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(Equine Services) Provision of Alternative Education to Respect Collaboration Trust

RESPECT COLLABORATION TRUST

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

11 Aug 2026 at 13:56

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

14 Jul 2026 at 14:06

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

11 May 2026 at 20:04

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

05 May 2026 at 14:42

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Respect Collaboration Trust is procuring alternative education through equine services for children of compulsory school age who cannot receive suitable education at school, including pupils affected by suspension or exclusion. The service covers education and training, with provision focused on equine-based placements, course delivery, attendance, pupil progress and outcomes, safeguarding, behaviour management, quality assurance and compliance. Delivery is for the Trust’s requirements in the East Midlands, serving the Derby area. The buyer is Respect Collaboration Trust, a public authority based in Derby. The opportunity is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises. Providers must support appropriate education otherwise than at school and meet the needs of vulnerable pupils.

The procurement is complete and was run as a single-lot open procedure. Evaluation weighted quality at 70% and price at 30%, with the top three scoring bidders eligible for contracts and minimum scores required for service offer, staffing qualifications and experience, and policies. Two bids were received. Pony Partnerships CIC was awarded the contract on 10 July 2026 for £250,000 excluding VAT (£300,000 including VAT), and the contract was signed on 16 July 2026. The contract runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027, with rolling annual renewals for up to five years and a maximum end date of 31 August 2031. The contract includes annual placement-cost reviews, separate reimbursement for eligible free school meals, and performance measures covering attendance, safeguarding, outcomes, curriculum, reporting, quality assurance, risk, health and safety, and policy compliance.

This requirement indicates demand for specialist alternative education providers able to combine equine-based activity with structured teaching, curriculum and accreditation, progress tracking, attendance management and reintegration support. A credible competitor would need qualified and experienced staff, robust safeguarding arrangements, appropriate supervision of vulnerable pupils and reliable DBS checking. Strong policies, quality assurance, incident and behaviour reporting, data protection, health and safety and risk-management systems would be important, alongside evidence of compliance with statutory alternative-provision guidance and equality duties. Providers should be able to demonstrate suitable insurance, financial resilience, dependable staffing and transport or logistics, and clear reporting and escalation arrangements. Relevant technical credibility would be supported by up to two recent public- or private-sector contract examples, with alternative evidence possible for genuinely new businesses.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

(Equine Services) Provision of Alternative Education to Respect Collaboration Trust

Notice Description

Provision of Alternative Education (Equine Services) to Respect Collaboration Trust. The Trust (RCT) has a statutory duty to make arrangements for the provision of appropriate education otherwise than at school, for children of compulsory school age who, by reason of suspension or exclusion from school or otherwise, will not receive a suitable education without these arrangements.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Rolling year on year for 5 years (1+1+1+1+1)

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069199
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076240-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
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

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
5 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
10 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
2031-01-01

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
RESPECT COLLABORATION TRUST
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
DERBY
Postcode
DE1 3LB
Postcode Area
Derby
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF11 Derby
Delivery Location
TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Local Authority
Derby
Electoral Ward
Darley
Westminster Constituency
Derby North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Pony Partnerships

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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