Schools Digital Capability and Delivery Partners: Software Development, Architecture, QAT and Data Engineering

Tender description

Terms and acronyms Please refer to the ‘Schools Digital Acronym Annex’ attachment within the Bid Pack. Summary of the work: DfE Schools Digital requires digital delivery partners to support the design, build and operation of agile services across its portfolio, primarily using C#/.NET and Ruby on Rails. The contracts will provide multidisciplinary capability, including software development, architecture, quality assurance and data engineering, to support programmes across the service lifecycle. Services must align with government digital standards and strategy, improving efficiency and reducing duplication of spend. Pricing model: Capped time and materials Confirm if you require a contracted out service or supply of resource: Supply of resource: the off-payroll rules may apply Organisation the work is for: Department for Education Latest start date: 2027-01-04 Expected contract length: 4-00-00 Expected contract structure: Initial term is for 2 years plus two optional 12-month extensions (2+1+1) Estimated contract value (excl VAT): 90000000 Budget details: Lot 1: up to a maximum value of £50,000,000 Lot 2: up to a maximum value of £40,000,000 Why the work is being done: The two Contracts will support Schools Digital, part of DfE Digital and Infrastructure Group, with development and transformation of digital services. There is an ongoing need for managed services alongside Civil Servants to deliver the Group’s missions and objectives, including Ministerial and Government priorities: • recruiting, retaining and training brilliant teachers. • ensuring high standards in the curriculum qualifications and assessment. • ensuring that all of this is underpinned by a stronger school system where every school benefits from being in a great trust and where the regulatory and accountability systems hold schools to high standards and keep children safe. • ensuring that children and young people in schools receive the support needed to help catch up on lost learning and that this support is embedded in long-term plans. Problem to be solved: Schools Digital are continuing to recruit Civil Servants. We have identified that there will remain a continuing need to procure digital specialist capabilities and services in the future: · to allow programmes to scale then reduce in size as significant development work completes. · to outsource work to third party suppliers to meet delivery milestones or to access digital specialists. This transformation is being delivered through the continuous enhancement and live operation of existing digital services, with new features and capabilities integrated through our agile delivery model to achieve ambitious programme objectives. In a large-scale government programme and complex environment, success depends on collaborative design with policymakers, a deep understanding of user and stakeholder needs, and an evidence-based approach that drives value and delivers meaningful outcomes. Who the users are and what they need to do: Schools Digital supports digital services across multiple areas. • Candidates: people who are applying for postgraduate teacher training courses. • Trainee Teachers in their training year to record their training and outcomes • Teacher Training suppliers and their personnel to support a vibrant teacher training sector • Anyone who has an involvement in teacher recruitment. This includes personnel responsible for posting job adverts, teaching role approvers, teachers, Headteachers, School Business Managers, local networks and any school hiring staff. • Schools as both employees and employers to support and understand recruitment needs - Early Years settings - Schools - Further Education settings • Teachers in the early years of their profession, and throughout their careers • School Leaders and the supporting their professional growth. • Parents. • Professionals within the SEND community to support the SEND agenda. • Education stakeholders. • Users of cross cutting services including • Get Information About Schools. • Get Information About Pupils. • Check Your Performance Measures Data. • Teacher Record Services. Preliminary market engagement: A Pre-Market Engagement session was held on 7th July 2026. The ITT annex includes the clarification Q&A circulated to suppliers following the Pre-Market Engagement session and is labelled 'Annex - Schools Digital Pre-Market Engagement Clarifications'. The engagement indicated that the market is ready, with suitable supplier interest shown. There are no further findings to report. Existing team: Schools Digital is a mature service with build-test-run delivery model experience which supports a scaled agile delivery capability. Our empowered and inclusive teams focus on how digital services combined with bold policy making, can break down the barriers to opportunity for children and young people, and empower world class teachers. We join up policy and delivery to build and grow effective, user-centred services. We support services across the standard GDS phases. Typical team size is usually around 10 to 12 with a DDaT skills mix such as Product/Service Managers, Delivery managers, Analysts, User Research and Design professionals, Architects, and Developers. Teams will be a mix of contractors and established civil servants. Incumbent supplier: Yes Provide further information: DfE currently utilises a number of delivery partners across its digital portfolio. The requirement being considered through this procurement is intended to aggregate and simplify access to a range of services and capabilities that are currently delivered through multiple arrangements and suppliers. This requirement is expected to bring together demand that is currently met through a variety of contracts and delivery partners across the department. Working arrangements: This will be a five day working week (Monday to Friday’s, not including English Bank Holidays) with the detailed working arrangements, including team location, size and make-up, contained within each Statement of Work. Day to day delivery will be governed by standard agile delivery techniques and ceremonies. These will be monitored by the Delivery Manager, and the Product Delivery Manager will be responsible for prioritising backlogs in refinement sessions. The Statement of Work will clearly set out the deliverables and acceptance criteria. Security clearance: Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Special terms and conditions: Please refer to the special terms within Document 6 - Draft Order Form Contract.