--- title: "Post-16 SEND - Soft Market Engagement" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-077661" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-077661" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077661.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077661.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "Cornwall Council" published: "2026-09-21" --- # Post-16 SEND - Soft Market Engagement Buyer: Cornwall Council Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-077661 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-077661) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077661.json) ## Summary Cornwall Council is exploring future post-16 special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision. The intended service is education and training for people aged over 16 with SEND, helping to provide suitable post-16 learning and support in Cornwall. This is a public-sector services requirement led by Cornwall Council. Organisations with relevant experience, capacity or capability in delivering post-16 SEND provision are being sought to help the council understand the market and shape its future requirements. The service is expected to be delivered in Cornwall. The council describes this as early market engagement rather than a commitment to commission services, so suppliers are being asked to contribute their market knowledge before any future procurement is developed. The process is at the planning stage and is a soft market engagement exercise, not an invitation to tender. Cornwall Council expects to issue a subsequent notice on 11 November 2026. Interested organisations are expected to register interest and return a confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement by 7 October 2026; further information will follow completion of that agreement. The engagement milestone is scheduled for 30 September 2026. The planned requirement is one lot, with an estimated gross value of £1,500,000. The planned contract period is from 1 March 2027 to 29 February 2032. The lot is marked as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises. This engagement should suit specialist post-16 SEND education and training providers, including organisations already supporting young people with special educational needs or disabilities into further education, skills development or preparation for adult life. It may also suit smaller providers and voluntary, community or social enterprises, as the planned lot is identified as suitable for both groups. Relevant delivery experience, operational capacity and the ability to provide appropriate post-16 SEND provision are the capabilities Cornwall Council is seeking at this stage. Providers should be prepared to share practical information about their services, capacity and experience during the engagement, and to complete the confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement before receiving further information. The exercise is useful for influencing the council’s understanding of the future market and preparing for a later procurement. ## Notice Cornwall Council is undertaking a soft market engagement exercise to inform its understanding of the market in relation to potential future post-16 SEND provision. The Council is seeking to hear from organisations with relevant experience, capacity or capability in delivering post-16 SEND provision. Further information will be provided to interested organisations following completion of a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). This is an early market engagement exercise and does not constitute a procurement exercise or commitment by Cornwall Council to commission services. ### Planning Information Post-16 SEND – Soft Market Engagement Cornwall Council is undertaking a soft market engagement exercise to inform its understanding of the market in relation to potential future post-16 SEND provision. The Council is seeking to hear from organisations with relevant experience, capacity or capability in delivering post-16 SEND provision. Further information will be provided to interested organisations following completion of a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). This is an early market engagement exercise and does not constitute a procurement exercise or commitment by Cornwall Council to commission services. Upon registering your interest a Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement will be issued for return by 07/10/2026. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089123-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 21 Sep 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 11 Nov 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Mar 2027 - 29 Feb 2032 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £1,500,000 | | 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 | Cornwall Council | | Locality | TRURO | | Postcode area | Truro | | Postcode | TR1 3AY | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK3 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly | | ITL 3 | TLK30 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly | | Local authority | Cornwall | | Electoral ward | Truro Boscawen & Redannick | | Westminster constituency | Truro and Falmouth | | Delivery location | TLK3 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 80 - Education and training services ### Codes - 80000000 - Education and training services ## Release History - 21 Sep 2026 at 12:43 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089123-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089123-2026 21st September 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://www.cornwall.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-077661. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077661.json.