Scope
Reference
IA3354
Description
Staffordshire County Council has a commitment to ensure every child has the best start in life and can access a good education, providing them with opportunities to achieve their potential.
Although most children and young people attend a school to receive their education, some children and young people are unable to attend for a period of time, or benefit from receiving some, or all, of their education away from their school. This may be on a short, or long-term basis. This is termed Alternative Provision (AP).
Staffordshire County Council currently procure AP via the Dynamic Purchasing System for the Provision of Opportunities to Improve Attainment and Engage Vulnerable Children and Young People in Education (ref IA1256) which is due to end on 31/08/26.
The Alternative Provision Light Touch Framework (ref IA3354) will replace the DPS from 01/09/26. The purpose of the Framework will be to deliver AP to children and young people of compulsory school age who are not currently able to attend a school place. The Framework will include 5 Lots:
Lot 1: Full-Time Alternative Provision
Lot 2: Part-Time Alternative Provision
Lot 3: Tutoring
Lot 4: Complementary Provision
Lot 5: Bespoke Provision for higher level SEND and other complex needs
Interested Suppliers should register on the Council's e-tendering system https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login
and register interest in the tender on Proactis to access the tender documents.
Suppliers participating in procurements are now also required to register on the Governments Central Digital Platform prior to submitting a tender response so interested suppliers should also register and complete their company details on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-act-2023-short-guides/suppliers-how-to-register-your-organisation-and-first-administrator-on-find-a-tender-in-three-easy-steps-html
Also for information in December 2024 the Government issued a White Paper on Local Government Re-Organisation entitled the "English Devolution White Paper". In March 2025 Staffordshire County Council submitted their suggested re-organisation plan to the Government and are awaiting a response. Final proposals will be submitted in November 2025 and implementation of the changes is expected by Government to be by 2028 at the
earliest. Whilst the expected impact of most changes to Local Government will be settled at Government Level, please be aware that it may be government policy or expedient that any affected party will be recommended to agree bi-lateral or multi-lateral changes to their contractual arrangements. Updates on proposals and changes can be found on the Staffordshire County Council Website and at other media outlets.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £35,200,000 excluding VAT
- £42,240,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2034
- 8 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Contract locations
- UKG24 - Staffordshire CC
Lot constraints
Description of how multiple lots may be awarded:
Tenderers may apply for one or all Lots, there is no maximum number.
Lot 1. Full-Time Alternative Provision
Description
Education provision offered to a child or young person for eighteen (18) hours a week or more. Provision must be suitable to the child or young person's age, ability, and aptitude, as well as meet any SEND/additional needs. It should cover the school curriculum, leading to improved attainment and progress including the achievement of accredited qualifications, academic and wider learning outcomes. This provision could be to support one (1) child or young person or a group. Suppliers must be registered as an independent school if providing full-time education to five (5) or more children/young people of statutory school age or one (1) child or young person who is in care and/or has an EHCP. The provision must be delivered by teachers with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Lot value (estimated)
- £7,040,000 excluding VAT
- £8,448,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2. Part-Time Alternative Provision
Description
Educational provision that is delivered outside of the school setting to enhance the school curriculum and/or a vocational placement. Provision must be suitable to the child or young person's age, ability and aptitude, and any SEND needs and lead to improved attainment and progress including the achievement of accredited qualifications, academic and wider learning outcomes, and/or vocational skills development. Children and young people will remain registered at their current school.
Part time hours are flexible to meet the needs of the child or young person, i.e. half or full day once or twice a week. This provision could be to support one (1) child or young person or a group. The Supplier must have a building base to deliver these Services.
Lot value (estimated)
- £7,040,000 excluding VAT
- £8,448,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 3. Tutoring
Description
Tutoring provision delivered by teachers with Qualified Teacher Status outside of the school setting to support the school curriculum and/or the specific needs of a child or young person.
Programmes will be bespoke to meet a child or young person's educational needs, age, ability, aptitude, and any SEND needs and could be to support individuals or a small group. This provision may be delivered in the family home or a community setting.
Lot value (estimated)
- £7,040,000 excluding VAT
- £8,448,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 4. Complementary Provision
Description
Bespoke and personalised programmes of proactive support, mentoring and/or coaching, which will be offered to children and young people to enhance their learning experience and engagement. This could include physical activities or therapeutic interventions, aiming to support or improve behaviour, attendance, re-engagement with learning and the re-integration of children and young people into mainstream schools.
This provision could be to support one (1) child or young person or a group. The hours will vary depending on the intervention. Children/young people may receive this provision alongside other provision such as tutoring.
Lot value (estimated)
- £7,040,000 excluding VAT
- £8,448,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 5. Bespoke Provision for higher level SEND and other complex needs
Description
The purpose of this lot will be to deliver educational provision for children and young people with SEND working below level 1 of the National Curriculum and working to either The Engagement Model (formally known as P Scales), The Equals Curriculum or other similar programmes. This must be delivered by teachers with Qualified Teacher Status and experience of working in specialist SEND education settings. Teachers will have experience with communication and support tools such as PECS (picture exchange communication), Makaton, visual aids/timelines (replacing team teach), and core board talking tiles. Teachers are expected to liaise with multiple agencies involved in the child or young person's life.
Lot value (estimated)
- £7,040,000 excluding VAT
- £8,448,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations 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
To be awarded onto the Framework - Suppliers will be appointed onto the Framework on the basis of their 'total' evaluated Price and Quality score. Suppliers will provide a Price as an hourly rate in (£) pounds sterling (exclusive of VAT). Any unusually High or Low bids will be due diligence checked by the Authority.
To be awarded a Call-off Contract - The initial ranking achieved at Framework award may not always reflect the most economically advantageous Provider when awarding individual contracts under it. Post appointment, the Authority will award Call-Off Contracts with or without competition between suppliers on the Framework as stated in the tender documents. Suppliers will provide a Price as an hourly rate in (£) pounds sterling (exclusive of VAT), which should be in line with their Price submitted in their original Framework tender submission.
Award method when using the framework
Either with or without competition
Contracting authorities that may use the framework
Establishing party only
Participation
Particular suitability
Lot 1. Full-Time Alternative Provision
Lot 2. Part-Time Alternative Provision
Lot 3. Tutoring
Lot 4. Complementary Provision
Lot 5. Bespoke Provision for higher level SEND and other complex needs
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
10 December 2025, 12:00pm
Tender submission deadline
17 December 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Interested suppliers must register on the Council's e-tendering portal link below and register interest in the tender to access the tender documents
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
8 June 2026
Recurring procurement
Publication date of next tender notice (estimated): 31 October 2033
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | Quality 60% Quality sub criteria: Performance and Quality Assurance - 25% Safeguarding - 15% Lot Specific Question - Children & Young People - 20% |
Quality | 60% |
| Price | A Price (Hourly rate) is required for each Lot the Supplier is tendering for. |
Price | 40% |
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Contracting authority
Staffordshire County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PZDG-2995-QQMD
1 Staffordshire Place, Tipping Street,
Stafford
ST16 2DH
United Kingdom
Region: UKG24 - Staffordshire CC
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government