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Flexible contracting agreement (FCA) for Birmingham Virtual School Enrichment Services

Birmingham City Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

01 Sep 2026 at 12:47

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

29 Oct 2025 at 11:39

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Birmingham City Council is establishing a flexible contracting agreement for enrichment services delivered through Birmingham Virtual School. The services are intended to improve educational achievement, inclusion, participation and progression for looked-after children in Birmingham, and children and young people placed by the Council in other local authority areas. The requirement covers three service areas: careers information, advice and guidance for 12–19-year-olds facing disrupted education, transition challenges or risk of becoming NEET; short courses and qualifications, including English for Speakers of Other Languages and accredited provision for Key Stage 4 and 5 learners; and community enrichment activities covering creative arts, music, sport, outdoor learning and STEM. The work is suitable for education, careers, training, youth development, cultural, sporting and community organisations.

The procurement has reached tender: the Council invited offers through an open competitive flexible procedure for a light-touch services contract. Bidders may apply for one or more of three lots. Lot 1 is intended for one provider; Lot 2 can appoint up to four providers across its ESOL and accredited-course elements; Lot 3 covers community activities. The estimated value is £5,600,000 excluding VAT (£6,720,000 including VAT). The enquiry deadline was 25 September 2026 at noon, and tender submissions were due by 1 October 2026 at noon. The contract period is 11 January 2027 to 10 January 2030, with an option to extend to 10 January 2031. Award is expected by 15 December 2026. Evaluation is quality-led, with social value and price weightings varying by lot.

This opportunity suits small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises that can provide targeted support for children and young people in care. Relevant suppliers include careers advisers, employability and NEET specialists, ESOL and vocational education providers, accredited training organisations, and providers of arts, music, sport, outdoor learning or STEM activities. Lot 1 requires the ability to deliver personalised careers advice, programmes and events for young people aged 12–19. Lot 2 suits organisations offering pre-entry to Level 2 learning for Year 11–13 students, including newly arrived learners. Lot 3 suits providers with a varied programme of community enrichment. Successful providers will need to respond to individual needs and work within a structured call-off process, with further competitions possible where direct award cannot meet the requirement.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Flexible contracting agreement (FCA) for Birmingham Virtual School Enrichment Services

Notice Description

Birmingham City Council (the "Council") wishes to establish a Flexible Contracting Agreement (FCA) for Birmingham Virtual School (BVS) Enrichment Services in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, applying the provisions for Light Touch Contracts as defined in Section 9 of the Act and Schedule 1 of the Procurement Regulations 2024. These provisions apply to certain social, health, and education services that are subject to more flexible procurement rules due to their direct impact on individuals and communities. The requirement will be conducted in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, using a Competitive Flexible Procedure designed by the Council. The Enrichment FCA will provide a comprehensive range of services designed to enrich the educational experiences and outcomes of looked-after children in Birmingham, as well as children and young people placed by Birmingham City Council in other local authority areas. The programme aims to promote educational achievement, inclusion, participation, and progression, ensuring that individual needs and aspirations are effectively supported. The Enrichment FCA is structured into three lots designed to support young people in care through targeted provision. Lot 1: Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG) - Supports young people aged 12-19 with disrupted education, transition challenges, or at risk of NEET. Includes personalised careers advice, programmes, and events. To be awarded to one provider. Lot 2: Short Courses and Qualifications - Supports Year 11-13 learners, especially newly arrived or NEET. Offers pre-entry to Level 2 courses. Further divided into two; Lot 2a: English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) - Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 Lot 2b: Accredited courses & Qualifications - Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 To be awarded to up to four providers. 2 providers for each of the Key Stage ins 2a and 2b. Lot 3: Community Enrichment Activities - Covers Creative Arts, Music, Sport, Outdoor Learning, and STEM activities. Tenderers can bid for one or more Lots and all tenderers who meet the minimum quality criteria will be appointed to the FCA. Potential Suppliers must complete all relevant tender documents including the main response document and the response document(s) for the Lot they are bidding for. The Authority will operate a structured call-off procedure under the FCA. The default method will be direct award, with provision to conduct a further competition (mini-competition) where the requirement cannot be satisfied through direct award. The FCA is expected to be established in February 2027, with call-offs and any mini competitions anticipated to commence from March 2027. The agreement will run for an initial period of three (3) years, with the option to extend for a further one (1) year, subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of funding.

Lot Information

Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG)

Supports young people aged 12-19 with disrupted education, transition challenges, or at risk of NEET. Includes personalised careers advice, programmes, and events. To be awarded to one provider.

Renewal: Subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of funding.

Short Courses and Qualifications

Supports Year 11-13 learners, especially newly arrived or NEET. Offers pre-entry to Level 2 courses. Further divided into two; Lot 2a: English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) - Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 Lot 2b: Accredited courses & Qualifications - Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 To be awarded to up to four providers. 2 providers for each of the Key Stage ins 2a and 2b.

Renewal: Subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of funding.

Community Enrichment Activities

Covers Creative Arts, Music, Sport, Outdoor Learning, and STEM activities.

Renewal: Subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of funding.

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/082621-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
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

80530000 - Vocational training services

85312320 - Counselling services

92000000 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

92300000 - Entertainment services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£5,600,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Sep 2026Today
Submission Deadline
1 Oct 20265 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
15 Dec 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
11 Jan 2027 - 10 Jan 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Birmingham City 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
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B1 1BB
Postcode Area
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

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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