✓Tender information last checkedLast checked 14 Oct 2026, 14:06.
Opportunity overview
Pre-Market Engagement Notice – Alternative Education and Provision Framework
Alternative Education and Provision Tender
Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedford Borough Council are developing a new Alternative Education and Provision Framework, which is intended to commence on 1 September 2027.
We are aiming to open the procurement opportunity for applications in November 2026 and would like to invite interested providers to attend a Pre-Market Engagement Event via Microsoft Teams on:
Date: Tuesday 27 October 2026
Time: 13:30 - 15:30
The session will provide an opportunity for providers to learn more about the proposed framework, understand the councils' requirements, and ask questions ahead of the procurement process.
Agenda
Defining Alternative Education and Provision
Our Aims and Analysis
Contract Monitoring
Quality Assurance
Procurement Process
Social Value
Tender Timelines
Questions and Close
If you would like to attend, or have any queries regarding the event, please contact:
ChildrensCommissioningEnquiries@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
We look forward to engaging with providers and welcoming your feedback as we develop the new framework.
Classification
CPV80000000 — Education and training services
CPV80340000 — Special education services
CPV80420000 — E-learning services
CPV80530000 — Vocational training services
CPV80590000 — Tutorial services
Lots
Lot 1Value not stated
Documents and notices
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a TenderOpen source ↗
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.
Email address changed to ChildrensCommissioningEnquiries@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Id
096964-2026
Lots and requirements
Entry 1
Id
1
Has Renewal
Yes
Status
planning
Suitability
Sme
Yes
Vcse
Yes
Contract period
Starts
1 Sept 2027, 00:00
Ends
31 Aug 2031, 23:59
Max Extent Date
31 Aug 2035, 23:59
Items and delivery
Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1
Additional Classifications
Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
80000000
Description
Education and training services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
80340000
Description
Special education services
Entry 3
Scheme
CPV
Id
80420000
Description
E-learning services
Entry 4
Scheme
CPV
Id
80530000
Description
Vocational training services
Entry 5
Scheme
CPV
Id
80590000
Description
Tutorial services
Delivery locations
Entry 1
Region
UKH25
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 2
Region
UKH24
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Planning and budget
Milestones
Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Description
Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedford Borough Council are developing a new Alternative Education and Provision Framework, which is intended to commence on 1 September 2027.
We are aiming to open the procurement opportunity for applications in November 2026 and would like to invite interested providers to attend a Pre-Market Engagement Event via Microsoft Teams.
Due
27 Oct 2026, 23:59
Status
scheduled
Documents
Entry 1
Id
096964-2026
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Bedford Borough Council is acting as a joint commissioning authority and participating contracting authority alongside Central Bedfordshire Council in the development and future procurement of the Alternative Education Provision Framework.
2 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.
2 VERSIONS
1
095629-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
2
096964-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
PROCURAAXIS ANALYSIS
ProcuraAxis Analysis
Our approved analysis of the opportunity appears below the official tender information.
ANALYSIS PREVIEW
Opportunity intelligence at a glance
Early-market engagement for a proposed Alternative Education and Provision Framework for Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedford Borough Council. The framework is intended to start on 1 September 2027; the councils aim to open applications in November 2026. Interested providers are invited to a Microsoft Teams engagement event on 27 October 2026.
Who this may suit
Potential fit for providers of alternative education and provision, including special education, e-learning, vocational training or tutorial services. Final supplier requirements are not yet stated.
Key points identified
Pre-market eventInterested providers are invited to attend a Microsoft Teams event on Tuesday 27 October 2026, 13:30–15:30.Evidence: “invite interested providers to attend a Pre-Market Engagement Event via Microsoft Teams” and “Date: Tuesday 27 October 2026 Time: 13:30 - 15:30”
Future framework scopeAlternative Education and Provision.Evidence: “developing a new Alternative Education and Provision Framework”
Final supplier requirementsUnknown; the event is intended to help providers understand the councils' requirements ahead of procurement.Evidence: “understand the councils' requirements ... ahead of the procurement process”
94% approved-analysis confidence4 supplier criteria identified3 risks or unknowns
ProcuraAxis structures information found in published procurement records, checks the result for consistency and publishes only approved analysis. Confidence describes the completeness and consistency of the available source information; it is not a guarantee of eligibility or contract award.
