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Open Framework for the provision of non-school alternative provision in Suffolk

Suffolk County Council

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

02 Sep 2026 at 09:43

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

02 Sep 2026 at 09:33

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

06 May 2026 at 20:23

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

16 May 2025 at 12:54

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Suffolk County Council is exploring an open framework for non-school alternative provision (NSAP) in Suffolk, covering education and training services. The framework would support children and young people of statutory school age across Key Stages 1 to 5, generally up to age 19 and potentially up to 24 where an Education, Health and Care Plan applies. It is intended for vulnerable learners unable to access full-time mainstream or special-school education, including excluded pupils, children in care, young offenders, those awaiting court hearings, and learners with autism, disabilities or other additional needs. Potential provision includes specialist tuition, vocational learning, therapeutic education, outdoor learning, and online or blended learning, with personalised teaching and pastoral support. The council expects the framework to replace its existing Alternative Education Rolling Select List.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the council has stated an intention to procure, but this is not a call for competition or a commitment to procure. It expects to use an above-threshold, light-touch open framework procedure, with one lot. The estimated value is £250 million excluding VAT (£300 million including VAT). The planned contract period is 1 September 2027 to 31 August 2029, with renewal potentially extending it to 31 August 2031. The next notice is expected on 11 November 2026. The council plans an online market engagement event on 13 October 2026, from 3.30pm to 5pm, to explain specification changes, identify capable providers and build capacity. Providers can request an invitation by emailing ProviderServices@suffolk.gov.uk.

The framework is intended to suit small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community or social enterprises. It will suit providers able to deliver safe, quality-assured education outside mainstream and special-school settings for vulnerable children and young people. Relevant capabilities include specialist tuition, vocational or therapeutic education, outdoor learning, and online or blended delivery, with the ability to provide personalised programmes and pastoral support. Providers should be prepared to support learners with social, emotional or mental health difficulties, medical needs, special educational needs, autism, disabilities, disrupted care or offending-related circumstances. Strong safeguarding, quality assurance, attendance monitoring, progress measurement and regular review will be important to demonstrate effective provision and value for money. Organisations should use the planned engagement to understand the specification and prepare for a future tender.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Open Framework for the provision of non-school alternative provision in Suffolk

Notice Description

Non-school Alternative Provision (NSAP) refers to educational arrangements delivered outside of a mainstream or special school setting for children and young people who are unable to access full-time education within a traditional school environment. These provisions are typically commissioned by local authorities, schools or multi-academy trusts to meet the needs of pupils who require a different approach to education and support. Including Education Otherwise Than at School (EOTAS). Alternative Provision serves a diverse group of learners, including those who have been permanently excluded, are at risk of exclusion, experience significant social, emotional or mental health difficulties, have medical needs that prevent regular school attendance or require additional support to engage effectively in education. In some cases, NSAP may also be used to support pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) where their needs cannot currently be met within a school setting. The use of NSAP does not remove the Local Authority's duty under Section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014 to secure the special educational provision specified in an Education, Health and Care Plan. NSAP can take a variety of forms, including specialist tuition services, vocational learning programmes, therapeutic education providers, outdoor learning environments and online or blended learning models. These settings often provide smaller class sizes, more personalised learning programmes and additional pastoral or therapeutic support to help pupils overcome barriers to learning. The primary aim of NSAP is to ensure that children and young people continue to receive a suitable education while addressing the underlying factors that may be affecting their engagement, attendance or achievement. Provision may be designed to support a pupil's successful reintegration into a school setting or to provide longer-term educational arrangements where this is considered to be in the learner's best interests. Within the context of local authority commissioning and SEND services, non-school Alternative Provision plays an important role in maintaining educational access and improving outcomes for vulnerable learners. Effective commissioning arrangements include robust quality assurance, safeguarding oversight, monitoring of attendance and progress, and regular review to ensure that provision continues to meet the needs of the child or young person and delivers value for money. Suffolk County Council are exploring the possibility of inviting Tenders for inclusion on an Open Framework of approved, quality assured providers of Non-School Alternative Provision intended to facilitate the placement of vulnerable children and young people for whom the Council has a statutory responsibility. All young people placed under this contract will be of statutory school age in Key Stages 1-5, up to the age of 19 (and potentially 24 if they have an EHCP). In addition, pupils will have a range of backgrounds that could include but not be limited to: * Being excluded or not attending a mainstream or special school for a prolonged period; * Young people in public care who have had disrupted care placements and/or schooling; * Young offenders on supervision orders; * Young people awaiting court hearings or on bail conditions. * Children and young people with additional needs i.e. Autism * Children and young people with Disabilities * Students waiting for a place within mainstream education or special schools More information about Open Frameworks can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-act-2023-guidance-documents-define-phase/guidance-frameworks-html This notice does not constitute a call for competition or a commitment to procure. Should this go ahead, the Open Framework is expected to replace/succeed the Alternative Education Rolling Select List currently in place (ref CD1397).

Planning Information

Suffolk County Council are holding an online Market Engagement Event at 3.30pm - 5pm on Tuesday 13th October. To register your interest and to request an invitation to the event, please email ProviderServices@suffolk.gov.uk using the subject line 'Open Framework for the Provision of NSAP in Suffolk' The purpose of the PME is to: • inform providers of the specification highlighting key changes from the existing service • identify potential providers capable of delivering the provision • build capacity among providers in relation to the ongoing demand on NSAP Participation is voluntary and will not impact on your ability to access or submit a tender if/when the tender opportunity is published.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0515ca
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082916-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
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
£250,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
11 Nov 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Sep 2027 - 31 Aug 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Suffolk 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
IPSWICH
Postcode
IP1 2BX
Postcode Area
Ipswich
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH6 Suffolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH62 Ipswich
Delivery Location
TLH14 Suffolk CC
Local Authority
Ipswich
Electoral Ward
Gipping
Westminster Constituency
Ipswich

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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