Open40 days left · closes midday, Tuesday 10 November 2026

Open Light Touch Framework for Independent and Alternative Education Support for Children and Young People in Devon

In brief

Devon County Council is looking for suppliers for training and education work (South West).

It is a framework worth up to £613,990,000 excluding VAT: the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers, not one contract.

The contract runs for 11 months, starting 28 January 2027.

It is split into 4 lots, so a supplier can bid for part of the work.

The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Bids close at midday, Tuesday 10 November 2026.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Key dates

Questions by: midday, Tuesday 3 November 2026
Bids by: midday, Tuesday 10 November 2026

How bids are scored

Quality 100%

Quality matters most. You can win without being the cheapest.

Competition

Typical: a median of 5 bids per contract for this buyer (from 55 awards in the last 12 months).

Framework

Winning puts you on a list of suppliers the buyer can call on; it does not guarantee work. The £613,990,000 is the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers over the framework's life, not one contract.

The buyer expects to buy this again around September 2027.

What the notice says

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.

Should I bid?

Tick what applies to you. Nothing is saved.

Can you prepare a good bid in 40 days?Leave time for clarification questions and sign-off.
Is a contract of about £613,990,000 a size you can deliver?Buyers often check that your turnover is comfortably larger than the yearly contract value.
Can you deliver in South West?Check the delivery locations in the tender documents.
Is one of the 4 lots a good fit?You can usually bid for one lot without bidding for the others.
Can you meet what the notice mentions: Framework agreement?The tender documents will say exactly what is required.
Are you registered on the Central Digital Platform?You need to be registered to take part under the Procurement Act 2023.
The buyer says this suits small businesses.A good sign if you are an SME, but check the requirements.

How to bid

Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.
Send clarification questions before midday, Tuesday 3 November 2026.
Make sure your bid arrives before midday, Tuesday 10 November 2026. Late bids are usually rejected.

Lots

Lot	Trade	Value
Pre-16 Education Placements 28 January 2027 to 4 January 2028 What this lot covers 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	Social and domiciliary care, Healthcare services, Training, Education services	£357,063,000
Post-16 Education Placements 28 January 2027 to 4 January 2028 What this lot covers 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.	Social and domiciliary care, Healthcare services, Training, Education services	£163,437,000
Alternative Education Provision (EOTAS) 28 January 2027 to 4 January 2028 What this lot covers 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)	Social and domiciliary care, Healthcare services, Training, Education services	£59,179,170
Alternative Education Provision (Reintegration) 28 January 2027 to 4 January 2028 What this lot covers Bespoke packages of Alternative Education Provision support to enable children and young people to reintegrate to their school or move onto another education setting.	Social and domiciliary care, Healthcare services, Training, Education services	£34,310,830

Timeline

28 September 2026Tender notice · UK4, notice 091483-2026

Last time this was bought

Skills for Growth Light Touch Open Framework

Won by: South Devon College, Apricot Centre CIC, Complete Training (Devon) Ltd, Plymouth City Council and 64 more
Awarded: 26 June 2026
Value: Not stated, or split across lots

Matched on Devon County Council, the type of work and the title; it may be a related contract rather than the same one. Check the notice to be sure.

About the buyer

Devon County CouncilLast 12 months

Procurements

Awards

Suppliers it has used most for training

All tenders and awards from Devon County Council

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From notice 091483-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 28 September 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.