---
title: "Specialist Education Framework Phase 1 - Independent Non-Maintained Special Schools Lots 1 and 2"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-041a55"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-041a55"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-041a55.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-041a55.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2025-01-10"
---

# Specialist Education Framework Phase 1 - Independent Non-Maintained Special Schools Lots 1 and 2

Buyer: NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-041a55

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## Summary

Nottinghamshire County Council is conducting an open tender process for a Specialist Education Framework Phase 1 – Independent Non-Maintained Special Schools (INMSS) Lots 1 and 2. This competitive procurement, following the light touch regime of the Public Procurement 2015 Regulations, aims to establish a framework for specialist school placements for pupils with Education Health Care (EHC) Plans who are not in mainstream or maintained schools. The framework covers all districts of Nottinghamshire County (excluding Nottingham City) and will be effective from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2029, with potential extensions up to a total of six years. Key deadlines include a tender submission deadline on 20 December 2023 and the commencement of block contracts under Lot 1 from September 2024.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in education and training services, especially those able to cater to the needs of children and young people with special educational needs. Both large organisations and SMEs that meet the Council's specified standards can benefit from the framework by obtaining block contracts or being included on the approved INMSS provider list. This framework not only ensures financial stability through long-term contracts but also allows providers to contribute to the local community's educational development, creating a robust and resilient service delivery system.

## Notice

This is a new competitive procurement using a open procedure conducted in accordance with the light touch regime of the Public Procurement 2015 Regulations. Nottinghamshire County Council ('the Council') are running an open tender process to establish a new framework under which the Council are looking to commission Independent non-maintained special schools (INMSS) and Post-16 (where the provision is delivered in house by the school) for the provision of specialist school placements for pupils who are not attending mainstream or maintained schools and who have an Education Health Care (EHC) Plan. The establishment of a framework agreement for INMSS is the first phase of the recommissioning of the Specialist Education provision for the Council as set out in the Vision document. Ultimately the framework will be extended to include Alternative Education Provision and Post-16 institutions (e.g., further education colleges that are not part of the INMSS), that will be the second/third phases of the recommissioning project and new procurement processes will be run at later dates which are yet to be decided. The new framework will replace the current Independent / non-maintained special schools Approved Provider List for Nottinghamshire (NAPL).

### Lot Information

Independent Non-Maintained Special School Block Arrangement

Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) 'the Council' ran an open tender process in accordance with the light touch regime of the Public Procurement regulations 2015 to establish a new framework for Specialist Education. Under this lot the Council is looking to commission block contracts, known as "call-offs" from the Framework Agreement in each of the Nottinghamshire districts. The Block contracts will start from the beginning of the new school academic year commencing from September 2024. Note due to the limited number of bids the start date of the framework was put back to the 1st January 2025 and the commencement date of block contracts would be from the 1st January 2025. Schools could bid to operate in an area. The areas known as districts/boroughs are as follows: Sub Lot Area A Ashfield B Bassetlaw C Broxtowe D Gedling E Mansfield F Newark and Sherwood G Rushcliffe The scope and nature of the services required by the Council are set out in more detail in the Specification. The service is required across the whole of Nottinghamshire County (excluding Nottingham City). The term of the framework agreement will be for a period of 5 years and will commence from 01 January 2025 to the 31 December 2029. The earliest date "call-off" contracts can commence under Lot 1 is the 1st of January 2025. There is potential to extend this Framework Agreement for up to a further 6 years in increments of 24 months The tender was published on https://www.eastmidstenders.org/: Reference DN694393 Additional information: There are three optional extensions to the framework agreement each of 24 months, a total of 6 years. The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years: The initial term of the framework agreement is for five years and will end on the 31st December 2029. There is potential to extend this Framework Agreement for up to a further six years in increments of twenty four months. This process is a competitive procurement conducted in accordance with the Light Touch Regime Regulations 74 to 77 of the Public Procurement Regulations 2015, the subject matter is Specialist Education for children and young people with special education needs who have an Education Health Care Plan and the extended duration of the Framework Agreement is justified due to the type of service being sourced and the nature of the market. This is to ensure continuity in the provision of specialist education school places for the children and young people and to minimise disruption to the children and young people.

Options: There are three optional extensions to the framework agreement each of 24 months, a total of 6 years.

Approved INMSS Provider List

Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) 'the Council' is running an open tender process in accordance with the light touch regime of the Public Procurement regulations 2015 to establish a new framework for Specialist Education. This lot will see the establishment of a new approved INMSS provider list for placements that replaces the current Independent / non-maintained special schools Approved Provider List for Nottinghamshire (NAPL). This provider list will be effective from the 1st of January 2025 ** from which placements can be commissioned. **Note due to the limited number of bids the start date of the framework was put back to the 1st January 2025 from the 1st April 2024 Bidders that are successful in demonstrating that they are able to meet the Council' standards, as set out in the service specification, will be added to the Approved INMSS Provider List and will be subsequently invited to offer places that match the needs of the children and young people. Full details of the provision required are detailed in the service specification. The term of the framework agreement will be for a period of 5 years and will commence from 01 January 2025 to the 31 December 2029. There is potential to extend this Framework Agreement for up to a further 6 years in increments of 24 months The tender was published on https://www.eastmidstenders.org/ Reference DN694393 Additional information: There are three optional extensions to the framework agreement each of 24 months, a total of 6 years. The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years: The initial term of the framework agreement is for five years and will end on the 31st December 2029. There is potential to extend this Framework Agreement for up to a further six years in increments of twenty four months. This process is a competitive procurement conducted in accordance with the Light Touch Regime Regulations 74 to 77 of the Public Procurement Regulations 2015, the subject matter is Specialist Education for children and young people with special education needs who have an Education Health Care Plan and the extended duration of the Framework Agreement is justified due to the type of service being sourced and the nature of the market. This is to ensure continuity in the provision of specialist education school places for the children and young people and to minimise disruption to the children and young people.

Options: There are three optional extensions to the framework agreement each of 24 months, a total of 6 years.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000901-2025 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large, SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 10 Jan 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 20 Dec 2023 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 23 Feb 2024 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | £250,000,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £134,500,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active, Unsuccessful |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL |
| Locality | NOTTINGHAMSHIRE |
| Post town | Nottingham |
| Postcode | NG2 7QP |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLF East Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire |
| ITL 3 | TLF16 South Nottinghamshire |
| Local authority | Rushcliffe |
| Electoral ward | Trent Bridge |
| Westminster constituency | Rushcliffe |
| Delivery location | TLF15 North Nottinghamshire, TLF16 South Nottinghamshire |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 6 |
| Supplier names | ACORN EDUCATION AND CARE SERVICES; DOVE ADOLESCENT SERVICES; OPTIONS AUTISM SERVICES; POLLYTEACH; R.E.A.L. EDUCATION; THE PLACE YOUNG PEOPLE'S |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80000000 - Education and training services

## Release History

- 10 Jan 2025 at 15:57 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000901-2025
- 16 Nov 2023 at 10:55 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033893-2023

## Notice URLs

- http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk
- https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=ddf16742-e17e-ee11-8125-005056b64545&p=527b4bbd-5c58-e511-80ef-000c29c9ba21
- https://www.eastmidstenders.org/
- https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/

## 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-h6vhtk-041a55. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-041a55.json.