--- title: "Open Light Touch Framework for Independent and Alternative Education Support for Children and Young People in Devon" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-077b9f" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-077b9f" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077b9f.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077b9f.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "Devon County Council" published: "2026-09-28" --- # 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-077b9f [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-077b9f) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077b9f.json) ## Summary Devon County Council is seeking providers of independent and alternative education support for children and young people in Devon. The work is divided into four areas: pre-16 school placements and post-16 settings or college placements for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP); bespoke alternative education packages for children whose EHCP names education otherwise than at school (EOTAS); and packages to help children return to school or move to another education setting. The placements are with independent or non-maintained special schools, or independent post-16 providers. The alternative provision lots cover tailored support rather than school placements. Delivery is across Devon. This is education and training work, with a health and social care element. The buyer invited offers through an open procedure to establish the third framework in an open-framework scheme. Bids were due by 10 November 2026 at 12:00 UTC; enquiries were due by 3 November 2026 at 12:00 UTC, and the intended award decision date was 22 December 2026. The four lots have separate estimated values: pre-16 placements £357,063,000; post-16 placements £163,437,000; EOTAS alternative provision £59,179,170; and reintegration provision £34,310,830, all excluding VAT. Each lot is assessed on quality alone. The initial contract periods run from 28 January 2027 to 4 January 2028. Placements and work packages under the framework may be awarded through mini-competitions or direct awards. Framework inclusion does not guarantee business or a particular contract value. The opportunity suits independent schools, independent special schools and non-maintained special schools able to provide pre-16 placements, as well as independent post-16 settings, special schools and colleges serving learners with SEND and EHCPs. Providers of tailored alternative education may be suited to the EOTAS lot if they can deliver support that forms part of a statutory EHCP; providers with capability to support a return to school or transition to another setting may fit the reintegration lot. Small and medium-sized businesses are considered suitable across all four lots. The framework is designed to admit providers at successive entry points, giving suppliers another route to join later. Competition is based entirely on quality, so providers should be able to demonstrate the quality and relevance of their education or support offer. Successful bidders enter a framework agreement, but placements are awarded separately. ## Notice Devon County Council will be setting up an open framework (Framework Three) 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. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091483-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 28 Sep 2026 | | Submission deadline | 10 Nov 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 28 Jan 2027 - 4 Jan 2028 | | Recurrence | 2027-09-20 | ## 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, | | Postcode area | 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 - 28 Sep 2026 at 14:34 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091483-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091483-2026 28th September 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/api/1.0/ocdsReleasePackages/ocds-h6vhtk-04ea55 - 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-077b9f. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077b9f.json.