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SEND Reform Investments Evaluation - Market Engagement Information

Department for Education

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

29 Sep 2026 at 16:52

Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education is considering commissioning independent research and evaluation into investments supporting reforms for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The proposed single contract would cover three connected strands: an overarching evaluation of SEND reform investments, an evaluation of Experts at Hand, and an evaluation of the Inclusive Mainstream Fund. The work would assess whether investment is strengthening workforce capability, inclusive practice, local system capacity and partnerships, and whether it is laying the groundwork for later implementation of a reformed SEND system. The evaluation would bring together evidence across programmes. Delivery is intended to involve children and young people with SEND, families, education settings and local authorities. The stated delivery area includes the United Kingdom and a broad international scope. This is research and evaluation services (CPV 73000000).

This is at the planning and market-engagement stage: the Department has expressed an intention to procure, but has not issued an invitation to tender or confirmed that procurement will proceed. It anticipates one contract running from early 2027 to late 2029, with a maximum indicative budget of approximately £2.5 million. If it proceeds, the expected route is a call-off competition through the RM6126 Research & Insights Dynamic Purchasing System, with the competition anticipated to launch in November 2026; this timing is indicative and subject to change. The Department planned two online webinars on 19 October 2026, at 11am and 2pm, covering the same material and inviting questions and feedback. The engagement period was due to end on 19 October 2026. No evaluation criteria or eligibility requirements for a future competition are set out at this stage.

The work is likely to suit research and evaluation providers with experience designing and delivering large-scale programme evaluations, particularly in education, SEND and public service reform. The Department anticipates a need for mixed-methods research and the ability to work sensitively with children and young people with SEND, their families, schools and other education settings, and local authorities. Suppliers will need to be able to assess changes in workforce capability, inclusive practice, local service capacity and partnership working, as well as synthesise evidence across several connected programmes. The scale and breadth may favour organisations able to manage complex, multi-strand research and work across different local systems. The Department says consortium or subcontracting arrangements may be appropriate where they combine complementary expertise. It expressly welcomes SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises, and expects any future competition to be run through the RM6126 DPS.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

SEND Reform Investments Evaluation - Market Engagement Information

Notice Description

The Department for Education is considering commissioning an independent evaluation of key SEND reform investments designed to strengthen inclusion in mainstream settings and improve support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The Department is exploring a single contract comprising three interconnected evaluation components: - An overarching SEND Reform Investments Evaluation - An evaluation of Experts at Hand (EaH) - An evaluation of the Inclusive Mainstream Fund (IMF) The evaluation will assess the extent to which these investments are building workforce capability, inclusive practice, local system capacity and partnerships needed to support future phases of SEND reform. The overarching evaluation will synthesise evidence across a range of SEND reform programmes to understand whether the initial investment period is creating the conditions necessary for successful implementation of a reformed SEND system from 2029/30 onwards. The Department is interested in engaging with potential suppliers to discuss the feasibility, design and delivery of evaluations of this scale and complexity. We anticipate suppliers will require expertise in mixed-methods research, large-scale programme evaluation, and research involving children and young people with SEND, families, education settings and local authorities. Consortium and subcontracting arrangements may be appropriate where they bring together complementary expertise. We welcome engagement from all interested suppliers, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs). The project is anticipated to run from early 2027 to late 2029. A maximum indicative budget of approximately PS2.5 million is anticipated. Procurement Route and Registration Requirements Should a procurement proceed, it is expected to be conducted through the Government Commercial Agency's RM6126 Research & Insights Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS). Suppliers wishing to participate in any future call-off competition must ensure they are registered on RM6126 in sufficient time before the competition is launched. Information on DPS registration can be found via the RM6126 Supplier Registration Service. Any future competition is also expected to be managed through the Department for Education's Jaggaer e-tendering portal. Suppliers should ensure they are registered on Jaggaer in advance to receive procurement documents, submit clarification questions and submit tender responses. Information on Jaggaer registration can be found in the links Additional information: Market Engagement Events We will be hosting two online market engagement webinars via Microsoft Teams. Both sessions will cover the same content and there is no requirement to attend both. - Monday 19 October 2026, 11:00 to 12:00 - Monday 19 October 2026, 14:00 to 15:00 The sessions will provide an overview of the proposed requirement and offer suppliers an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback to help inform the Department's approach. To attend, please register using the links provided in this notice. Joining instructions will be issued following registration. Please note: These sessions are for market engagement purposes only and are intended to gather supplier feedback and inform the Department's approach. They do not represent a guaranteed or confirmed procurement opportunity, invitation to tender or call for competition. Attendance at market engagement events will not be a pre-condition for participation in any future procurement. Anticipated call-off competition launch: November 2026 (indicative only and subject to change).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-129e4ec5-49af-47f1-b570-f8475ff93659
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a9ac251d-a046-4278-ae30-96144582b1fb
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Dynamic
Procurement Category
Not specified
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Department for Education
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
COVENTRY
Postcode
CV1 2WT
Postcode Area
Coventry
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG33 Coventry
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Coventry
Electoral Ward
St Michael's
Westminster Constituency
Coventry South

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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