Notice Information
Notice Title
Birmingham Virtual School Enrichment Framework
Notice Description
Birmingham City Council (BCC) is inviting expressions of interest to support commissioners in developing a clearer understanding of the provider landscape. This soft market engagement aims to explore the range of organisations operating in this space and gather insights into their capacity and interest in delivering Enrichment Activities for Birmingham's Children in Care both within the city and in other Local Authorities where children may be placed. This is an exploratory initiative aimed at gauging market interest, capacity, and the viability of a potential future procurement. Participation is entirely voluntary and will not influence your eligibility to engage in any subsequent procurement processes BCC acts as the corporate parent for the city's Children in Care (CIC) and Birmingham Virtual School (BVS) is a statutory service responsible for coordinating educational support for: * Children currently in care, * Previously looked-after children (PLAC), * Children with a social worker (CWSW), including those on child in need or child protection plans. * This duty applies to children living both within Birmingham and in other Local Authorities where they may be placed. BCC is considering the establishment of an Enrichment Framework for Birmingham Virtual School (BVS), aimed at supporting the delivery of enrichment activities that enhance the educational experience of looked-after children. The goal is to improve outcomes in achievement, inclusion, and progression by addressing their individual needs holistically. Services under the Enrichment Framework have been grouped into three as follows. * Lot 1 - Careers and Employment Support: Support for access to education, training and employment. * Lot 2 - Short Courses and Qualifications: Access to additional qualifications and accredited courses for all with a particular focus on young people at risk of leaving school without qualifications such as NEET, newly arrived unaccompanied asylum seekers. Supporting young people on to higher education and future careers. To support language barriers for those without English as a first language * Lot 3 - Community Enrichment Activities: Access to activities that expose young people to a range of cultural activities including, but not limited to, music, arts, theatre, dance, sport, outdoor learning and visits to destinations outside of their own town/city. Providers can bid for multiple lots. The Enrichment Framework will be for a period of 2 years with an option to extend for a further 2 years (on a 1+1 basis) subject to performance, budgetary availability and legislative changes. Activities, courses and programmes are estimated to begin from April 2026.
Planning Information
The Soft Market Test (SMT) exercise is being issued via the Council’s e-tendering system, In-tend, with a link to an MS Forms questionnaire. Interested organisations are requested to complete and submit the questionnaire using the link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Z86aaeTSzUuzA9K74rm78a25OehCvWdGmM3r15QnA7RUOTNMOTJSUE43MDQwQTYwRUZZT1pHV05QUC4u Closing date for completion of questionnaire is Noon 24 November 2025. Responses from the questionnaire will only be made available to the Virtual School. All information shared during this SMT will be treated confidentially and used solely to inform future commissioning decisions. The ‘In-tend’ system is secure and free to use for organisations. If you have any questions on how to use this website, please contact cps@birmingham.gov.uk
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-05d60a
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069297-2025
- 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
79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
80 - Education and training services
85 - Health and social work services
92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services
-
- CPV Codes
79600000 - Recruitment services
80000000 - Education and training services
80200000 - Secondary education services
80510000 - Specialist training services
80530000 - Vocational training services
80570000 - Personal development training services
85312320 - Counselling services
92000000 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services
92300000 - Entertainment services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £2,100,000 £1M-£10M
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 29 Oct 20253 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- 15 Dec 2025Expired
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 12 Apr 2026 - 12 Apr 2028 2-3 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Planning
- Lots Status
- Planning
- Awards Status
- Not Specified
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL
- Contact Name
- Commercial and Procurement Services
- Contact Email
- etendering@birmingham.gov.uk
- Contact Phone
- Not specified
Buyer Location
- Locality
- BIRMINGHAM
- Postcode
- B1 1BB
- Post Town
- Birmingham
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLG West Midlands (England)
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLG3 West Midlands
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLG31 Birmingham
- Delivery Location
- TLG31 Birmingham
-
- Local Authority
- Birmingham
- Electoral Ward
- Ladywood
- Westminster Constituency
- Birmingham Ladywood
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069297-2025
29th October 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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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