--- title: "WSCC Independent Alternative Provision (IAP) Open Framework" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06efd3" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06efd3" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06efd3.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06efd3.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "West Sussex County Council" published: "2026-09-01" --- # WSCC Independent Alternative Provision (IAP) Open Framework Buyer: West Sussex County Council Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06efd3 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06efd3) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06efd3.json) ## Summary West Sussex County Council is procuring independent alternative provision education and training services for learners who need support outside mainstream education. The provision will complement the council’s full-time Alternative Provision College and may include short-term interventions, transitional placements, Education Other Than At School packages and specialist targeted support. The framework is intended to help learners remain engaged, reintegrate or transition into longer-term education, training or employment. It particularly targets learners with special educational needs and disabilities, including those with social, emotional and mental health needs or autism. The work will be delivered for learners in West Sussex, including provision commissioned by schools and by the council. Suppliers can apply for one or more of four service tiers. The process has reached tender: the council invited offers through an open procedure for an open framework. It has one undivided lot, with applications submitted electronically in English. The tender and enquiry deadlines are both 1 October 2026 at 12:00, and the award decision is due by 23:59 on the same date. The initial contract period is 1 October 2026 to 31 August 2028, with extensions in increments of up to two years and a maximum term ending 31 August 2034. The estimated value is £224,595,000 gross. Quality is the sole evaluation criterion, weighted at 100%. The framework is permanently open, with quarterly evaluations, and allows additional tiers to be added during the contract. This opportunity suits education, alternative provision and specialist learner-support organisations able to provide safe, high-quality services across different levels of need. Suppliers may apply for one or more tiers: school-commissioned intervention, council-commissioned transitional placements, agreed EOTAS packages, or targeted support delivered with a multi-disciplinary team. It is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises. Strong candidates will be able to support learners with SEND, particularly social, emotional and mental health needs and autism, while delivering interventions that can lead to reintegration or transition into education, training or employment. The framework is aligned with the Non-School Alternative Provision Voluntary National Standards published in August 2025, including nationally recognised expectations for quality and safeguarding. ## Notice The Authority is committed to ensuring access to high-quality education for all Learners, in line with statutory duties under the Education Act. To achieve this, we commission Independent Alternative Provision (IAP) to complement mainstream education, provide short-term interventions, and deliver Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) packages where appropriate. This Framework will operate in addition to the Authority's commissioned placements at the Ofsted-regulated West Sussex Alternative Provision College (APC), which offers full-time education. The Framework aims to secure safe, high-quality Alternative Provision that: acts as an intervention, not a destination; supports timely reintegration and/or transition of Learners into long-term education, training, or employment; and meets the individual needs of Learners, particularly Learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) with a particular demand on provisions supporting Learners with Social Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) and Autism. For Clarity the Framework is due to run from September 1st 2026 for an initial period of two years. Bidders can apply from September 1st 2026 until the end of the framework. Please disregard dates of award and submission deadline below. The Framework has been updated to align with the Non-School Alternative Provision Voluntary National Standards (August 2025), ensuring Suppliers meet nationally recognized benchmarks for quality and safeguarding. Structure of the Framework This opportunity does not include separate Lots. Suppliers may apply for one or more Tiers and can request to add additional Tiers at any point during the Framework term. Tier 1: Provision commissioned by schools for Learners at risk of placement breakdown (e.g., short-term intervention to maintain engagement). Tier 2: Transitional placements commissioned by the Authority while seeking a permanent education setting. Tier 3: Provision commissioned by the Authority for Learners with an agreed EOTAS package. Tier 4: Specialist targeted support commissioned by the Authority for Learners supported by a multi-disciplinary team. The Tender Document pack , including full details of the services required, can be viewed via the Authority's e-tendering Portal. https://atamis-7669.my.site.com/s/Welcome ### Lot Information Lot 1 Options: The right to add additional tiers while the contract is valid. Renewal: Initial term of two years with the option to extend in increments of up to two years. Maximum term of eight years. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082798-2026 | | 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 | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 1 Sep 2026 | | Submission deadline | 1 Oct 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Oct 2026 - 31 Aug 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £224,595,000 | | Lots value | £224,595,000 | | 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 | West Sussex County Council | | Locality | CHICHESTER | | Postcode area | Portsmouth | | Postcode | PO19 1RG | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex | | ITL 3 | TLJ27 West Sussex (South West) | | Local authority | Chichester | | Electoral ward | Chichester Central | | Westminster constituency | Chichester | | Delivery location | TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 80 - Education and training services ### Codes - 80000000 - Education and training services ## Release History - 1 Sep 2026 at 15:57 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082798-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082798-2026 1st September 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://atamis-7669.my.site.com/s/Welcome - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents - https://www.westsussex.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-06efd3. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06efd3.json.