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Section 19

Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

18 Aug 2026 at 17:16

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

30 Jul 2026 at 14:11

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council is procuring education and training services to provide Section 19 alternative provision for the 2027–2028 academic year. The service is for children and young people of compulsory school age who cannot access mainstream school places, including permanently excluded pupils and pupils unable to attend because of illness or other reasons. The provider will deliver suitable education commissioned to meet the authority’s assessed high-needs demand and support its statutory duty under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996. The work is intended for delivery across Greater Manchester, with the council determining the number of places required and coordinating provision with education funding arrangements. This is a public-sector education services opportunity suited to organisations delivering alternative or specialist education.

The process reached tender: the council invited offers through an open procedure. It comprises one lot with an estimated value of £4,000,000 gross, for a contract running from 1 September 2027 to 31 August 2028. Enquiries had to be submitted by 17 September 2026 at 16:00, and tender submissions by 24 September 2026 at 16:00. Electronic submission was allowed in English through the council’s specified procurement portal. The council expected to finalise the award by 31 October 2026. Offers are evaluated on price at 45%, quality at 35% and social value at 20%. Economic and technical selection requirements are set out in the Invitation to Tender. A further process for 2028 provision was anticipated from April 2027.

This opportunity suits established alternative-provision, specialist education and training providers able to educate compulsory-school-age pupils who are excluded from, or cannot attend, mainstream settings. Relevant capability includes designing and delivering suitable education for pupils with differing needs, maintaining safe and effective provision, and working with the council and education stakeholders to plan places against changing high-needs demand. Suppliers should be prepared to demonstrate both economic capacity and technical ability, with the detailed requirements set out in the Invitation to Tender. The evaluation gives substantial combined weight to quality and social value, so bidders need a credible delivery model and evidence of wider community benefit alongside competitive pricing. Organisations experienced in statutory education duties, multi-agency working and alternative pathways are particularly well placed.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Section 19

Notice Description

Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council "The Authority" is seeking provision for Section 19 Alternative Provision services. Section 19 of the Education act 1996 is the statutory duty to provide suitable education for all children and young people of compulsory school age who cannot access mainstream school places. This includes, permanently excluded pupils, and pupils who, because of illness or other reasons, cannot attend mainstream. Bolton Council determine the number of high needs places required each year and submits the figures to the DfE by December 5th for the following academic year. These are finalised and published in February before September term starts. This process should reflect planned and predicted changes for the following academic year, so that schools and colleges receive an appropriate level of core funding, that enables them to make the special provision that is to be commissioned, particularly any expansion of that provision. The Authority intends to run an Open Tender Process for a 1-year contract for the Academic year 2027 to 2028 provision, as the Provider needs to be in place before November 2026 to be able to submit to the DfE on time. The Authority then intends to run a further process for the 2028 provision for a longer contract of 3 Years with the option to extend for up to 2 x 12 month periods, which will be advertised in 2027.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d7b8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078718-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£4,000,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
24 Sep 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
3 Aug 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Sep 2027 - 31 Aug 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
2027-04-01

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Bolton Metropolitan Borough 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
BOLTON
Postcode
BL1 1RU
Postcode Area
Bolton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD36 Greater Manchester North West
Delivery Location
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Local Authority
Bolton
Electoral Ward
Queens Park & Central
Westminster Constituency
Bolton North East

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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