---
title: "SEND Reform Evaluation - Supplier Networking Opportunity"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-a475b491-2e89-4f7a-a858-59b59c60ce92"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-a475b491-2e89-4f7a-a858-59b59c60ce92"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a475b491-2e89-4f7a-a858-59b59c60ce92.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a475b491-2e89-4f7a-a858-59b59c60ce92.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "Department for Education"
published: "2026-10-21"
---

# SEND Reform Evaluation - Supplier Networking Opportunity

Buyer: Department for Education  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-a475b491-2e89-4f7a-a858-59b59c60ce92

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-a475b491-2e89-4f7a-a858-59b59c60ce92)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a475b491-2e89-4f7a-a858-59b59c60ce92.json)

## Summary

The Department for Education intends to procure an evaluation of its SEND reform investments. This is research and consultancy work focused on assessing the investments; the planned procurement’s detailed evaluation scope and deliverables are not set out here. The work is associated with the United Kingdom, as well as locations listed across Europe and elsewhere. The current activity is supplier networking ahead of the separate procurement, rather than an invitation to tender.

The process is at the planning stage, with pre-market engagement continuing. The Department expects to compete the future procurement through the Crown Commercial Service Research & Insights Dynamic Purchasing System, with competition intended in November 2026. The engagement period is due to end on 20 November 2026. Suppliers may voluntarily join a networking register to connect with other interested organisations; the department will not select, recommend or match collaborators. Joining the register, or choosing not to, will not affect eligibility or evaluation in the later procurement. No contract value or budget is stated in this planning information.

This work is most relevant to research and consultancy suppliers with an interest in evaluating SEND reform or education investments. Small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises are identified as suitable participants. Organisations considering the future competition may find the optional register useful for making contact with potential collaborators and exploring whether to work together. The department does not arrange partnerships, so suppliers will need to decide independently whether collaboration suits their capabilities and approach. The published information does not describe required research methods, accreditations, staffing levels or minimum experience, so firms should use the pre-market engagement to understand the eventual scope before assessing their fit.

## Notice

The Department for Education (DfE) is continuing its pre-market engagement for the forthcoming SEND Reform Investments Evaluation procurement, which is intended to be competed through the Crown Commercial Service Research & Insights Dynamic Purchasing System (RM6126) in November Following feedback received during recent market engagement events held on 19th October, DfE is facilitating an optional supplier networking register to help organisations interested in this opportunity connect with other organisations that may be interested in collaborating in relation to the future procurement. Organisations wishing to participate are invited to complete the Supplier Networking Register form at: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=yXfS-grGoU2187O4s0qC-TcmlMtyZZVCqrgjEKtw5BRUQ0pBQTU0Q1dOQzRCQTJEV0ZGVTAxWTNMUC4u The form will ask for limited contact information, including organisation name, contact name and email address, together with consent for those details to be shared with other organisations participating in the register. The register will be distributed on a weekly basis with those who have consented, up until the end of the tender clarification period. Participation in the networking register is entirely voluntary. DfE will not recommend, endorse, select or match organisations. Organisations will remain responsible for deciding whether and how they engage or collaborate with others. Participation or non-participation in the networking register will have no bearing on eligibility to participate in, or the evaluation of, any subsequent procurement. This activity forms part of DfE's pre-market engagement and does not constitute a call for competition or an invitation to tender. Any subsequent procurement will be conducted separately in accordance with the applicable process under RM6126. Additional information: Information submitted through the form will be used for the purpose of facilitating supplier networking in connection with the SEND Reform Evaluation opportunity. Contact details will only be included in the networking register where the individual has provided consent for DfE to share them for this purpose.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/70a9bec9-fbed-4788-af63-94fdaf9b7ede |
| Notice type | Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Dynamic |
| Procurement category | Not specified |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 21 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| 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 | Planning |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Department for Education |
| Locality | COVENTRY |
| Postcode area | Coventry |
| Postcode | CV1 2WT |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands |
| ITL 3 | TLG33 Coventry |
| Local authority | Coventry |
| Electoral ward | St Michael's |
| Westminster constituency | Coventry South |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 21 Oct 2026 at 11:55 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/70a9bec9-fbed-4788-af63-94fdaf9b7ede

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/70a9bec9-fbed-4788-af63-94fdaf9b7ede
  21st October 2026 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder
- https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=yXfS-grGoU2187O4s0qC-TcmlMtyZZVCqrgjEKtw5BRUQ0pBQTU0Q1dOQzRCQTJEV0ZGVTAxWTNMUC4u
  Link to Supplier Network Register

## 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-a475b491-2e89-4f7a-a858-59b59c60ce92. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a475b491-2e89-4f7a-a858-59b59c60ce92.json.