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SEND Education and Specialist Provision Framework

Lancashire County Council

This public procurement record has 8 releases in its history.

Planning

26 Aug 2026 at 15:56

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

31 Jul 2026 at 15:29

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

20 Jul 2026 at 12:49

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

26 May 2026 at 09:03

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

26 May 2026 at 08:47

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

13 Mar 2026 at 10:19

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

11 Feb 2026 at 09:43

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

22 Jan 2026 at 15:26

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Lancashire County Council is developing a SEND Education and Specialist Provision Framework for its future Alternative Provision offer. The procurement concerns specialist education and support services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, responding to growing demand across Lancashire. The framework is intended to shape future arrangements for specialist provision and commissioning, with services delivered in Lancashire. The Council is seeking provider expertise to ensure the framework reflects practical service-delivery realities and works for providers, the authority and the young people they support. Health and social work services are included within the stated scope. Social Value Portal Ltd will support evaluation and ongoing management of social value commitments under the future contract.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the Council has set out an intention to procure and there is no invitation to tender. It is planned as a framework agreement under the light-touch regime, with one planned lot and an anticipated contract period from 19 July 2027 to 20 July 2037. The estimated gross value is £1.4 billion. The Council has undertaken preliminary market engagement and is planning a provider engagement session on 15 September 2026, from 12:30pm to 3:30pm at Savoy Suite 1; providers were asked to register by 8 September 2026. The Council anticipated publishing a further notice on 1 August 2026. The lot is planned to be suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

This will suit providers already delivering Alternative Provision, SEND education, specialist education or related health and social work services for children and young people. Relevant organisations are likely to include specialist schools, independent education providers, therapeutic or care providers, and voluntary, community or social enterprises with established provision in Lancashire. The Council is looking for practical expertise on service design, commissioning and delivery, including an understanding of rising demand for specialist provision and the aspirations and needs of young people. Providers able to contribute constructively to market engagement, demonstrate capacity to deliver over a long-term framework and manage social value commitments should prepare to participate when the procurement reaches the market.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

SEND Education and Specialist Provision Framework

Notice Description

Lancashire County Council (the Council) is seeking to engage with providers as part of the development of its future Alternative Provision offer. As demand for specialist provision continues to grow across Lancashire, it is important that our future arrangements are informed by the expertise and experience of the provider market. This engagement event will help shape the Council's future SEND commissioning arrangements and the development of the new Lancashire Framework. With the Framework anticipated to remain in place for up to 10 years, we are keen to ensure it is shaped by the expertise and insights of providers, helping to create arrangements that work effectively for providers, the Council, and Lancashire's children and young people. Your insights and expertise will be invaluable in helping us create an approach that meets the needs of Lancashire's children and young people while reflecting the realities of service delivery. This is an opportunity to contribute to future commissioning activity and ensure the provider perspective is considered as arrangements are developed. By taking part, you will help us build a framework that works effectively for providers and the children and young people they support.

Planning Information

The Council are inviting Alternative Provision providers to a session where we will share updates on our procurement plans and seek your invaluable input as we begin shaping how we will meet the needs of young people across Lancashire. This represents an exciting opportunity to work in genuine partnership with us, helping to influence the future offer for young people and support them in achieving their aspirations. Your involvement will play a key role in shaping the direction of this important work, and we would very much welcome your continued contribution. The event will take place from 12:30pm to 15:30pm on Tuesday 15th September and will be held in Savoy Suite 1. In order to secure your place at the event, please complete the registration form via the link below by no later than 8th September. https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Jj5on7nYCUaexOGjbku00jwtIeEYfRdPp29_nZCzLqlUREdSQVVPWjVZWE9VQkRBTzBKVDdUMTkwMS4u&route=shorturl

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060c83
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081467-2026
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

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,400,000,000 £1B-£10B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Aug 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Aug 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
19 Jul 2027 - 20 Jul 2037 Over 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
Lancashire 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
PRESTON
Postcode
PR1 0LD
Postcode Area
Preston
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD4 Lancashire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD45 Mid Lancashire
Delivery Location
TLD4 Lancashire
Local Authority
Preston
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Preston

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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