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ECSC Dynamic Framework - Re-opening of Lot 9 - Early Years Experts - Sector Support

Department for Education

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

07 Aug 2026 at 09:18

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education is procuring specialist early years sector support services through Lot 9 of its Educational and Children’s Social Care Professionals Framework. The requirement supports delivery of the Department’s Best Start in Life strategy and may include advice and implementation support for local authorities, particularly on data, digital and information management, digital service development and using data to improve services. It also covers specialist speech, language and communication support, including local system development and improving outcomes for children and families. Work may be delivered across England, including the North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East and South West. The Department for Education is the buyer.

The process reached tender: the Department invited suppliers to submit offers to join the existing Lot 9 through a re-opening of the lot on its dynamic framework. Suppliers must first pass all mandatory pre-qualification questions in the overarching invitation to tender, then respond to the Lot 9 requirements and undergo supplier checks. Bids were due by 16 September 2026 at 12:00 noon. The framework contract period runs from 12 October 2026 to 31 March 2029. Once appointed, suppliers can pursue future requirements issued through Lot 9 through direct call-offs or mini-competitions. The opportunity is being run under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The lot is intended to support both direct Department-managed requirements and some requirements managed by the Best Start in Life implementation partner.

This opportunity suits organisations providing specialist early years, education, child and family service improvement expertise. Relevant capability includes supporting local authorities with data, digital and information management, designing and implementing digital approaches, and applying data to improve services. Suppliers with expertise in speech, language and communication, local system development and improving outcomes for children and families are also well placed. The framework is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises. Successful admission provides eligibility to bid for future Lot 9 call-off contracts, although suppliers can choose whether to pursue individual requirements. The requirement is likely to suit organisations able to pass mandatory pre-qualification checks and demonstrate robust systems for framework supplier assurance and delivery across England.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

ECSC Dynamic Framework - Re-opening of Lot 9 - Early Years Experts - Sector Support

Notice Description

The Department for Education is inviting tenders in line with the specification for suppliers to join the existing Lot 9 - DfE Support for the Early Years Sector of the Educational and Children's Social Care Professionals (ECSC) Framework. Suppliers must have successfully responded to all mandatory pre-qualification questions in the overarching ITT prior to responding to the Lot-specific requirements contained within this Invitation to Tender. The initial tender window is from 6th August 2026 to 16th September 2026 Bidders are able to respond to the ITT by submitting bids to join the individual lot on the framework during this onboarding phase and will undergo rigorous supplier checks. The Department reserves the right to reopen the Lot to allow new entrants to the market to apply to join this Lot. Lot 9 Early Years Experts - Sector Support of the Educational and Children's Social Care (ECSC) Framework Style Agreement will allow direct call-off and mini competition routes as detailed in Schedule 3 of the Framework Agreement. The Framework Lot was established to provide access to specialist expertise that can be called upon to support delivery of the Department's Best Start in Life (BSIL) strategy. Since the creation of the Framework Lot, some of the information contained within the specification has been updated to provide additional clarity on delivering on the BSIL strategy. To support delivering on the commitments of the BSIL strategy, the Department is undertaking a procurement for a BSIL Implementation Partner. For some call-off requirements the Implementation Partner may be required to manage some call-off requirements from Lot 9 and support requirements that emerge during programme delivery. Other requirements called-off from Lot 9 which are not relevant to the Implementation Partner work will continue to be managed by DfE It is important to note that organisations must be appointed to the Dynamic Framework in order to access and bid for any future call-off opportunities issued through it. While suppliers may join the framework and choose not to bid for individual requirements, organisations that are not admitted to the framework will be ineligible to bid for or be awarded future call-off contracts procured through Lot 9. Additional information: DfE anticipate using the Framework Lot for a range of specialist requirements. Indicative examples include: - Support for local authorities in relation to data, digital and information management requirements, including the development and implementation of digital approaches and use of data to drive service improvements. - Specialist support relating to Speech, Language and Communication, including expertise to support local system development and improve outcomes for children and families. The above examples are intended to be illustrative rather than exhaustive. Additional call-off opportunities will be determined by emerging priorities, needs and challenges identified by the Department and/or the BSIL Implementation Partner over the course of the programme Please note that given the ECSC Framework was established prior to the 'go live' of Procurement Act 2023, this opportunity notice to re-open the framework is subject to the Public Contract Regulations (PCR) 2015. The Contract Finder Notice for the original Lot 9 requirement is as follows https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/70f76356-ba7a-4a5e-a201-557a3750e473 Suppliers who achieved a place on this Framework on Lot 9 following the original competition do not need to re-apply. To access the opportunity please use the following link https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html scroll down to 'view opportunities' and search for (itt_4041 - Re-opening of DfE ECSC Framework: Early Years Experts - Sector Support Lot 9)

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-850e90f2-db16-424a-abf3-6dc56bca3162
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d19898c0-0419-464f-a554-7e15996b084c
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Other - Re-opening of a Lot on the ECSC Dynamic Framework
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
16 Sep 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
12 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
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
LONDON
Postcode
Not specified
Postcode Area
Not specified
Country
Not specified
Major Region (ITL 1)
Not specified
Basic Region (ITL 2)
Not specified
Small Region (ITL 3)
Not specified
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Not specified
Electoral Ward
Not specified
Westminster Constituency
Not specified

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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