Opportunity Overview
The Standards and Testing Agency (STA), an executive agency of the Department for Education (DfE), is responsible for the delivery of statutory National Curriculum Assessments (NCAs), including Key Stage 1 assessments (optional), Phonics screening check (statutory) and Key Stage 2 assessments (statutory).
The current arrangements for the delivery of assessment operations for these assessments are due to expire following the delivery of assessments in 2029. To inform future decisions, STA has established the Future Service Management Programme to consider our delivery options.
The programme is considering a range of potential options for the future delivery of assessment services. These services include, but are not limited to, print production, collation and logistics, scanning, marking, customer support services, systems provision, data processing and integration.
The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is to advise the market of STA's intention to undertake early market engagement activities to inform the assessment of our options. This engagement is intended to improve STA's understanding of current market capability, emerging technologies, innovative delivery approaches, commercial models and potential opportunities and constraints associated with the future provision of assessment services.
STA is seeking input from organisations with relevant expertise and experience in one or more aspects of the service.
Details of the market engagement activity can be found in the engagement section of this notice.
Following the engagement activities, STA may invite interested organisations to participate in further market engagement through questionnaires, workshops, requests for information or additional discussions. Feedback gathered through these activities will help shape STA's understanding of the market and support the development of future recommendations.
Participation in this market engagement process will not form part of any future procurement...
The current arrangements for the delivery of assessment operations for these assessments are due to expire following the delivery of assessments in 2029. To inform future decisions, STA has established the Future Service Management Programme to consider our delivery options.
The programme is considering a range of potential options for the future delivery of assessment services. These services include, but are not limited to, print production, collation and logistics, scanning, marking, customer support services, systems provision, data processing and integration.
The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is to advise the market of STA's intention to undertake early market engagement activities to inform the assessment of our options. This engagement is intended to improve STA's understanding of current market capability, emerging technologies, innovative delivery approaches, commercial models and potential opportunities and constraints associated with the future provision of assessment services.
STA is seeking input from organisations with relevant expertise and experience in one or more aspects of the service.
Details of the market engagement activity can be found in the engagement section of this notice.
Following the engagement activities, STA may invite interested organisations to participate in further market engagement through questionnaires, workshops, requests for information or additional discussions. Feedback gathered through these activities will help shape STA's understanding of the market and support the development of future recommendations.
Participation in this market engagement process will not form part of any future procurement...
How to bid: GlobalGov tracks this tender; it does not accept bids. Submit your response through the issuing agency’s official notice.
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| Issuing agency | Department for Education |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Category | Government Procurement |
| Published | October 02, 2026 |
| Procurement stage | Request for Proposal (RFP) |
| Response due | Not specified / rolling |
| Status | Open — accepting responses |
| Official source | View original notice |
| Last verified | October 11, 2026 |
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: UK Government (Find a Tender).
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