--- title: "Invitation to Tender for SEND Advisors (Re-opening of Lot 4 - ECSC Framework)" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-93f52be3-17f5-4111-9e0b-76a19a487d18" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-93f52be3-17f5-4111-9e0b-76a19a487d18" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-93f52be3-17f5-4111-9e0b-76a19a487d18.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-93f52be3-17f5-4111-9e0b-76a19a487d18.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION" published: "2025-09-30" --- # Invitation to Tender for SEND Advisors (Re-opening of Lot 4 - ECSC Framework) Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-93f52be3-17f5-4111-9e0b-76a19a487d18 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-93f52be3-17f5-4111-9e0b-76a19a487d18) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-93f52be3-17f5-4111-9e0b-76a19a487d18.json) ## Summary The Department for Education (DfE) is reopening its ECSC Framework to appoint Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Advisors for the fiscal year 2025-2026. This procurement process, currently at the tender stage, seeks new suppliers for Lot 4, with a focus on education and training services across various UK regions including London, North East, and Scotland among others. The procurement method is an open procedure above the threshold, complying with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Interested parties must submit their bids by 20th October 2025, while the contract period runs from 28th November 2025 to 31st March 2029. This invitation to tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in education consulting and advisory services, particularly those with strong expertise in the SEND sector. The DfE seeks professionals with a robust understanding of SEND systems, and experience in influencing change and improvement in educational and local authority settings. Suitable candidates can leverage this framework to expand their client portfolio and contribute to transformative SEND reform initiatives. The procurement is designed to accommodate SMEs and VCSEs, promoting inclusive participation and fostering valuable partnerships with local authorities to deliver sustainable outcomes for children and young people with SEND. ## Notice The Department for Education (DfE) is responsible for supporting improvement in local authorities with regards to the provision of special educational needs and disability (SEND) services. This is done in part through drawing down external expertise to support local authorities. The Department wishes to appoint SEND Advisers in FY 25-26 to provide tailored advice and support to local authorities and help them improve readiness for and effectively implement the SEND reforms such that they sustainably deliver the best possible outcomes for their children and young people with SEND. These could be former or practising local government officers with a robust knowledge of the current SEND system. MAXIMUM VALUE: up to PS600 daily rate ex VAT DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES SEND Advisers will provide advisory support to a portfolio of local authorities as they work with their system partners to effectively plan and implement the SEND reforms such that they sustainably deliver the best possible outcomes for their children and young people with SEND. The role requires in-depth knowledge of the SEND sector as a whole, as well as understanding of strategy, governance and leadership for delivering system transformation and change. Essential skills and experience A strong understanding of the SEND system and underlying drivers of inclusive practice. Experience, knowledge and understanding of local area SEND provision. Experience in influencing effective change and improvement in educational settings and/or LAs. Strong communication skills to convey complex information effectively, engage with a wide range of partners and to manage competing views. The ability to work autonomously, collaboratively and proactively to support local areas to drive forward change and implementation at pace. Responsibilities Act as a critical friend and provide support and challenge to the designated authorities as required. Provide mentoring and coaching support to LA senior leaders and SEND management teams as required. Support the Department for Education to undertake reviews, as required, of relevant local authorities' progress against implementation. Provide written reports on local authorities' progress to DfE as required Provide other support services Additional information: This procurement is being conducted in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The purpose of this notice is to invite potential new suppliers to submit bids for Lot 4: SEND Advisors. Lot 4 - SEND Advisors under ECSC Framework already exists. The department is reopening the existing framework, and this procurement will involve adding new suppliers and opening LOT4, and new call off agreements to allocate work. Supplier Instructions - Accessing Tender Documents via Jaggaer All interested suppliers must either: 1. Register on the Jaggaer e-Sourcing portal, or 2. Log in to their existing Jaggaer account. To access the tender documents, raise clarification questions, and submit responses, please follow these steps: 1. Go to the Jaggaer portal: (see link included) 2. Register by clicking "Click here to register!" and completing the required fields. 3. Once registered or logged in, navigate to "ITTs Open to All Suppliers". 4. Locate ITT_3709 and click to express interest in the procurement. After expressing interest, you will be able to access all tender documentation and begin your response. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/edd7c752-b9f2-4075-a2ec-6b45bb0bb8cd | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (above threshold) | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning, Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 30 Sep 2025 | | Submission deadline | 20 Oct 2025 | | Future notice date | 29 Sep 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 28 Nov 2025 - 31 Mar 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | 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 | DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | Sheffield | | Postcode | S1 2JF | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London | | Local authority | Westminster | | Electoral ward | St James's | | Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster | | Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England), TLM Scotland | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 80 - Education and training services ### Codes - 80000000 - Education and training services ## Release History - 30 Sep 2025 at 08:59 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/edd7c752-b9f2-4075-a2ec-6b45bb0bb8cd - 29 Sep 2025 at 21:13 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/edd7c752-b9f2-4075-a2ec-6b45bb0bb8cd - 29 Sep 2025 at 21:07 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/edd7c752-b9f2-4075-a2ec-6b45bb0bb8cd - 19 Sep 2025 at 08:15 - Planning - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/663e4e15-5046-4090-ac81-eca975628a3e - 17 Sep 2025 at 12:27 - Planning - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/663e4e15-5046-4090-ac81-eca975628a3e - 17 Sep 2025 at 12:25 - Planning - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/663e4e15-5046-4090-ac81-eca975628a3e ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/edd7c752-b9f2-4075-a2ec-6b45bb0bb8cd 30th September 2025 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/663e4e15-5046-4090-ac81-eca975628a3e 19th September 2025 - Future opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html Jaggaer e-procurement portal LINK: - https://app.screencast.com/2srN0n260W9nX Jaggaer registration guidance ## 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-b5fd17-93f52be3-17f5-4111-9e0b-76a19a487d18. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-93f52be3-17f5-4111-9e0b-76a19a487d18.json.