Planning

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Alternative Provision - PMEN

London Borough of Southwark

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

21 Oct 2026 at 14:28

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

21 May 2025 at 18:12

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The London Borough of Southwark is developing a future framework for Alternative Provision: education and related support for young people who need provision outside mainstream schooling. The planned service covers different types and levels of provision, including special, vocational and youth education and other school services. The Council is consulting providers to understand what services they can deliver, the capacity available and where provision may have gaps, so it can shape the framework specification and pricing. Delivery is intended for Southwark, London. The framework is planned as a route for the Council to commission services from providers; the market exercise also seeks to understand which providers may be interested in taking part when the formal procurement is developed.

This is at the planning stage: Southwark is conducting preliminary market engagement and costing, not inviting tenders. The Council expects to publish a further notice around March 2027. It plans one framework covering the service, with an expected term from September 2027 to August 2031 and an option to extend to August 2033. The estimated overall value is £9 million. The Council is asking providers to complete a questionnaire and submit it through the Pro-Contract portal by 12pm on 3 November 2026. The exercise will inform the future specification, pricing structure and procurement; details may change before the formal tender. The Council has reserved the right to cancel, postpone, suspend or abandon the procurement.

The market exercise is relevant to providers already delivering Alternative Provision and organisations that could develop or expand suitable services. Southwark is looking to understand the range and levels of provision available, supplier capacity and capability, indicative costs, gaps in provision, and likely interest in joining the future framework. This points to scope for organisations able to deliver education and related provision for young people outside mainstream schooling, including special, vocational or youth education. Small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises are considered suitable for the planned contract. Providers can use the engagement to help shape the future service specification and pricing structure and to indicate the provision they could offer. The exercise does not determine eligibility for the later formal procurement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Alternative Provision - PMEN

Notice Description

Southwark Council is currently reviewing its arrangements for the commissioning of Alternative Provision and is developing proposals for a future Alternative Provision Framework. As part of this work, we are undertaking an initial market engagement and costing exercise with providers currently delivering, or potentially able to deliver, Alternative Provision. The purpose of this exercise is to help the Council: * understand the current capacity and capability of the Alternative Provision market; * understand the range of services providers are able to offer; * obtain indicative costs for different types and levels of provision; * identify any gaps in current provision or market capacity; * inform the development of the future Framework specification and pricing structure; and * understand the potential level of provider interest in participating in the future Framework. Interested parties are to complete the attached questionnaire and submit the response via the messaging service within the Pro-Contract portal at https://procontract.due-north.com by 12pm on 3rd November 2026.

Planning Information

Southwark Council is currently reviewing its arrangements for the commissioning of Alternative Provision and is developing proposals for a future Alternative Provision Framework. As part of this work, we are undertaking an initial market engagement and costing exercise with providers currently delivering, or potentially able to deliver, Alternative Provision. The purpose of this exercise is to help the Council: • understand the current capacity and capability of the Alternative Provision market; • understand the range of services providers are able to offer; • obtain indicative costs for different types and levels of provision; • identify any gaps in current provision or market capacity; • inform the development of the future Framework specification and pricing structure; and • understand the potential level of provider interest in participating in the future Framework. Interested parties are to complete the attached questionnaire and submit the response via the messaging service within the Pro-Contract portal at https://procontract.due-north.com by 12pm on 3rd November 2026. This is not an invitation to tender nor does it preclude or favour eligibility to participate in the formal procurement once it starts. Details in this PME are subject to being updated or changed in the final tender notice. The council reserves the right to cancel, postpone, suspend or abort this procurement at any stage. The issue of this PME in no way commits the council to commence the procurement process.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-051c2e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099544-2026
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

80212000 - Vocational secondary education services

80310000 - Youth education services

80340000 - Special education services

80410000 - Various school services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£9,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Oct 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Mar 20275 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Sep 2027 - 31 Aug 2031 4-5 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
London Borough of Southwark
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
SE1 2QH
Postcode Area
South East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI44 Lewisham and Southwark
Delivery Location
TLI44 Lewisham and Southwark
Local Authority
Southwark
Electoral Ward
London Bridge & West Bermondsey
Westminster Constituency
Bermondsey and Old Southwark

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.

Loading OCDS record...