Alternatives to People and Research

DN Colleges Group (DNCG) invites tenders from suitably qualified and experienced organisations for appointment to a Learner Finder Preferred Supplier List (PSL). The requirement primarily concerns identifying, engaging and recruiting eligible learners for Adult Skills Funded provision across South Yorkshire and Greater Lincolnshire, including online and distance-learning courses. Services will include learner recruitment, initial advice and guidance, eligibility checks, enrolment support, controlled learner handovers and performance reporting. The arrangement also provides scope for additional learner recruitment services relating to classroom-based Adult Skills, Higher Education and 16-19 provision, where offered by the successful suppliers. DNCG intends to appoint up to three suppliers, ranked following a competitive evaluation. The highest-ranked supplier will ordinarily receive the first opportunity to fulfil requirements, with any unmet demand cascading to the next-ranked supplier in accordance with the published arrangements. The contract will operate for an initial three-year period, with options to extend for two further 12-month periods (3 + 1 + 1). Pricing will be based on agreed fees per eligible learner. No minimum expenditure or learner volumes are guaranteed. The full specification, evaluation methodology, contract terms and tender return requirements are contained within the procurement documentation. To access this competition: Registered: Login to https://suppliers.multiquote.com and view the opportunity CA18541. Not registered: Visit https://suppliers.multiquote.com then register and quote CA18541 as the reason for registration. Any queries please contact MultiQuote on 020 3920 8054.

Competent consultancy companies are hereby invited to tender to design, develop and deliver a minority community support programme, that will be delivered across the Rowallane and Slieve Croob DEAs (District Electoral Areas). The programme will provide participants with an engaging opportunity to explore the stories of migration, emigration, identity and belonging that have shaped Northern Ireland and its communities over generations. Through a combination of interactive workshops, genealogy activities, and a cultural study visit, participants will examine the historical movements of people that have influenced language, traditions, culture and community life, while also reflecting on their own family histories and personal journeys. To access this competition: Registered: Login to https://suppliers.multiquote.com and view the opportunity CA18552. Not registered: Visit https://suppliers.multiquote.com then register and quote CA18552 as the reason for registration. Any queries please contact MultiQuote on 020 3920 8054.

CCS set up a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for a period of 48 months with the extension option of 24 months. A further extension period of 43 months has been implemented. The total duration of this DPS is 9 years and 7 months and the end date is 27 October 2028. Bidders can request to participate for this DPS for its 115 month duration including any extension periods. This DPS is being procured under the Light Touch Regime (LTR), and is subject to limited regulations, in accordance with Regulations 74-76 PCR2015. This DPS provides central government and wider public sector with the opportunity to procure services within the scope of the existing and new Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE) live Frameworks, Apprenticeships Standards, End Point Assessments (EPAs); and related services via a number of Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) registered suppliers on the Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) Register and or the Register of EPA Organisations (RoEPAO). CCS reserve the right to reduce, extend or terminate the DPS period at any time during its life time; as set out in the terms of the DMP Agreement. Additional information: CCS set up a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for a period of 48 months with the extension option of 24 months. A further extension period of 43 months has been implemented. The total duration of this DPS is 9 years and 7 months and the end date is 27 October 2028. Please be aware the dates input in the 'Contract Start Date' and 'Contract End Date' have been revised to enable the opportunity to remain open on Contracts Finder. The 'Closing Date' input is correct and is a true reflection of the contract end date for RM6102 - Apprenticeship Training Dynamic Marketplace. Please note that the original notice(s) for the RM6102 Apprenticeship Training DPS were published on Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) and Contracts Finder. As access to TED is no longer held this notice has been published on Find a Tender Service (FTS) for transparency. All relevant links can be found within the Contracts Finder notice.

The Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) initiative is a programme by the DfE that is central to the goal of raising standards for all children in all schools across the country. RISE forms part of the government’s Opportunity Mission which focuses on breaking down the barriers to opportunity and ending the link between background and success. The RISE grant will provide mandatory targeted intervention to schools that Ofsted have identified as needing to improve which will act as a catalyst for collaboration and improvement. Where appropriate, RISE teams will arrange for a high-quality organisation to work with a school, via its responsible body, with grants available to fund supporting activity.

Invitation to Tender for Supply & Delivery of various City & Guilds Training Courses & Certification. Apply via the in-tend procurement portal: https://supplier.in-tend.co.uk/bedford/home

Skills Bursaries provide grants of up to £1,000 for people seeking to grow their expertise in community heritage work. Open to applicants at any stage of their personal or professional journey, these bursaries can be used for training, mentoring, attending workshops, or other professional development activities related to heritage and community engagement to be determined by you. Offered on a rolling basis, Skills Bursaries are designed to be accessible and responsive, helping to build confidence and capacity across the sector—particularly among those who may not have had access to such opportunities before.

