---
title: "Specialist Education Framework Phase 1 - Independent Non-Maintained Special Schools Round 3"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0468ed"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0468ed"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0468ed.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0468ed.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2025-09-10"
---

# Specialist Education Framework Phase 1 - Independent Non-Maintained Special Schools Round 3

Buyer: NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0468ed

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## Summary

Nottinghamshire County Council has initiated the fourth reopening of its Specialist Education Framework, focusing on adding Independent Non-Maintained Special Schools (INMSS) to the existing framework. This tender, titled "Specialist Education Framework Phase 1 – Independent Non-Maintained Special Schools Round 4," targets the industry category of special education services. Nottinghamshire, specifically regions UKF15 and UKF16, serves as the contract location. The procurement is in the tender stage, with the deadline for submission set for 7th November 2025. The Council intends to manage this through the Lot 2 INMSS Provider List within the framework. This open procedure complies with the Light Touch Regime under the Public Procurement Regulations 2015, allowing new providers to bid. The framework spans initially for five years from January 2025 to December 2029, with a potential extension of up to six years in 24-month increments, ensuring a long-term opportunity for involvement.

This tender presents substantial business growth opportunities, particularly for independent and specialised education providers who offer non-mainstream schooling for pupils with Education Health Care Plans. By joining the approved provider list, businesses can access a continuous demand for tailored educational services, addressing unique student needs outside mainstream schooling. Organisations adept in delivering specialised curriculum and managing diverse educational requirements could thrive in this procurement. Small to medium-sized enterprises with a strong track record of high-quality service delivery, demonstrated by Nottinghamshire's criteria for provider selection, may find this framework particularly conducive to expanding their operational scope and enhancing their market presence in the public sector educational services domain.

## Notice

Nottinghamshire County Council (the Council) is seeking to add further Independent non-maintained Special Schools (INMSS) to a new Framework Agreement under which the Council are looking to commission INMSS and Post-16 (where the provision is delivered in house by the school) provision of specialist school placements for pupils who are not attending mainstream or maintained special schools and who have an Education Health Care (EHC) Plan. This will replace the current Independent / non-maintained special schools Approved Provider List for Nottinghamshire (NAPL). All Providers currently delivering or intending to deliver services detailed within the updated Specification (Part 4 - Specification) must apply to be on the new Framework Agreement as the current provider list (NAPL) will come to an end on the 31st of December 2024. This initial phase of the framework will have two lots under which the Council can make specialist school placements (See paragraph 5 below for further details). In Lot 1 commissioners will put in place block contracts with providers and Lot 2 will see the establishment of an approved INMSS provider list This process is the reopening of the framework for new providers to bid to join the new INMSS framework and is the third tender round. This tender round is only open to bid to join the INMSS Approved Provider List which is Lot 2 of the Framework Agreement. The Council are not re-opening Lot 1 Block Contract in this tender round. Any providers who were unsuccessful in the previous tender rounds (1 and 2) for Lot 2 can reapply in this tender round (3). ANY PROVIDERS WHO HAVE ALREADY SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED IN PREVIOUS TENDER ROUNDS AND HAVE BEEN AWARDED A PLACE ON THE FRAMEWORK DO NOT NEED TO APPLY AGAIN IN THIS TENDER ROUND. To register your interest in this tender and to view the tender documents, the tender is published on https://www.eastmidstenders.org/ Reference DN756213 The closing date for all tenders is the 28th of January 2025 at 5.00pm. Please note that a standstill period of 10 days will commence from the notification of the contract award.

### 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 2025 or as soon as possible from the start of the new school academic year if new buildings are to be put in place or existing buildings to be expanded upon or refurbished. Please note that all provision must be in place and the service to start within 24 months of the contract commencement date. A mobilisation plan for the implementation of the new provision must be agreed between the provider and the commissioning team. Bidders must specify which areas they are bidding to operate in. 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 Up to a maximum of two block contracts will be awarded per district. This means that two single providers can be awarded one contract each in a district, a provider cannot hold two block contracts in a district. Dependent on demand for specialist school places only one block contract per area may be awarded. Providers can bid on as many locations as they wish to provide a service in, however no single provider will be awarded a block contract in 4 or more of the districts/boroughs 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 DN719545 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.

Lot 2 Approved INMSS Provider List

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. This lot will see the addition of further approved INMSS to the INMSS provider list for placements. This provider list became effective from the 1st of January 2025 from which placements can be commissioned. 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. 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 DN756213 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/055396-2025 |
| 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 Sep 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 7 Nov 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 7 Oct 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 | £384,500,000 |

## 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 | 9 |
| Supplier names | A PLACE TO CALL OUR OWN (APTCOO; AUTISM EAST MIDLANDS; ESLAND NORTH; HARDWICK HOUSE SCHOOL; KEDLESTON (WINGS EDUCATION; SILVER LININGS EDUCATION; SPEECH AND LANGUAGE UK SERVICES LTD. T/AS DAWN HOUSE SCHOOL; WITHERSLACK GROUP; WOODSIDE GROUP |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80340000 - Special education services

## Release History

- 10 Sep 2025 at 12:33 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055396-2025
- 8 Sep 2025 at 13:50 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054703-2025
- 27 Jan 2025 at 10:32 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002657-2025
- 17 Dec 2024 at 08:49 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040529-2024
- 20 May 2024 at 13:38 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015869-2024

## Notice URLs

- http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk
- https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=49cc8317-d287-f011-813a-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-0468ed. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0468ed.json.