--- title: "Open Light Touch Framework for Independent and Alternative Education Support for Children and Young People in Devon" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04ea53" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04ea53" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04ea53.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04ea53.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL" published: "2025-10-17" --- # Open Light Touch Framework for Independent and Alternative Education Support for Children and Young People in Devon Buyer: DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04ea53 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04ea53) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04ea53.json) ## Summary Devon County Council has initiated an active tender process for an "Open Light Touch Framework for Independent and Alternative Education Support for Children and Young People in Devon." This framework is structured into several lots, focusing on both pre-16 and post-16 education placements for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The framework also includes bespoke alternative education provisions to facilitate reintegration into schools. Located in Devon, UK, this procurement process is in the tender stage, with submissions closing on 19th December 2025 and awards expected by 29th January 2026. The process follows an open procurement methodology under a services category, with an overall contract value estimated at £736,788,000, covering education and social work services. This tender presents substantial business opportunities, especially for those operating within the education and training or health and social work sectors. It is particularly favourable for independent schools and colleges, non-maintained special schools, and providers offering bespoke education support packages. The framework's recurring nature, allowing new entrants at various entry points, ensures ongoing opportunities for suitable businesses, including SMEs, to engage in mini-competitions for specific lots. Given the light-touch regime, this contract can significantly bolster the portfolio of providers specialising in education and alternative support services for young people, fostering long-term growth and collaboration with a major public authority. ## Notice Devon County Council will be setting up an open framework for Independent and Alternative Education Support for Children and Young People in Devon. The framework will comprise the following Lots: Lot 1a - Pre-16 Education Placements for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) with independent schools, independent special schools or non-maintained special schools. Lot 1b - Post-16 Education Placements for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) with independent post-16 settings and independent special post-16 settings schools and colleges. Lot 2a - Bespoke packages of Alternative Education Provision support which form part of an educated other than at school (EOTAS) which has been named within a child or young person's statutory Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Lot 2b - Bespoke packages of Alternative Education Provision support to enable children and young people to reintegrate to their school or move onto another education setting. ### Lot Information Pre-16 Education Placements Pre-16 Education Placements for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) with independent schools, independent special schools or non-maintained special schools. Post-16 Education Placements Post-16 Education Placements for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) with independent post-16 settings and independent special post-16 settings schools and colleges. Alternative Education Provision (EOTAS) Bespoke packages of Alternative Education Provision support which form part of an educated other than at school (EOTAS) which has been named within a child or young person's statutory Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Alternative Education Provision (Reintegration) Bespoke packages of Alternative Education Provision support to enable children and young people to reintegrate to their school or move onto another education setting. ### Planning Information Devon County Council would like to invite providers to attend upcoming online events via Microsoft Teams on Thursday 3rd July 2025. There will be two events with the purpose of both events being: - To provide an update on the current position and timeline for the tender process - To share outcomes of our engagement and how this has helped us shape the future approach - To discuss our Information Security Questionnaire with the market Event 1 - The future commissioning of bespoke education placements within the independent sector for children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans, with Devon County Council. To be held on Thursday 3rd July 2025 from 11am to 1pm This event is intended for the the following settings (including Section 41 approved and non-Section 41 approved providers): - Independent schools - Independent special schools - Non maintained special schools - Special independent post-16 provision Event 2 - The future commissioning of alternative education provision services with Devon County Council. To be held on Thursday 3rd July 2025 from 1.30pm to 3.30pm This event is intended for providers who are currently delivering or who are intending to deliver alternative education support services to children and young people in Devon for the Council. To book for either event please complete the following Microsoft Forms booking form https://forms.office.com/e/CCr6fSS4kZ. You will then be sent a booking confirmation email with links and any other information you may need. Please note these events are not for discussion of any current operational issues or queries that providers may have, These queries should be directed to the applicable team member with Devon County Council Operations. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066261-2025 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning, Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 17 Oct 2025 | | Submission deadline | 19 Dec 2025 | | Future notice date | 2 Jun 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 19 Feb 2026 - 7 Dec 2026 | | Recurrence | 2026-09-01 | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £613,990,000 | | Lots value | £613,990,000 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL | | Locality | EXETER, | | Post town | Exeter | | Postcode | EX2 4QD | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK4 Devon | | ITL 3 | TLK43 Devon CC | | Local authority | Exeter | | Electoral ward | Newtown and St Leonard's | | Westminster constituency | Exeter | | Delivery location | TLK South West (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 80 - Education and training services - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 80000000 - Education and training services - 85000000 - Health and social work services ## Release History - 17 Oct 2025 at 11:02 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066261-2025 - 24 Jun 2025 at 10:25 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/034658-2025 - 7 Mar 2025 at 07:20 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008285-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066261-2025 17th October 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/034658-2025 24th June 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008285-2025 7th March 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://forms.office.com/e/CCr6fSS4kZ - https://www.devon.gov.uk/ - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents - https://www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.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-04ea53. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04ea53.json.