Belfast City Council has published a procurement opportunity for t2689 - delivery of various employability & skills requirements with an estimated value of £6,000,000. The submission deadline is the date stated in the official notice, giving eligible UK suppliers a limited window to prepare and submit bids through the official Find a Tender portal.

Published on 2026-04-10, this contract is open to suitably qualified suppliers across the United Kingdom. All businesses interested in bidding should review the full tender documentation and confirm they meet all eligibility requirements before the closing date.

Contract overview

Belfast City Council requires agile and flexible Employability and Skills solutions to be able to respond to challenges and opportunities within the labour market. Sufficient flexibility within the delivery of Employability & Skills interventions is required to take account of: a) Emerging needs. b) New initiatives and areas of development e.g. skills interventions within the Local Economic Partnership, Labour Market Partnership etc. c) Specialist employability and skills delivery. d) To test new areas of work as agreed. e) E&S specialist technical assistance. f) Sectors that are not covered within the current Employment Academy Framework (T2474) g) To pick up overflow of delivery if the current Contractors on T2474 are working to full capacity On this basis, the Council is considering setting up an "Open Framework", which would allow an open, fair, and transparent way of procuring the above services in the most efficient way possible. There will be no guarantee of any work for those Contractors on the new Open Framework, and any future call-offs will not be initiated until the following happens sequentially (which is designed to provide budgetary control): 1. Workplan and budget approval. 2. When agreed, a direct award or mini-competitions will then undertaken. 3. Delegated authority approval prior to awarding the call-off contract. An Open Framework will provide an opportunity for SMEs and Social Enterprises/Not-for-Profits to secure a place on the Framework, with the opportunity re-opening at various stages for new entrants to apply/re-apply.

Belfast City Council is the contracting authority. The estimated value is £6,000,000 and the deadline is the date stated in the official notice. Download the full specification from the official portal before preparing a bid.

Is your business eligible?

This contract is most relevant to IT consultancies, software developers, managed service providers. Suppliers typically need to demonstrate experience delivering similar contracts, appropriate financial standing, and hold Cyber Essentials Plus, ISO 27001.

Under the Procurement Act 2023, Belfast City Council must actively consider SME participation. Check whether this contract has been structured into lots.

• Proven track record in it & technology contracts of comparable scope
• Financial standing appropriate for a £6,000,000 contract
• Relevant certifications: Cyber Essentials Plus, ISO 27001
• Capacity to mobilise within Belfast City Council’s required timeframe

How to submit a bid

• Step 1 — Access the notice: Visit Find a Tender at https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032709-2026
• Step 2 — Register free: Create or log in to your supplier account
• Step 3 — Download documents: Read the full ITT before preparing your response
• Step 4 — Raise clarifications: Submit questions early — Q&A typically closes 1–2 weeks before the deadline
• Step 5 — Submit before the date stated in the official notice: Late submissions are not accepted

What the buyer will evaluate

Belfast City Council will assess all compliant bids against published criteria. Buyers typically apply a 60% quality and 40% price weighting. Under the Procurement Act 2023, social value is a mandatory evaluation criterion.

Writing a winning bid

• Lead with an executive summary addressing Belfast City Council’s objectives directly
• Provide two or more case studies with measurable outcomes from comparable contracts
• Include specific, costed social value commitments
• Price to win but ensure your margin covers full delivery

Frequently asked questions

Can SMEs bid for this contract?

Yes. The Procurement Act 2023 requires Belfast City Council to consider SME suitability and remove unnecessary barriers.

Is registration on the portal free?

Yes. Registering as a supplier on Find a Tender is completely free.

Where are the full tender documents?

All documents are on the official Find a Tender listing at https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032709-2026.

This article is for informational purposes only. Always verify all details on the official procurement portal before submitting a bid. Kael Tripton is not affiliated with or endorsed by Belfast City Council or the UK government.