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WSCC Independent Alternative Provision (IAP) Open Framework

West Sussex County Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

01 Sep 2026 at 15:57

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

West Sussex County Council is procuring independent alternative provision education and training services for learners who need support outside mainstream education. The provision will complement the council’s full-time Alternative Provision College and may include short-term interventions, transitional placements, Education Other Than At School packages and specialist targeted support. The framework is intended to help learners remain engaged, reintegrate or transition into longer-term education, training or employment. It particularly targets learners with special educational needs and disabilities, including those with social, emotional and mental health needs or autism. The work will be delivered for learners in West Sussex, including provision commissioned by schools and by the council. Suppliers can apply for one or more of four service tiers.

The process has reached tender: the council invited offers through an open procedure for an open framework. It has one undivided lot, with applications submitted electronically in English. The tender and enquiry deadlines are both 1 October 2026 at 12:00, and the award decision is due by 23:59 on the same date. The initial contract period is 1 October 2026 to 31 August 2028, with extensions in increments of up to two years and a maximum term ending 31 August 2034. The estimated value is £224,595,000 gross. Quality is the sole evaluation criterion, weighted at 100%. The framework is permanently open, with quarterly evaluations, and allows additional tiers to be added during the contract.

This opportunity suits education, alternative provision and specialist learner-support organisations able to provide safe, high-quality services across different levels of need. Suppliers may apply for one or more tiers: school-commissioned intervention, council-commissioned transitional placements, agreed EOTAS packages, or targeted support delivered with a multi-disciplinary team. It is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises. Strong candidates will be able to support learners with SEND, particularly social, emotional and mental health needs and autism, while delivering interventions that can lead to reintegration or transition into education, training or employment. The framework is aligned with the Non-School Alternative Provision Voluntary National Standards published in August 2025, including nationally recognised expectations for quality and safeguarding.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

WSCC Independent Alternative Provision (IAP) Open Framework

Notice Description

The Authority is committed to ensuring access to high-quality education for all Learners, in line with statutory duties under the Education Act. To achieve this, we commission Independent Alternative Provision (IAP) to complement mainstream education, provide short-term interventions, and deliver Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) packages where appropriate. This Framework will operate in addition to the Authority's commissioned placements at the Ofsted-regulated West Sussex Alternative Provision College (APC), which offers full-time education. The Framework aims to secure safe, high-quality Alternative Provision that: acts as an intervention, not a destination; supports timely reintegration and/or transition of Learners into long-term education, training, or employment; and meets the individual needs of Learners, particularly Learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) with a particular demand on provisions supporting Learners with Social Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) and Autism. For Clarity the Framework is due to run from September 1st 2026 for an initial period of two years. Bidders can apply from September 1st 2026 until the end of the framework. Please disregard dates of award and submission deadline below. The Framework has been updated to align with the Non-School Alternative Provision Voluntary National Standards (August 2025), ensuring Suppliers meet nationally recognized benchmarks for quality and safeguarding. Structure of the Framework This opportunity does not include separate Lots. Suppliers may apply for one or more Tiers and can request to add additional Tiers at any point during the Framework term. Tier 1: Provision commissioned by schools for Learners at risk of placement breakdown (e.g., short-term intervention to maintain engagement). Tier 2: Transitional placements commissioned by the Authority while seeking a permanent education setting. Tier 3: Provision commissioned by the Authority for Learners with an agreed EOTAS package. Tier 4: Specialist targeted support commissioned by the Authority for Learners supported by a multi-disciplinary team. The Tender Document pack , including full details of the services required, can be viewed via the Authority's e-tendering Portal. https://atamis-7669.my.site.com/s/Welcome

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: The right to add additional tiers while the contract is valid.

Renewal: Initial term of two years with the option to extend in increments of up to two years. Maximum term of eight years.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06efd3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082798-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
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
£224,595,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
£224,595,000 £100M-£1B
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
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 31 Aug 2028 1-2 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
West Sussex 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
CHICHESTER
Postcode
PO19 1RG
Postcode Area
Portsmouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ27 West Sussex (South West)
Delivery Location
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Local Authority
Chichester
Electoral Ward
Chichester Central
Westminster Constituency
Chichester

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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