If you run a training or L&D business and look at public sector work for long, you will meet the initials CCS. Crown Commercial Service was the government's central buying organisation, and since 1 April 2026 it has been part of the Government Commercial Agency (GCA). This guide explains what Crown Commercial Service is, how its agreements work, and which ones a training provider can actually use.
It also explains why CCS frameworks are rarely a smaller provider's first route.
At a glance
- Crown Commercial Service (CCS) ran commercial agreements that the whole public sector can buy through.
- On 1 April 2026, CCS became part of the Government Commercial Agency (GCA). Existing CCS agreements remain valid.
- The main learning agreement is the Learning and Training Services DPS (RM6219), live until 27 October 2028.
- Two related agreements cover publicly funded adult skills (RM6348) and apprenticeships (RM6102).
- GCA plans a single successor, RM6303 Learning and Development 2, under the Procurement Act 2023.
From CCS to GCA
On 1 April 2026, Crown Commercial Service was combined with several Cabinet Office commercial teams to form the Government Commercial Agency. For providers the change is organisational, not legal: GCA says the legality of existing CCS agreements does not change, and existing contracts and call-offs stay valid on the terms they were awarded under.
How CCS frameworks work
CCS frameworks give public bodies a compliant way to buy from pre-approved suppliers: GCA sets up an agreement once, and councils, NHS trusts and colleges award contracts from it instead of each running its own procurement. Two kinds matter here:
- Frameworks, which are closed (no new suppliers once live, usually four years) or open (reopen at set points). See what is a framework agreement.
- Dynamic purchasing systems, which stay open for new suppliers to join. All three current learning agreements are DPSs. See dynamic purchasing systems.
RM6219: the CCS agreement for learning and training
RM6219 Learning and Training Services is a DPS, set up under the old Public Contracts Regulations 2015, which started on 29 October 2021 and ends on 27 October 2028. GCA lists it as live. Its buyers include local government, the NHS, police, fire and rescue, housing associations, charities and the education sector, so if you were searching for a CCS framework for education and training, this is it.
Buyers filter providers by learning category, including coaching and mentoring, health and safety, leadership and management, NHS clinical and non-clinical training, NHS CPD and wellbeing, and by four service routes: off-the-shelf training, bespoke training, learning technologies and education services.
Buyers award in two ways. A rapid award, for off-the-shelf training only, is a desktop evaluation of shortlisted providers' prospectus and pricing. A standard award is a further competition for anything else. RM6219 is also part of the Workforce Alliance, which GCA runs with NHS Procurement in Partnership, and NHS London Procurement Partnership offers it to its members.
The other learning agreements
- RM6348 Adult Skills and Learning DPS buys publicly funded training for adults and young adults in the general public, such as the adult skills fund and skills bootcamps. It ends on 27 October 2028.
- RM6102 Apprenticeship Training Dynamic Marketplace is a DPS for apprenticeship training and end-point assessment, which buyers can pay for with apprenticeship levy funds. Its suppliers are registered with the Department for Education. It ends on 27 October 2028. See APAR, UKPRN and apprenticeship DPSs.
What comes next: RM6303
GCA has announced RM6303 Learning and Development 2, to replace RM6219 and RM6348. It will be let under the Procurement Act 2023's light touch regime, either as an open framework of up to eight years or a closed one of four, and will cover courses, coaching, bespoke training, learning systems, managed learning services and adult skills. The lots are not yet set, and as of 1 October 2026 the tender notice is not yet published. GCA lists Cyber Essentials accredited suppliers among its benefits: see Cyber Essentials for training providers.
Why most of your first frameworks will not be CCS
CCS agreements are national. A buyer filtering RM6219 chooses from a large pool of qualified providers, national and regional, and a rapid award is a desk evaluation of prospectus, pre-answered questions and price. That is a crowded place for a newcomer.
Councils and NHS trusts also buy training through routes they run themselves or through regional buying organisations such as YPO and NEPO. Those routes are smaller, cover a defined area or subject, and are often easier to qualify for. That is why the six we focus on are run by councils, an NHS trust, a university and YPO rather than GCA. See the public sector frameworks list, our frameworks overview, and the Hull learning and training DPS as a lighter first step.
RM6219 is still worth joining once your policies and evidence are in order, but not as your only route.
Frequently asked questions
What is Crown Commercial Service?
The UK government's central buying organisation, running agreements the whole public sector can use. On 1 April 2026 it became part of the Government Commercial Agency.
Did CCS frameworks change when it became GCA?
No. GCA says existing CCS agreements remain legally valid and existing contracts and call-offs continue on their original terms.
What is RM6219?
The Learning and Training Services DPS, the CCS agreement public bodies use to buy off-the-shelf and bespoke training. It runs from 29 October 2021 to 27 October 2028 and accepts new training providers while it runs.
Is there a CCS framework for education and training?
Yes. RM6219 covers learning and training for public sector staff, RM6348 covers publicly funded adult skills and RM6102 covers apprenticeships. GCA plans to replace RM6219 and RM6348 with a framework, RM6303.
How does a training provider get onto a CCS agreement?
Apply to the current DPSs at any point while they run. For a framework such as RM6303, watch GCA's upcoming agreements page and Find a Tender, and apply in your own name during the tender window.
Sources
- GCA — Crown Commercial Service (CCS)
- GCA — Government Commercial Agency: what you need to know
- GCA — Become a supplier on a GCA framework agreement
- GCA — Learning and Training Services DPS (RM6219)
- GCA — Adult Skills and Learning DPS (RM6348)
- GCA — Apprenticeship Training Dynamic Marketplace (RM6102)
- GCA — Learning and Development 2 (RM6303)
- NHS London Procurement Partnership — Learning and Training Services DPS
- GOV.UK — Government Commercial Agency: about us