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Mandarin Programme (2027 onwards)

Department for Education · Education

In brief

Department for Education has announced plans to buy training and education work. This is an early notice: there is nothing to bid on yet, but it tells you a tender may follow.

The notice does not state a value.

The contract runs for 3 years, starting 1 September 2027.

The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Competition

Typical: a median of 4 bids per contract for this buyer (from 32 awards in the last 12 months).

What the notice says

The Mandarin Excellence Programme runs until 31 August 2027, and the Department will be seeking to award a contract from 1 September 2027 for delivery of a programme to support the teaching of Mandarin in state-funded schools in England. Preliminary Market Engagement is being undertaken to inform and refine the Department's requirements as it considers options for a programme to support the teaching of Mandarin in state-funded schools in England. This engagement is intended to support the development of a programme that is deliverable, value for money, and responsive to the needs of the education sector, while encouraging innovation and effective competition within the supplier market. This is a zero-value notice for early market engagement and is not a call for competition. The Department for Education reserves the right not to enter a formal procurement process and not proceed with contract award.

How to bid

  1. Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
  2. Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
  3. Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.

Timeline

  1. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 050531-2026

About the buyer

Department for EducationLast 12 months

Procurements

210

Awards

133

Suppliers it has used most for training

All tenders and awards from Department for Education

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From notice 050531-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 28 May 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.