--- title: "Dynamic Purchasing System for the provision of Alternative Education" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-66fd8fe8-eadd-4fe2-a1ee-d54f5898a4b3" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-66fd8fe8-eadd-4fe2-a1ee-d54f5898a4b3" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-66fd8fe8-eadd-4fe2-a1ee-d54f5898a4b3.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-66fd8fe8-eadd-4fe2-a1ee-d54f5898a4b3.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "DERBY CITY COUNCIL" published: "2025-07-31" --- # Dynamic Purchasing System for the provision of Alternative Education Buyer: DERBY CITY COUNCIL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-66fd8fe8-eadd-4fe2-a1ee-d54f5898a4b3 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-66fd8fe8-eadd-4fe2-a1ee-d54f5898a4b3) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-66fd8fe8-eadd-4fe2-a1ee-d54f5898a4b3.json) ## Summary Derby City Council is seeking applications for a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) aimed at providing Alternative Education services across Derby. The DPS will partly be managed in collaboration with the Respect Collaboration of Schools to ensure education provision for children who do not receive adequate schooling due to suspension, exclusion, or other reasons. This procurement falls under the "Education and training services" category and operates within the East Midlands region. The process involves multiple rounds for applications, with Round Four set to conclude on 31st October 2025 at 10:00 am. Successful contracts will begin on 1st December 2025, continuing until 31st May 2028, with potential extensions. The procurement method is an open procedure, simplified under the Light Touch Regime, allowing flexibility to cater to ongoing local educational needs. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the education and training sector, particularly SMEs and VCSEs, to expand their involvement in the community. Organisations with expertise in providing education alternative to mainstream schooling can leverage this DPS to secure contracts, offering education programmes that lead to recognised qualifications. As the purchasing of places is anticipated on an ad hoc basis, flexible providers capable of delivering tailored educational services will thrive. The estimated value of the procurement is between £3,000,000 and £7,000,000 GBP, creating substantial business prospects for entities looking to contribute to alternative educational pathways in Derby. ## Notice Derby City Council (the Council) is inviting applications from suitably experienced and qualified entities to participate in a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the provision of Alternative Education across the city. The DPS will be partly managed by colleagues from the Respect Collaboration of Schools, the schools within which are "maintained". Respect Collaboration of Schools (RCS) 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. All provision should offer progression throughout their courses, regardless of the category of Alternative Provision or Key Stage. Pupils, where appropriate, should work towards qualifications that fit within the Qualifications and Curriculum Framework (QCF) and/or accreditation that supports post 16/industry recognised education. The scope of this agreement is not restricted by pupil numbers. It is anticipated that places will be purchased on an ad hoc basis, Applications to join the DPS will be considered in a series of "rounds". Round Four will close on 31/10/2025 (10.00am). The Council will then consider the applications to join the DPS and Applicants are expected to be notified of the outcome of the application within one calendar month. For clarity, this DPS is not a full DPS as defined under the Public Contract Regulations 2015, Regulation 34, but is a modified version. This is because Section 7 - Education and Training services (the Light Touch Regime as allowed under Regulations 74 to 77) are not subject to the full requirements of the procurement procedures set out in the Regulations. This has given us scope to create a more flexible DPS to fit the on-going requirements of RCS. Please note suppliers wishing to express interest and obtain the documentation for Round Four must do so by 11.30pm on 30/10/2025. It is recommended that you express interest and obtain the documentation well before this time to allow sufficient time to prepare and submit a bid. As stated above, the deadline for applications for Round Four is 10.00am on 31/10/2025. Documents are available at www.eastmidstenders.org Please search for TD2205 Please note: we will only accept expressions of interest through the e-tendering system. Additional information: Applications to join the DPS will be considered in a series of "rounds". Round One will close on 31/03/2025 (10.00am). The Council will then consider the applications to join the DPS and Applicants are expected to be notified of the outcome of the application within one calendar month. Round Two will open after the closure of Round One. Applicants will have 30 days to submit their application. This period will conclude on: 30/04/2025 (10.00am). Round Three will open after the closure of Round Two. Applicants will have three months to submit their application. This period will conclude on: 31/07/2025 (10.00am) Round Four, and all subsequent Rounds will ordinarily then close every three months until the end of the DPS. The Council, however, reserves the right to amend the closing dates as it sees fit, dependant on changes to the provider marketplace. Once successful in a round applicants need not apply again in future rounds. If an applicant is unsuccessful in a round they may re-apply in any future round. The DPS shall operate for an initial term of three years with initial agreements to commence 1st June 2025 and end 31st May 2028. There will be options to extend the DPS in annual increments for up to four further years. The maximum term for the DPS will, therefore, be seven years. For clarity, this DPS is not a full DPS as defined under the Public Contract Regulations 2015, Regulation 34, but is a modified version. This is because Section 7 - Education and Training services (the Light Touch Regime as allowed under Regulations 74 to 77) are not subject to the full requirements of the procurement procedures set out in the Regulations. This has given us scope to create a more flexible DPS to fit the on-going requirements of RCS. Please note suppliers wishing to express interest and obtain the documentation for Round Four must do so by 11.30pm on 30/10/2025. It is recommended that you express interest and obtain the documentation well before this time to allow sufficient time to prepare and submit a bid. As stated above, the deadline for applications for Round Four is 10.00am on 31/10/2025. Documents are available at www.eastmidstenders.org Please search for TD2205 Please note: we will only accept expressions of interest through the e-tendering system. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/87a18fb3-75bd-4586-aa4a-c53e02d044be | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Dynamic | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (above threshold) | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 31 Jul 2025 | | Submission deadline | 31 Oct 2025 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Dec 2025 - 31 May 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £7,000,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DERBY CITY COUNCIL | | Locality | DERBY | | Post town | Derby | | Postcode | DE1 2FS | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLF East Midlands (England) | | ITL 2 | TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire | | ITL 3 | TLF11 Derby | | Local authority | Derby | | Electoral ward | Darley | | Westminster constituency | Derby South | | Delivery location | TLF East Midlands (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 80 - Education and training services ### Codes - 80000000 - Education and training services ## Release History - 31 Jul 2025 at 09:30 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/87a18fb3-75bd-4586-aa4a-c53e02d044be - 30 Apr 2025 at 09:17 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/87a18fb3-75bd-4586-aa4a-c53e02d044be - 20 Feb 2025 at 13:42 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/87a18fb3-75bd-4586-aa4a-c53e02d044be ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/87a18fb3-75bd-4586-aa4a-c53e02d044be 31st July 2025 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-66fd8fe8-eadd-4fe2-a1ee-d54f5898a4b3. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-66fd8fe8-eadd-4fe2-a1ee-d54f5898a4b3.json.