Tender: Sunderland City Council – Adult Skills Programme Flexible Framework for Training Providers (Skills Foundation, Activation, Skills for Work)

About

Sunderland City Council is seeking training providers to deliver its Adult Skills Programme through a light-touch Flexible Framework comprising three funding lots: Skills Foundation, Skills Activation and Skills for Work. The procurement establishes a flexible framework under Section 45 of the Procurement Act 2023 to support future award of light-touch adult training and learning services, with contract opportunities evaluated on Most Advantageous Tender criteria including quality, price and social value. The Council's Learning, Skills and Employability Service will commission and manage delivery to achieve defined learner outcomes such as participation, retention, achievement, progression and positive destinations, with active performance monitoring, compliance with funding rules and alignment to Sunderland's Skills and Employment Strategy 2026-2030 and the New Deal for North East Workers. Suppliers must not subcontract any part of the requirements and unsuccessful applicants at Stage One may reapply when the Framework reopens; the Council may amend the Framework structure during its term. A supplier briefing will be held via Microsoft Teams at 2:00pm on Thursday 2 July 2026 — request an invite via the correspondence section in OPEN with attendee email addresses.