The Department for Education (DfE) is seeking to appoint, via an expression of interest (EOI), expert panel members to support the development of the Primary Oracy Framework. Although this is a primary framework, this document will include secondary content and may require secondary expertise. The panel members will work with the lead drafter and DfE to produce a document that provides non-statutory guidance to support the effective teaching of oracy in schools. Panel members will have strong theoretical oracy-expertise and/or extensive experience of delivering oracy across the curriculum, in programmes for schools and CPD for teachers and leaders in different education settings. The role of panel member will include: i. providing expertise and experience to support the development of the framework, including on accuracy of content and deliverability of the content. ii. drafting sections/chapters of the framework and/or making contributions to sections/chapters. iii. attending regular meetings with the DfE & lead drafter to contribute to discussions on the scope and content of the document. The panel will provide advice and guidance and reach a consensus on the issues discussed. iv. advising on evidence and examples of best practice in England and internationally. v. providing regular reviews of content and comment on different iterations of the draft framework. vi. commenting on options for a sustainable approach to the delivery of the Primary-Oracy-Framework, taking account of relevant good practice and innovation from the wider sector. vii. supporting the launch of the Primary Oracy Framework, including using their own networks where appropriate. All panel members will operate on a pro-bono basis. However, where travel expenses are incurred by panel members for in-person meetings, the DfE will reimburse panel members. Governance and Quality Assurance The Department will appoint a lead drafter to develop and drafter the Primary Oracy Framework. This will be a pro-bono agreement, & no fees or commercial consideration will be paid by the Department under this agreement. To support transparency and independent challenge, an Expert Panel will be established through an open Expression of Interest process. How to Apply Applicants must review & comply with the requirements, eligibility criteria, and detailed application instructions set out in the attached documentation. Applications should include only the information and supporting evidence specifically requested within the application documents. Failure to follow the application instructions or provide the required information may result in the application not being considered. To be considered, applicants must: 1. Review attached Specification and supporting documents; 2. Complete the official EOI Application Form provided with this opportunity; 3. Submit the completed Application Form (and any requested supporting information) to oracy.FRAMEWORK@education.gov.uk by 4pm 23-10-26

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) established a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) to procure Work Focused Activities for Jobcentre Plus Districts in England, Scotland and Wales via the previous DWP eProcurement Solution (ePS). DWP has now migrated to a new ePS, Atamis and DWP are therefore reissuing this notice via the Atamis portal. However, please note that 'online' applications to join the FSF DPS 2 via the Atamis Portal are currently suspended and a temporary 'offline' process is in place, further details are below. The DPS is for the procurement of social and other services referred to in Regulation 74 of the Public Contracts Regulations (2015) and as such, the intention is to use a light touch regime, rather than the full regime described in Regulation 34 (Dynamic Purchasing System). The DPS is for the sole use of DWP. The Flexible Support Fund Dynamic Purchasing System 2 - For the Provision of Work Focused Activities (FSF DPS 2) is the replacement for the DWP Dynamic Purchasing System for provision of work-focused activities known as the Flexible Support Fund DPS (FSF DPS). The FSF DPS expired on 31 October 2021 and was replaced by the FSF DPS 2 with effect from 1 November 2021. Currently the 'online' application process is suspended, and a temporary 'offline' process is in operation. Any new supplier wishing to apply to join the FSF DPS 2 should send an email to cdfsf.adhocprocurement@dwp.gov.uk requesting to apply to join the FSF DPS 2, and the relevant information will be sent to you via email. Although DWP are currently operating an 'offline' process to join the FSF DPS 2, suppliers will still be required to create an account on Atamis. Suppliers can do this via the link below, which will take you to the DWP Atamis landing page. To ensure that the page functions correctly, you must accept browser cookies https://dwp2.my.site.com/s/Welcome From this landing page, new suppliers will be able to create an Atamis account by selecting the "Supplier Registration Here" button and following the on screen instructions. The landing page also has a link to the Supplier Portal Help page, where you will find an article to help with registering for an account https://suppliersupport.atamis.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/4613254620319-Registering-with-a-Supplier-Portal Estimated overall value of this DPS will be £250,000,000.00 Additional Information As of 1 January 2021, the internationally comparable regional geography for the UK is the International Territorial Levels (ITLs) geography. This has replaced the Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) geographies for the UK that were operational when the UK was a member of the European Union. Please refer to the spreadsheet to see how the NUTS Code correspond to the ITL Codes at Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3.

Expected Outcome: Projects are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes: Effective and innovative methods for gathering, sharing and using large data sets in energy applications for the purpose of training AI models while ensuring privacy and security. Advanced and - wherever possible - open-source AI foundation models to support the digitalisation of the energy system, through improved grid observability, forecasting of supply and demand, advanced storage and renewables integration, demand side flexibility and energy efficiency. Enhanced cooperation, knowledge sharing and interoperability among energy system actors for secure and seamless data exchange. Advanced methodologies for AI model development ensuring that the results are FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) beyond the project ending, open source and accommodating for technology evolution. Scope: The quality of AI models depends strongly on the amount, quality, and representativeness of the data used for their training. Projects are expected to focus on developing, training and testing AI foundation models, using extensive data sets to accelerate the energy transition in key focus…

The Great British Energy (GBE) Supply Chain Fund: Offshore Wind and Networks will award up to £300 million in capital grant funding to build UK manufacturing capacity for key constrained components in offshore wind and enabling electricity networks sectors. Funding must be used to construct new or extend existing manufacturing facilities in the UK. The application window will close 10 December 2026 (or earlier if the Fund's budget is fully allocated).

