Tender

Specialist Education Framework Phase 1 - Independent Non-Maintained Special Schools Round 4

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Tender

08 Sep 2025 at 13:53

Tender Notice
Tender

17 Dec 2024 at 09:04

Tender Notice
Tender

20 May 2024 at 14:34

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Nottinghamshire County Council is actively seeking to expand participation in their Specialist Education Framework with a focus on Independent Non-Maintained Special Schools (INMSS). In this fourth tender round, interested providers can apply to join Lot 2 of the framework agreement, which commenced on 1st January 2025, aiming to cater to pupils with Education Health Care (EHC) Plans. Located in the East Midlands, the framework process follows an open procurement method under the Light Touch Regime of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The closing date for tender submissions is 7th November 2025, with the contract period spanning from 1st January 2026 to 31st December 2029. Key characteristics of this tender include a high-value potential of £250 million, targeting the special education services industry, and allowing participation from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs).

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses involved in special education services to join a multi-provider framework with Nottinghamshire County Council, facilitating long-term growth and contractual stability. Ideal applicants are specialist education providers that cater to non-mainstream pupils requiring dedicated institutional support, and organisations from both SME and VCSE sectors are encouraged to apply. The tender offers a platform for providers who previously applied unsuccessfully to re-enter and leverage the opportunity for inclusion in this substantial public sector initiative. Businesses can benefit from engaging with stable demand for specialist placements and contribute to broadening educational access and inclusion in the East Midlands region.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Specialist Education Framework Phase 1 - Independent Non-Maintained Special Schools Round 4

Notice Description

Nottinghamshire County Council (the Council) is seeking to add further Independent non-maintained Special Schools (INMSS) to the Specialist Education Framework under which the Council commission INMSS and Post-16 (where the provision is delivered in house by the school) provision of specialist school placements for pupils who are not attending mainstream or maintained special schools and who have an Education Health Care (EHC) Plan. The Framework commenced from the 1st of January 2025. Call off" contracts under Lot 2 commenced from 1st January 2025 onwards. There have been no awards under Lot 1. This process is the reopening of the framework for new providers to bid to join the INMSS framework and is the fourth tender round. This tender round is for only open to bid to join the INMSS Approved Provider List which is Lot 2 of the Framework Agreement. The Council are not re-opening Lot 1 Block Contract in this tender round. Any providers who were unsuccessful in the previous tender rounds (1, 2 and 3) for Lot 2 can reapply in this tender round (4). The establishment of a framework agreement for INMSS is the first phase of the recommissioning of the Specialist Education provision for the Council as set out in the Vision document (Part 3 - Vision document). Further phases of the recommissioning will include Alternative Education Provision and Post-16 institutions (e.g., further education colleges that are not part of the INMSS). New procurement processes will be run at later dates which are yet to be decided. A Framework Agreement is an agreement between the contracting authority and one or more Service Providers, the purpose of which is to establish the terms governing contracts to be awarded during a given period. This is a multi-provider framework. There is no guarantee of work under this Framework. Bidders should note that a further opportunity/opportunities for organisations to bid for inclusion on this framework may be advertised. No date/s have been set for any such process; however, further rounds for both lots 1 and 2 may periodically open again subject to demand (see section 1.2.1 of the process overview document). Any Bidder who is unsuccessful in this tender may bid again in any future tender for admission to the framework. The Framework Agreement is commissioned under the Light Touch Regime 74 -77 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 using an open procedure and advertised in the Find a Tender Service Find high value contracts in the public sector - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) To register your interest in this tender and to view the tender documents, the tender is published on https://www.eastmidstenders.org/ Reference DN784701 The closing date for all tenders is the 7th November 2025 at 5.00pm. Please note that a standstill period of 10 days will commence from the notification of the contract award.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-cfd4f187-cc61-4ce7-87a8-d0ef08664f7a
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/253f5961-db31-40aa-a782-7b072663126e
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure (above threshold)
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80340000 - Special education services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£250,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
7 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2029 4-5 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
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Postcode
NG2 7QP
Post Town
Nottingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF16 South Nottinghamshire
Delivery Location
TLF East Midlands (England)
Local Authority
Rushcliffe
Electoral Ward
Trent Bridge
Westminster Constituency
Rushcliffe

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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