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ALTERNATIVE PROVISION - OEAS PLACEMENTS - PERMANENTLY EXCLUDED PRIMARY PUPILS

Lincolnshire County Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

30 Jul 2026 at 11:41

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

02 Jul 2026 at 16:01

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Planning

26 Feb 2026 at 14:38

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Lincolnshire County Council procured alternative provision placements for permanently excluded primary-phase pupils aged 5 to 11. The service provides full-time online education while each pupil awaits a site-based alternative provision placement, a return to mainstream education or progression to a specialist setting. It is intended for pupils resident in Lincolnshire and operates on a roll-on, roll-off basis, with placements starting and ending during the academic year according to individual needs. This is a primary education service (CPV 80100000), delivered online for the council’s education provision. The requirement is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises, provided they meet the participation requirements.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded following a below-threshold limited competition using a request for quotation and direct invitations. Three bids reached the final stage, including two from SMEs. SOPHIA HIGH LIMITED was awarded the contract on 2 July 2026 for £199,680 excluding VAT (£249,600 including VAT). The award period was stated as 20 July 2026 to 31 August 2027, while the signed contract runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027. The contract was signed on 27 July 2026 and may be renewed for a further 12 months, subject to continuing placement need and available budget, with an ultimate end date of 31 August 2028. Participation required Department for Education Online Education Accreditation Scheme approval for the primary phase.

This requirement is most relevant to accredited online education providers able to deliver full-time teaching to primary pupils aged 5 to 11. A credible supplier would need Department for Education Online Education Accreditation Scheme approval covering the primary phase, together with the systems, teaching workforce and safeguarding arrangements needed to educate permanently excluded children remotely. The operating model demands flexibility: pupils can enter or leave at any point in the academic year, and placement occupancy changes with demand and individual needs. Providers should therefore be able to manage variable volumes and provide continuity while pupils move to site-based alternative provision, mainstream education or specialist settings. The awarded supplier was an SME, indicating that this scale and service model can be delivered by a smaller specialist provider.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

ALTERNATIVE PROVISION - OEAS PLACEMENTS - PERMANENTLY EXCLUDED PRIMARY PUPILS

Notice Description

The Council requires the provision of ALTERNATIVE PROVISION PLACEMENTS for PERMANENTLY EXCLUDED PRIMARY PUPILS. This to be provided by a Department for Education Online Education Accreditation Scheme approved Supplier who can deliver full time online education to 5-11year olds (primary phase pupils). Pupils will be resident in Lincolnshire and be placed on an interim basis until a site based placement in either regulated site based Alternative Provision, returns to mainstream school or is progressed to a specialist setting in order to meet their needs. The Service shall operate a 'roll on, roll off' education programme with PEX placements commencing and ending at any point of an academic year. Placement volumes will be demand based and occupancy will fluctuate according to PEX primary volumes and placement needs in an academic year. This is a below services threshold (non covered) procurement and requires the supplier to hold a DfE accreditation with primary phase approval within the accreditation in order to participate. Therefore participation is by Request for Quotation and via direct invitation by the Council, which is in line with the Council's Contract and Procurement Procedure Rules for below threshold services procurement.

Planning Information

Online survey - questionnaire

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-065d30
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072098-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - limited competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80100000 - Primary education services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£208,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£199,680 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£199,680 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Jul 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
6 Mar 2026Expired
Award Date
2 Jul 20261 months ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Lincolnshire 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
LINCOLN
Postcode
LN1 1YL
Postcode Area
Lincoln
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF3 Lincolnshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF30 Lincolnshire CC
Delivery Location
TLF3 Lincolnshire
Local Authority
Lincoln
Electoral Ward
Carholme
Westminster Constituency
Lincoln

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SOPHIA HIGH LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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