The Department for Education has issued an invitation to tender for delivery of the National Citizen Service programme in 2013 and 2014.

Initially the two-year contracts for 2013 and 2014 will be worth up to £200m, though there is potential to extend the deals into 2015 subject to performance.

This year, up to 30,000 will have the opportunity to participate in the programme and by 2014 as many as 90,000 places will be available.

Nineteen contracts will be available, centred on geographical regions, and each contract will provide at least 1,500 places. The government expects charities to form regional consortia to bid for the contracts.

Tenders must be received by the Department for Education by noon on 29 June. The tender document can be obtained by emailing [email protected].

There is also a website where interested organisations can register their interest in forming partnerships to get involved in delivering the programme.