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Editorial Support

OFFICE FOR STANDARDS IN EDUCATION, CHILDRENS SERVICES AND SKILLS

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Planning

04 Aug 2026 at 11:06

Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

25 Jun 2026 at 14:22

Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

22 Jun 2026 at 16:24

Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

19 Jun 2026 at 14:46

Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) intends to procure flexible, on-demand editorial support for its Communications team. The work is primarily proofreading and editorial resource, with services provided through individual work packages as required. Ofsted plans to appoint several suppliers to a small, non-exclusive pool, allowing it to draw on support for flexibility, resilience and continuity. Delivery is across England. The arrangement is intended to support communications activity rather than a single defined project, so suppliers may be asked to provide editorial input on demand. The relevant service classification is proofreading services (CPV 79821100).

This procurement is at the planning stage: Ofsted has set out its intention to procure but has not yet issued an invitation to tender. The expected method is a below-threshold open competition, with targeted market engagement through the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading. Ofsted expected the next notice on 29 June 2026, followed by a contract running from 24 August 2026 to 23 August 2029. The estimated procurement value is £30,000, with indicative budget allocations of £10,000 in each of 2026/2027, 2027/2028 and 2028/2029. Contracts are expected to be awarded non-exclusively to a small supplier pool, with work called off as required. The procurement is identified as suitable for SMEs.

This will suit established editorial, proofreading and communications specialists able to provide reliable support across changing work packages and respond flexibly to on-demand requirements. The arrangement is likely to favour suppliers with strong proofreading accuracy, editorial judgement, quality assurance processes and the capacity to provide continuity when Ofsted’s Communications team needs additional resource. Ofsted has said that suppliers must operate through a registered limited company, reflecting its tax, legal and compliance requirements, including employment-status and IR35 considerations and clear contractual accountability. Small and medium-sized businesses are identified as suitable, while voluntary, community and social enterprises are not. Businesses in the editorial and proofreading market should prepare for a formal, auditable competition and consider engagement through the relevant professional institute.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Editorial Support

Notice Description

**PLEASE NOTE THIS OPPORTUNITY CLOSED ON 29 JUNE 2026** This proposal is to establish a new contractual arrangement to support Ofsted's Communications team with flexible, on-demand editorial resource. The intention is to appoint multiple suppliers to a small pool, enabling Ofsted to call off services as required, ensuring flexibility, resilience, and continuity of service. The recommended approach is via a below-threshold open competition, advertised via Contracts Finder. In addition, targeted market engagement will be undertaken via the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) to raise awareness of the opportunity among relevant suppliers. Interested suppliers will be required to submit bids via a formal procurement route ensuring a compliant and auditable competition. The outcome will be the appointment of a small pool of suppliers Ofsted will only enter into contracts with suppliers operating through a registered limited company. This requirement is driven by tax, legal, and compliance considerations, including the need to ensure appropriate treatment under applicable employment status regulations (such as off payroll working/IR35), mitigate the risk of deemed employment, and ensure clarity of liability and contractual accountability Contracts will be awarded on a non-exclusive basis, with services called off as required through individual work packages. If you would like to express your interest please email info-contracts@ofsted.gov.uk and we will forward you the tender documents once they are available

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-62b40079-a0a8-4219-bd71-e2a997f09b15
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e8288bb0-fb7e-429a-b707-e3f7328b5ef9
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planned Procurement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Not specified
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure (below threshold)
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79821100 - Proofreading services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£30,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Aug 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
29 Jun 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
24 Aug 2026 - 23 Aug 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
OFFICE FOR STANDARDS IN EDUCATION, CHILDRENS SERVICES AND SKILLS
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MANCHESTER
Postcode
M1 2WD
Postcode Area
Manchester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD33 Manchester
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Manchester
Electoral Ward
Piccadilly
Westminster Constituency
Manchester Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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