Catering Services Opportunity Invitation to Tender - Catering Services Across 13 Schools within Danes Educational Trust Danes Educational Trust is seeking to appoint an exceptional, innovative and collaborative catering partner to deliver high-quality catering services across its family of 13 schools, comprising 6 Primary Schools and 7 Secondary Schools. As a dynamic and ambitious Multi Academy Trust, Danes Educational Trust is committed to providing outstanding educational environments where pupils and students can flourish. The Trust recognises the vital role that food, nutrition and the dining experience play in supporting wellbeing, educational outcomes and the development of healthy lifelong habits. Consequently, the Trust is seeking a catering provider that shares its vision, values and commitment to excellence. The successful catering partner will be responsible for delivering fresh, nutritious and appealing food offers that meet the diverse needs of pupils, students and staff across both primary and secondary settings. The Trust is looking for a provider that will move beyond traditional school catering models, bringing innovation, creativity and commercial expertise to create vibrant and engaging dining experiences that increase participation and enhance customer satisfaction. Menus should offer a range of contemporary, nutritious and appealing choices that reflect current food trends whilst remaining fully compliant with School Food Standards. The successful provider will be expected to continually evolve and develop its offer, ensuring that food provision remains relevant, exciting and responsive to the feedback of students, pupils and staff. Food safety and allergen management are of paramount importance to the Trust. Bidders must clearly demonstrate that allergen awareness, risk management and food safety are embedded throughout their organisation and form part of the company's culture and operational DNA. The Trust expects robust allergen controls, comprehensive staff training, effective communication processes and industry-leading systems to protect those with dietary requirements and food allergies. Danes Educational Trust is seeking more than a contractor; it is looking for a genuine strategic partner that will work collaboratively with school leaders and stakeholders to support wider educational objectives, engage with pupils and students, promote healthy eating, support sustainability initiatives and contribute positively to each school's culture and community. Bidder Requirements Prospective bidders must be able to demonstrate: • Significant experience delivering catering services within a Multi Academy Trust environment. • A successful track record of operating across multiple school locations under a single contract structure. • Proven experience catering for both Primary and Secondary Schools, with a clear understanding of the differing requirements, dining patterns and expectations of each phase. • The capability and resources to successfully manage catering services across 13 schools comprising 6 Primary Schools and 7 Secondary Schools. • Strong evidence of increasing meal uptake, enhancing customer satisfaction and delivering excellent value for money. • Full compliance with all relevant legislation relating to food safety, nutrition, employment, safeguarding, health and safety, and allergen management. • Robust allergen management systems, procedures and training programmes embedded throughout the organisation. • A commitment to innovation through menu development, themed events, promotional activities and customer engagement initiatives. • Proven mobilisation and change management expertise to ensure a seamless transition from any incumbent provider. • Financial stability and the ability to invest in continuous service improvement, training, technology and innovation throughout the contract term. • Demonstrable commitment to sustainability, food provenance, waste reduction and supporting environmental objectives. Partnership Expectations The appointed provider will be expected to: • Deliver consistently high standards of food quality and customer service. • Work in partnership with school leaders, Trust representatives and key stakeholders. • Engage regularly with pupils, students and staff to shape and improve the catering offer. • Support food education, health and wellbeing initiatives across the Trust. • Maintain outstanding standards of food safety, allergen management and compliance. • Drive continuous improvement and innovation throughout the contract term. • Create welcoming dining environments that encourage healthy eating habits and increase participation. Contract Opportunity The contract will be awarded for an initial term of three years, with the option, at the Trust's discretion, to extend for a further two years based on successful performance, service quality and continued alignment with the Trust's strategic objectives. This represents an exciting opportunity for an experienced and forward-thinking catering organisation to partner with Danes Educational Trust and play a central role in enhancing the daily experience of pupils, students and staff across its schools. The Trust welcomes interest from dynamic, ambitious and education-focused catering providers capable of delivering a service that reflects the values, aspirations and excellence expected throughout the Trust. To access this competition: Registered: Login to https://suppliers.multiquote.com and view the opportunity CA18527. Not registered: Visit https://suppliers.multiquote.com then register and quote CA18527 as the reason for registration. Any queries please contact MultiQuote on 020 3920 8054.

DETAILED DESIGN, MANUFACTURE, TEST, SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF HIGH EFFICIENCY PARTICULATE AIR (HEPA) FILTERS FOR USE IN RADIOACTIVE AND/OR TOXIC ATMOSPHERIC AIR OR INERT GAS HANDLING SYSTEMS This procurement is a collaborative procurement led by Sellafield Ltd on behalf of the NDA Operating Companies. The operating companies on this procurement are Sellafield Ltd, NWS (Magnox) and NWS (Dounreay).