Award

Award of Centre for Excellence in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) 2025

THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOUNDATION

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

07 Aug 2025 at 15:59

Tender

18 Jun 2025 at 17:02

PlanningUpdate

09 Jun 2025 at 13:59

Planning

09 Jun 2025 at 13:26

Summary of the contracting process

The Education and Training Foundation (ETF), located in London, has completed the procurement process for the Centre for Excellence in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) 2025 under the theme 'People'. This was part of an open competition below the threshold, focusing on education and training services. City of Sunderland College has been awarded the contract to design and deliver continuing professional development (CPD) across England, with a contract value of £137,952 and potential extension until 31st March 2027. The voluntary standstill period for this contract will conclude on 15th August 2025, with the contract period starting on 19th August 2025 and potentially extending to 31st March 2027.

This procurement presents opportunities for educational institutions with strong SEND provisions, particularly those recognised as 'Good' or 'Outstanding' by Ofsted or the Care Quality Commission. Businesses in the field of education and training services, especially those with capabilities in live online events and peer review facilitation, would be well-suited to engage with similar opportunities in the future. The chosen focus on CPD for SEND, along with an emphasis on developing organizational approaches, opens doors for providers that specialise in enhancing educational outcomes and fostering inclusive practices.

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Notice Title

Award of Centre for Excellence in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) 2025

Notice Description

The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) is awarding a contract for a Centre for Excellence in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) - Theme of 'People' following a competitive tender process. The Centre of Excellence will design and deliver CPD based on the theme for leaders, managers and practitioners who wish to put learners with SEND at the centre of their organisation, resulting in learners achieving the outcomes they aspire to. The Centre will have national reach across England. Working closely with ETF and SEND Employer Spokes, this Centre for Excellence will design and deliver live online events, Communities of Practice sessions and complete Peer Reviews focused on developing a whole organisational approach to SEND. This will result in learners achieving the outcomes they aspire to. Preparation for Adulthood is a key priority for the Centre. It will offer a specialism in the theme of 'People' and will have equal parity, providing peer to peer support and sharing effective practice to the existing Centres of Excellence, Employer Spokes and the FE sector. The ETF took a sector led approach to recruit FE providers who have been graded 'Good' or 'Outstanding' from Ofsted and/ or Care Quality Commission (CQC) for SEND provision. Following a thorough evaluation process, it was decided to award a contract for the theme of 'People' only. The theme of 'Careers' will not be awarded as originally anticipated. In the interest of transparency and fairness, ETF are observing a voluntary standstill period ending on the 15th August 2025. During this period, ETF will not enter into the contract, allowing time for any potential concerns to be raised. The award decision remains subject to the conclusion of this standstill period and no legal proceedings being initiated. ETF may consider a direct award contract for the theme of 'Careers' following the standstill period, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Procurement Act 2023, including any applicable direct award justifications under Schedule 5.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The value of the contract for each Centre is circa 86,780 GBP inclusive of VAT. Duration of the contract is 13 August 2025 - 31 March 2026 with a possible extension of one year subject to funding.

Planning Information

The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) are asking tenderers to provide written feedback to the attached invitation to tender. The feedback should: - identify points of clarification - identify any risks that may not have been considered - identify if the deliverables are achievable Any feedback on this tender should be emailed to tenderqueries@etfoundation.co.uk

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-054559
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047056-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

80400000 - Adult and other education services

80500000 - Training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£138,848 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£138,848 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£137,952 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Aug 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
11 Jul 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
18 Jun 2025Expired
Award Date
5 Aug 20256 months ago
Contract Period
18 Aug 2025 - 7 Mar 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOUNDATION
Contact Name
Commissioning and Procurement
Contact Email
tenderqueries@etfoundation.co.uk
Contact Phone
+442037408280

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1W 9SP
Post Town
South West London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
Pimlico North
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CITY OF SUNDERLAND COLLEGE

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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