Scope
Reference
P0886
Description
Birmingham City Council (the "Council") wishes to establish a Flexible Contracting Agreement (FCA) for Birmingham Virtual School (BVS) Training Services in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, applying the provisions for Light Touch Contracts as defined in Section 9 of the Act and Schedule 1 of the Procurement Regulations 2024. These provisions apply to certain social, health, and education services that are subject to more flexible procurement rules due to their direct impact on individuals and communities.
The Training FCA will cover training for professionals in children's schools, social workers, families, carers, and other key stakeholders in Birmingham and any other local authorities where children may be placed.
The Training FCA will serve as the primary channel for delivering training tailored to the needs of adults responsible for supporting the educational achievement of children known to a social worker. The programme is designed to equip these individuals including BVS staff, carers, guardians, adoptive parents, designated teachers, school staff, governors, social workers, and Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) with the essential knowledge and skills required to effectively promote the educational outcomes of children in care, previously looked after, or otherwise known to social services.
The contract(s) being procured have been split into Lots, as follows.
Lot 1: Training for staff at educational establishments and other professionals
Lot 2: Training for Social Care Professionals
Lot 3: Training for Parents, Carers and Family Members
The Council reserves the right to reopen the procurement and conduct additional tender processes during the term of the FCA. This may be done to appoint new providers to the FCA where necessary to meet evolving service needs or ensure adequate market coverage.
The Training Services FCA will be for a period of 2 years with an option to extend for a further 2 years (on a 1+1 basis) subject to performance and budget.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £600,000 excluding VAT
- £720,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 8 December 2025 to 7 December 2027
- Possible extension to 8 December 2029
- 4 years, 1 day
Description of possible extension:
With an option to extend for a further two 12 months extensions subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80500000 - Training services
- 80510000 - Specialist training services
- 80522000 - Training seminars
Lot 1. Training for staff at educational establishments and other professionals
Description
To include a range of learning and development activities to meet the learning and development requirements of the staff at education establishments and other professionals. The learning and development activity provided must meet national and local standards, as well as any legislative requirements, and will be tailored to suit each key stage.
Commissioned activity will include tailored face-to-face and virtual classroom-based courses in response to legislative change and bespoke learning activity to meet the identified needs of specific groups or teams. Examples include initial and refresher training for designated teachers, school improvement training and training to support staff to develop their skills and knowledge to support children know to social care improve educational attainment and actively participate in educational pathways.
Lot value (estimated)
- £200,000 excluding VAT
- £240,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2. Training for social care professionals
Description
To include a range of learning and development activities for the adult social care workforce of Birmingham. This includes providing learning opportunities to enhance the quality and effectiveness of Personal Education Plans (PEPs). The learning and development offered is required to meet national and local standards as well as any legislative requirements around social care practices.
Commissioned activity will include tailored face-to-face and virtual classroom-based courses in response to legislative change and bespoke learning activity to meet the identified needs of specific groups or teams. Examples of the types of learning and development requested from social workers includes Practical use of the ePEP system and Personal Education Plans and Pupil Premium Plus training.
Lot value (estimated)
- £200,000 excluding VAT
- £240,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 3. Training for parents, carers and family members
Description
This will cover bespoke learning and development activities for parents, carers and family members. This includes providing learning opportunities to support them in helping children with learning at home and motivational techniques. The learning and development offered is required to meet national and local standards as well as any legislative requirements around social care practices.
Commissioned activity will include tailored face-to-face and virtual classroom-based courses in response to legislative change and bespoke learning activity to meet the identified needs of specific groups or teams. Examples of the types of learning and development requested from carers includes attachment awareness and trauma informed practice, emotion coaching, education basics and homework and learning in everyday situations.
Lot value (estimated)
- £200,000 excluding VAT
- £240,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Framework
Maximum number of suppliers
Unlimited
Maximum percentage fee charged to suppliers
0%
Framework operation description
Appointment to the flexible contracting agreement is based on 100% quality.
Award method when using the framework
Either with or without competition
Contracting authorities that may use the framework
Establishing party only
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Lot 1. Training for staff at educational establishments and other professionals
Lot 2. Training for social care professionals
Lot 3. Training for parents, carers and family members
Details will be provided in the tender documentation.
Technical ability conditions of participation
Lot 1. Training for staff at educational establishments and other professionals
Lot 2. Training for social care professionals
Lot 3. Training for parents, carers and family members
Details will be provided in the tender documentation.
Particular suitability
Lot 1. Training for staff at educational establishments and other professionals
Lot 2. Training for social care professionals
Lot 3. Training for parents, carers and family members
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
30 September 2025, 12:00pm
Submission type
Tenders
Tender submission deadline
8 October 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
This framework agreement is being issued using the Council's e-tendering system 'In-tend' and organisations must ensure that they are registered users. The procurement process will be managed using this system and therefore all bids must be submitted by Tenderers via the 'in-tend' system. https://in-tendhost.co.uk/birminghamcc
Registration and use of in-tend is free. All correspondence for this procurement process must be via the in-tend correspondence function and you should not contact any individual directly either by email or by telephone. If you are already a registered user, you do not have to re-register. If you are unable to register with in-tend or are experiencing difficulties, please email the etendering@birmingham.gov.uk.
Tender deadline submission is noon on 8th October 2025.
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
16 November 2025
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Simple description | This will be based on 100% quality covering: Service Delivery Organisation and Resources Training Approach & Methodology Evaluation and Impact |
Price |
Weighting description
This will be based on 100% quality covering:
Service Delivery
Organisation and Resources
Training Approach & Methodology
Evaluation and Impact
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Competitive flexible procedure description
Stage 1: Appointment to the Flexible Contracting Agreement (FCA)
All interested suppliers must complete and submit all the documents outlined in the Checklist including the main Response Document and other applicable response documents.
Submissions will be evaluated against published selection criteria.
Suppliers who meet the criteria will be appointed to the FCA and will be eligible to participate in future call-offs or further competitions.
Stage 2: Call-Off Process - Direct Award and Further Competition
Direct Award
A Direct Award may be used where:
A specific provider within the FCA has a unique capability or specialism that directly matches the training requirement.
The training need is urgent and time-sensitive and conducting a further competition would cause undue delay.
The value of the requirement is low and falls within thresholds that permit direct award under internal procurement guidance.
The provider has previously delivered the same or similar training with proven success, and continuity is essential.
In these cases, the contracting authority may award the contract directly to the most suitable FCA supplier, ensuring transparency and justification are documented.
Further Competition
Further Competition will apply where:
Multiple FCA suppliers within the relevant lot are capable of delivering the required training.
The training requirement is complex, high-value, or bespoke, and benefits from competitive evaluation.
There is a need to assess value for money, innovation, or quality across multiple providers.
All FCA suppliers within the relevant lot will be invited to tender for the requirement. The competition will be conducted in line with the award criteria set out in the tender documents.
Ongoing opportunities
The Council reserves the right to reopen the procurement and conduct additional tender processes during the term of the FCA.
This may be done to appoint new providers to the FCA where necessary to meet evolving service needs or ensure adequate market coverage.
Contracting authority
Birmingham City Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PCJJ-4826-QMLZ
Council House, 1 Victoria Square
Birmingham
B1 1BB
United Kingdom
Contact name: Commercial and Procurement Services
Email: etendering@birmingham.gov.uk
Region: UKG31 - Birmingham
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government