---
title: "Independent and Non-Maintained Special Schools (INMSS) Open Framework (CN260427)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-051257"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-051257"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051257.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051257.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "KENT COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2026-06-11"
---

# Independent and Non-Maintained Special Schools (INMSS) Open Framework (CN260427)

Buyer: KENT COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-051257

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## Summary

Kent County Council is behind the establishment of a new Independent and Non-Maintained Special Schools (INMSS) Open Framework to replace the current NMISS Dynamic Purchasing System upon its expiration on 31 August 2026. This initiative aims to support the education placements for children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) requiring specific needs that mainstream or maintained special school settings cannot accommodate. The Framework starts on 1 September 2026, running initially for four years with possible extensions yielding a total duration of up to eight years. With an estimated maximum value of £876 million, the procurement is conducted under a Competitive Flexible Procedure, featuring a two-lot structure to allocate contracts. The procurement stage has advanced to the award status as of 11 June 2026, with a standstill period ending on 23 June 2026.

This tender presents extensive opportunities not only for large organisations but also for SMEs specialised in educational services who can meet stringent quality, safeguarding, and compliance standards. Businesses with the capability of providing tailored educational services for children with complex needs and those with the potential for strategic collaboration with Kent County Council have significant scope here. The competitive process involves a participation phase followed by an invitation to tender, ensuring that providers achieving a high-quality threshold can be allocated to Lot A as Strategic Partners or Lot B as Approved Providers. Thus, enterprises in the education sector, particularly those that aim to innovate and enhance service delivery, may find this framework immensely rewarding for their growth trajectory.

## Notice

Kent County Council (KCC) is establishing a new Independent and Non-Maintained Special Schools (INMSS) Open Framework (reference CN260427) to replace the existing NMISS Dynamic Purchasing System when it expires on 31 August 2026. The Framework will support the placement of children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) whose needs cannot be met in mainstream or maintained special school settings, ensuring continuity of provision and compliance with the Procurement Act 2023. The Framework will commence on 1 September 2026 for an initial period of 4 years, with potential extensions up to another 4 years, and an estimated maximum total value of PS876 million across the full term. It aims to improve outcomes, strengthen quality assurance, enhance pricing transparency, and secure better value for money while ensuring placements remain focused on children with the most complex needs. Provision under this Framework includes Independent Special Schools (both Section 41 and non-Section 41) and Non-Maintained Special Schools. Providers must be appropriately registered with Ofsted or the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and must meet statutory and contractual quality, safeguarding, and compliance requirements. The Framework uses a two-lot structure: Lot A - Strategic Partners, for Tenderers meeting a higher quality threshold and capable of close strategic collaboration with KCC, including potential consideration for longer-term arrangements such as block contracting. Lot B - Approved Providers, meeting the standard quality threshold. The procurement will be conducted via a Competitive Flexible Procedure, comprising a Conditions of Participation Stage followed by an Invitation to Tender for shortlisted providers. Quality evaluation thresholds will determine allocation to Lots. For full details, all suppliers must access the opportunity through the Kent Business Portal and download the complete document pack: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/

### Lot Information

Strategic Partners

Renewal: A possibility for four possible contract extension of up to 4 year(s) (12 months each)

Approved Providers

Renewal: A possibility for four possible contract extension of up to 4 year(s) (12 months each)

### Planning Information

Invitation to Providers
We invite all interested suppliers to register on the Kent Business Portal (https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/)
Once registered, providers can express their interest by emailing inclusion@kent.gov.uk and the invitation will be shared.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055271-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Dynamic, Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large, SME |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 11 Jun 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 13 Feb 2026 |
| Future notice date | 31 Jan 2026 |
| Award date | 10 Jun 2026 |
| Contract period | 31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £876,000,000 |
| Lots value | £876,000,000 |
| Awards value | £876,000,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | KENT COUNTY COUNCIL |
| Locality | MAIDSTONE |
| Post town | Rochester |
| Postcode | ME14 1XQ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ4 Kent |
| ITL 3 | TLJ45 Mid Kent |
| Local authority | Maidstone |
| Electoral ward | Penenden Heath |
| Westminster constituency | Maidstone and Malling |
| Delivery location | TLJ South East (England), TLJ4 Kent |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 33 |
| Supplier names | ACORN NORFOLK; ALP SCHOOLS; ASD LEARNING; ASPRIS CHILDREN'S SERVICES; ATRIUM EDUCATION; BARNARDO SERVICES; BLUE SKIES SCHOOL; CARMICHAEL EDUCATION; CHALKHILL FARM YOUTH ACTIVITIES; COMPASS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS; CROSS KEYS LEARNING; CURLY'S LEGACY; EARLEY SPRINGS SCHOOL; ELMLEY DRAY; GREAT OAKS SMALL SCHOOL; HORIZON CARE AND EDUCATION GROUP; INTEGRATED SERVICES PROGRAMME; KINGS PARK SCHOOL; L&P EDUCATIONAL SERVICES; LIFE SKILLS ENTERPRISES; LIFE SKILLS MANOR; MAGIC (UK; N R EDUCATION; OMG EIS; OPTIONS AUTISM (7; OUTCOMES FIRST GROUP (OPERATIONS) 1; RIPPLEVALE SCHOOL; RIPPLEVALE SCHOOL ROCHESTER; THE QUEST SCHOOL; THE SALLYGATE SCHOOL; THE VIEW SCHOOL; WITHERSLACK GROUP; YEW TREE FARM SCHOOL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80100000 - Primary education services
- 80200000 - Secondary education services

## Release History

- 11 Jun 2026 at 13:26 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055271-2026
- 30 Jan 2026 at 15:39 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008594-2026
- 6 Nov 2025 at 13:24 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071637-2025
- 13 May 2025 at 15:18 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020970-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055271-2026
  11th June 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008594-2026
  30th January 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071637-2025
  6th November 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020970-2025
  13th May 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/
- https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/respond/D2SK4KN582

## Notice URLs

- https://www.kent.gov.uk/
- https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/Torespondtothisopportunity,pleaseusetheaccesscode:D2SK4KN582orusethefollowinglink:https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/respond/D2SK4KN582
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-051257. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051257.json.