Early-market engagement for a proposed Alternative Education and Provision Framework for Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedford Borough Council. The framework is intended to start on 1 September 2027; the councils aim to open applications in November 2026. Interested providers are invited to a Microsoft Teams engagement event on 27 October 2026.
Who this may suit
Potential fit for providers of alternative education and provision, including special education, e-learning, vocational training or tutorial services. Final supplier requirements are not yet stated.
Key deliverables
Alternative Education and Provision Framework (proposed)
Provider feedback through pre-market engagement
Potential education and training provision, subject to the future tender
SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS
4 criteria identified
Pre-market event
99% confidence
Interested providers are invited to attend a Microsoft Teams event on Tuesday 27 October 2026, 13:30–15:30.
View supporting evidence
“invite interested providers to attend a Pre-Market Engagement Event via Microsoft Teams” and “Date: Tuesday 27 October 2026 Time: 13:30 - 15:30”
Future framework scope
98% confidence
Alternative Education and Provision.
View supporting evidence
“developing a new Alternative Education and Provision Framework”
Final supplier requirements
97% confidence
Unknown; the event is intended to help providers understand the councils' requirements ahead of procurement.
View supporting evidence
“understand the councils' requirements ... ahead of the procurement process”
Eligibility criteria
98% confidence
Unknown at this pre-market engagement stage.
View supporting evidence
No eligibility criteria are stated in the supplied notice content.
COMMERCIAL AND DELIVERY
Contract intelligence
Commercial
Contract value
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No value is supplied.
Commercial terms
98% confidence
Unknown; this is a pre-market engagement notice.
View supporting evidence
“Pre-Market Engagement Notice”
Delivery
Delivery area
93% confidence
UKH24 and UKH25 regions (as stated delivery locations).
View supporting evidence
Supplied delivery locations list regions “UKH24” and “UKH25”.
Proposed framework commencement
98% confidence
1 September 2027.
View supporting evidence
“intended to commence on 1 September 2027”
PROCEDURE
How to respond
Procurement status
99% confidence
Planning / preliminary market engagement; this notice does not evidence an open tender.
View supporting evidence
Stage is “planning”; notice type is “Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender”; “aiming to open the procurement opportunity for applications in November 2026”.
Procurement route
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No procurement method is supplied.
Indicative application opening
96% confidence
November 2026.
View supporting evidence
“aiming to open the procurement opportunity for applications in November 2026”
Submission deadline
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No submission deadline is supplied.
RISKS AND UNKNOWNS
Points requiring attention
Status and timing warning
99% confidence
The display status is “open”, but the supplied stage, notice type and narrative identify a planning-stage preliminary market engagement. The notice says applications are only aimed to open in November 2026; it does not evidence that tender bidding is currently open.
View supporting evidence
Display status “open”; stage “planning”; “Pre-Market Engagement Notice”; “aiming to open the procurement opportunity for applications in November 2026”.
Scope maturity
98% confidence
The proposed framework scope, lots, commercial terms, evaluation, eligibility and submission requirements remain unknown pending the future procurement.
View supporting evidence
The notice is pre-market engagement and says providers can learn about proposed requirements ahead of procurement; the single supplied lot has no title or description.
Framework commencement
98% confidence
The 1 September 2027 start is an intention, not a confirmed contractual date.
View supporting evidence
“intended to commence on 1 September 2027”
ProcuraAxis analysis supplements, but does not replace, the original notice and tender documents. Always verify eligibility, deadlines and commercial terms with the issuing authority.
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