--- title: "CBC-2107-RFI-SK Alternative Education Framework re-commission (Request for Information)" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06e2cb" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e2cb" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e2cb.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e2cb.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "Central Bedfordshire Council" published: "2026-08-12" --- # CBC-2107-RFI-SK Alternative Education Framework re-commission (Request for Information) Buyer: Central Bedfordshire Council Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06e2cb [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e2cb) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e2cb.json) ## Summary Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedford Borough Council are jointly developing an Alternative Education Provision Framework to support children and young people who need tailored educational interventions. The planned services cover online and face-to-face tuition, vocational learning, alternative curriculum provision, mentoring and outreach support, and enrichment activities. This is an education and training services requirement, including special education, e-learning, vocational training and tutorial services. Delivery will take place in the Central Bedfordshire and Bedford areas. Central Bedfordshire Council is the buyer, with Bedford Borough Council acting as a joint commissioning and participating contracting authority. The framework is intended to provide flexible alternative education across different delivery modes and types of learner support. The process is at the planning and preliminary market engagement stage, intended to inform a future re-commissioning rather than invite tenders. The councils expect to use a light-touch procedure for a framework agreement. They are seeking provider feedback through a Request for Information Questionnaire, with responses expected by 15 September 2026. A subsequent notice is currently anticipated for 16 November 2026. The proposed single lot has an indicative contract period from 1 September 2027 to 31 August 2030, with a possible extension to 1 September 2032 and renewal provisions. The lot is marked as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. No procurement value or award criteria are stated at this stage. This will suit education, alternative provision, tutoring, vocational training, e-learning and youth-support organisations able to work with children and young people requiring tailored provision. Relevant providers may offer a single specialist service, such as online tuition, mentoring or vocational learning, or a broader package combining face-to-face teaching, alternative curricula, outreach and enrichment. Organisations should consider how they can deliver flexibly across Bedford and Central Bedfordshire, including different modes of learning and individualised interventions. The councils are specifically seeking market feedback on the future framework’s structure, requirements and delivery model, so providers with practical experience of designing or delivering alternative education should prepare clear views on service models, learner support and implementation. The planned lot is identified as suitable for SMEs. ## Notice Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedford Borough Council are undertaking a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise to inform the re-commissioning of an Alternative Education Provision Framework from September 2027. The proposed framework will support children and young people requiring tailored educational interventions and is expected to include online and face-to-face tuition, vocational learning, alternative curriculum provision, mentoring/outreach support, and enrichment activities. The Councils are seeking feedback from providers to help shape the future framework structure, requirements, and delivery mode ### Planning Information Request for Information Questionnaire ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076871-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 12 Aug 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 16 Nov 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Sep 2027 - 31 Aug 2030 | | 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 | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | Central Bedfordshire Council | | Locality | SHEFFORD | | Postcode area | Stevenage | | Postcode | SG17 5TQ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLH East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire | | ITL 3 | TLH25 Central Bedfordshire | | Local authority | Central Bedfordshire | | Electoral ward | Shefford | | Westminster constituency | Hitchin | | Delivery location | TLH24 Bedford, TLH25 Central Bedfordshire | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 80 - Education and training services ### Codes - 80000000 - Education and training services - 80340000 - Special education services - 80420000 - E-learning services - 80530000 - Vocational training services - 80590000 - Tutorial services ## Release History - 12 Aug 2026 at 15:06 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076871-2026 - 12 Aug 2026 at 14:55 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076860-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076871-2026 12th August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076860-2026 12th August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/centralbedfordshire/aspx/Home - https://www.bedford.gov.uk/ - 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-06e2cb. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e2cb.json.