed 100% of the initial Contract value, in accordance with the pricing mechanism to be set out in Schedule 3 (Charges), provided that the overall nature of the Contract remains unchanged.