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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Open Light Touch Framework for Independent and Alternative Education Support for Children and Young People in Devon

Devon County Council · Tender notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 28 Sept 2026, 16:02.

Opportunity overview

Devon County Council will be setting up an open framework (Framework Three) for Independent and Alternative Education Support for Children and Young People in Devon. The framework will comprise the following Lots: Lot 1a - Pre-16 Education Placements for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) with independent schools, independent special schools or non-maintained special schools. Lot 1b - Post-16 Education Placements for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and an Education, Health and Care Plan(EHCP) with independent post-16 settings and independent special post-16 settings schools and colleges. Lot 2a - Bespoke packages of Alternative Education Provision support which form part of an educated other than at school (EOTAS) which has been named within a child or young person's statutory Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Lot 2b - Bespoke packages of Alternative Education Provision support to enable children and young people to reintegrate to their school or move onto another education setting.

Classification

  • CPV80000000 — Education and training services
  • CPV85000000 — Health and social work services

Lots

  • Pre-16 Education Placements£357.1m
  • Post-16 Education Placements£163.4m
  • Alternative Education Provision (EOTAS)£59.2m
  • Alternative Education Provision (Reintegration)£34.3m

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
CP2491-24
Status
active
Procurement Method
open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Main Procurement Category
services
Above Threshold
Yes
How to submit
Submissions must be made via the Supplying the South West tendering portal. https://www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk/ Further information regarding submissions can be viewed in Section 5 (Submission Instructions) of the Invitation to Tender (ITT) document.
Has Recurrence
Yes

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Special regime

lightTouch

Covered By

GPA

Techniques

Has Framework Agreement
Yes

Framework Agreement

Is Open Framework Scheme
Yes
Method
withAndWithoutReopeningCompetition
Type
closed
Description
An 'open framework' is a scheme of successive frameworks awarded on substantially the same terms. New providers can Bid and be added each time the framework is reopened. The existing framework ends and a new framework begins after each reopening process. In compliance with Section 49 of the Act an Open Framework must re-open at least once during the first three (3) years and then at least once during the following five (5) year period. Each time a Framework is reopened for Bids, this will be known as an Entry Point. The Framework Agreements entered into after each Entry Point will be known by the successive Framework number. e.g. the initial Framework linked to Entry Point 1 will be known as Framework One, the subsequent Framework linked to Entry Point 2 will be known as Framework Two and so on. After this Entry Point it is anticipated that there will be one (1) Entry Point in each of the following years as from 2025 for the duration of the Open Framework. However, the Authority reserves the right to have more Entry Points at its discretion. A Tender Notice will be published on the Platform each time the Framework is re-opened. Existing Providers who were previously appointed onto one or more Lot(s) of the Open Framework will automatically be appointed onto the subsequent Framework(s) and will not need to take any action in response to the re-opening of the Framework unless: - they choose to submit a new Bid in response to an Entry Point, or - they request in writing that the Authority does not appoint them onto one or more Lot(s) of the new Framework following the re-opening of an Entry Point Bidders who are successful in a bid will be appointed onto the open framework by entering into a Framework Agreement, with Devon County Council (DCC) Placements and packages of work under any of the Lots will then be awarded via a mini competition process or a direct award. A full explanation of the processes can be found within the Framework Agreement. Please note that DCC cannot give any guarantee of business or of the actual value of any Contracts awarded under the Framework. Usage and values of Contracts may be affected by the implementation of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). Further information on LGR can be found in the ITT document
Open Framework Scheme End Date
10 Dec 2033, 23:59

Submission terms

Electronic Submission Policy
allowed

Languages

en

Tender Period

Ends
10 Nov 2026, 12:00

Enquiry period

Ends
3 Nov 2026, 12:00

Expected award period

Ends
22 Dec 2026, 23:59

Recurrence

Dates

Entry 1
Starts
20 Sept 2027, 23:59

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1a
Title
Pre-16 Education Placements
Description
Pre-16 Education Placements for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) with independent schools, independent special schools or non-maintained special schools
Status
active

Value

Including VAT
428,475,600
Amount
357,063,000
Currency
GBP

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
Quality

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
100
Weight
percentageExact

Suitability

Sme
Yes

Contract period

Starts
28 Jan 2027, 00:00
Ends
4 Jan 2028, 23:59
Entry 2
Id
1b
Title
Post-16 Education Placements
Description
Post-16 Education Placements for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) with independent post-16 settings and independent special post-16 settings schools and colleges.
Status
active

Value

Including VAT
192,124,400
Amount
163,437,000
Currency
GBP

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
Quality

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
100
Weight
percentageExact

Suitability

Sme
Yes

Contract period

Starts
28 Jan 2027, 00:00
Ends
4 Jan 2028, 23:59
Entry 3
Id
2a
Title
Alternative Education Provision (EOTAS)
Description
Bespoke packages of Alternative Education Provision support which form part of an educated other than at school (EOTAS) which has been named within a child or young person's statutory Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
Status
active

Value

Including VAT
71,015,004
Amount
59,179,170
Currency
GBP

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
Quality

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
100
Weight
percentageExact

Suitability

Sme
Yes

Contract period

Starts
28 Jan 2027, 00:00
Ends
4 Jan 2028, 23:59
Entry 4
Id
2b
Title
Alternative Education Provision (Reintegration)
Description
Bespoke packages of Alternative Education Provision support to enable children and young people to reintegrate to their school or move onto another education setting.
Status
active

Value

Including VAT
41,172,996
Amount
34,310,830
Currency
GBP

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
Quality

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
100
Weight
percentageExact

Suitability

Sme
Yes

Contract period

Starts
28 Jan 2027, 00:00
Ends
4 Jan 2028, 23:59

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1a
Related Lot
1a

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
80000000
Description
Education and training services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
85000000
Description
Health and social work services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKK
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 2
Id
1b
Related Lot
1b

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
80000000
Description
Education and training services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
85000000
Description
Health and social work services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKK
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 3
Id
2a
Related Lot
2a

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
80000000
Description
Education and training services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
85000000
Description
Health and social work services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKK
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 4
Id
2b
Related Lot
2b

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
80000000
Description
Education and training services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
85000000
Description
Health and social work services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKK
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Published documents

Entry 1
Id
conflictOfInterest
Document Type
conflictOfInterest
Description
Not published
Entry 2
Id
091483-2026
Document Type
tenderNotice
Notice Type
UK4
Description
Tender notice on Find a Tender
Published
28 Sept 2026, 14:34
Format
text/html

Planning and budget

No Engagement Notice Rationale
Not applicable

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Name
Devon County Council
Id
GB-PPON-PJRC-4623-RJBH

Identifier

Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PJRC-4623-RJBH

Address

Street Address
County Hall, Topsham Road,
Locality
Exeter,
Postal Code
EX2 4QD
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKK43

Contact

Roles

buyer

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Id
publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment
Description
Public authority - sub-central government

Related procurements

Entry 1
Id
prior
Scheme
ocid
Identifier
ocds-h6vhtk-04ea55

Relationship

prior

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Exeter, · UKK43 · EX2 4QD · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKK · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. 091483-2026Tender notice on Find a Tender ·