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In deliveryUnited KingdomServicesFramework agreement£250,000,000Add to pipeline

Specialist Education Framework Phase 1 – Independent Non-Maintained Special Schools Round 3

Awarded to A Place to Call Our Own (APTCOO), Autism East Midlands, Esland North Limited +6 more

Nottinghamshire County Council(buyer)

Published
Published 20 May 2024
Deadline
Closed 7 November 2025

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Overview

Nottinghamshire County Council has awarded a framework agreement for specialist school placements to nine independent non-maintained special schools (INMSS) providers, with a total contract value of £922.5 million awarded on 29 June 2025. The framework, which replaces the previous approved provider list, covers the provision of specialist school placements for pupils with Education Health Care Plans across two lots: Lot 1 for block contracts and Lot 2 for an approved provider list. This Round 3 tender was a reopening of Lot 2 only, allowing unsuccessful bidders from previous rounds to reapply, with awards made to APTCOO, Autism East Midlands, Esland North Limited, Hardwick House School Ltd, Kedleston (Wings Education) Limited, Silver Linings Education Ltd, Speech and Language UK Services Ltd (trading as Dawn House School), Witherslack Group Ltd, and Woodside Group.

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Lots (2)

  • Independent Non-Maintained Special School Block Arrangement

    Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) 'the Council' ran an open tender process in accordance with the light touch regime of the Public Procurement regulations 2015 to establish a new framework for Specialist Education. Under this lot the Council is looking to commission block contracts, known as “call-offs” from the Framework Agreement in each of the Nottinghamshire districts. The Block contracts will start from the beginning of the new school academic year commencing from September 2025 or as soon as possible from the start of the new school academic year if new buildings are to be put in place or existing buildings to be expanded upon or refurbished. Please note that all provision must be in place and the service to start within 24 months of the contract commencement date. A mobilisation plan for the implementation of the new provision must be agreed between the provider and the commissioning team. Bidders must specify which areas they are bidding to operate in. The areas known as districts/boroughs are as follows: Sub Lot Area A Ashfield B Bassetlaw C Broxtowe D Gedling E Mansfield F Newark and Sherwood G Rushcliffe Up to a maximum of two block contracts will be awarded per district. This means that two single providers can be awarded one contract each in a district, a provider cannot hold two block contracts in a district. Dependent on demand for specialist school places only one block contract per area may be awarded. Providers can bid on as many locations as they wish to provide a service in, however no single provider will be awarded a block contract in 4 or more of the districts/boroughs The term of the framework agreement will be for a period of 5 years and will commence from 01 January 2025 to the 31 December 2029. The earliest date “call-off” contracts can commence under Lot 1 is the 1st of January 2025. There is potential to extend this Framework Agreement for up to a further 6 years in increments of 24 months The tender was published on https://www.eastmidstenders.org/: Reference DN719545 Additional information: There are three optional extensions to the framework agreement each of 24 months, a total of 6 years. The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years: The initial term of the framework agreement is for five years and will end on the 31st December 2029. There is potential to extend this Framework Agreement for up to a further six years in increments of twenty four months. This process is a competitive procurement conducted in accordance with the Light Touch Regime Regulations 74 to 77 of the Public Procurement Regulations 2015, the subject matter is Specialist Education for children and young people with special education needs who have an Education Health Care Plan and the extended duration of the Framework Agreement is justified due to the type of service being sourced and the nature of the market. This is to ensure continuity in the provision of specialist education school places for the children and young people and to minimise disruption to the children and young people.

    £115,500,000
  • Lot 2 Approved INMSS Provider List

    Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) 'the Council' ran an open tender process in accordance with the light touch regime of the Public Procurement regulations 2015 to establish a new framework for Specialist Education. This lot will see the addition of further approved INMSS to the INMSS provider list for placements. This provider list became effective from the 1st of January 2025 from which placements can be commissioned. Bidders that are successful in demonstrating that they are able to meet the Council’ standards, as set out in the service specification, will be added to the Approved INMSS Provider List and will be subsequently invited to offer places that match the needs of the children and young people. The term of the framework agreement will be for a period of 5 years and will commence from 01 January 2025 to the 31 December 2029. There is potential to extend this Framework Agreement for up to a further 6 years in increments of 24 months. The tender was published on https://www.eastmidstenders.org/: Reference DN756213 Additional information: There are three optional extensions to the framework agreement each of 24 months, a total of 6 years. The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years: The initial term of the framework agreement is for five years and will end on the 31st December 2029. There is potential to extend this Framework Agreement for up to a further six years in increments of twenty four months. This process is a competitive procurement conducted in accordance with the Light Touch Regime Regulations 74 to 77 of the Public Procurement Regulations 2015, the subject matter is Specialist Education for children and young people with special education needs who have an Education Health Care Plan and the extended duration of the Framework Agreement is justified due to the type of service being sourced and the nature of the market. This is to ensure continuity in the provision of specialist education school places for the children and young people and to minimise disruption to the children and young people

    £134,500,000Won by A Place to Call Our Own (APTCOO)Won by Hardwick House School LtdWon by Speech and Language UK Services Ltd. t/as Dawn House SchoolWon by Kedleston (Wings Education) LimitedWon by Silver Linings Education LtdWon by Autism East MidlandsWon by Esland North LimitedWon by Witherslack Group LtdWon by Woodside Group

Key details

Country
United Kingdom
Status
In delivery
Category
Services
Estimated value
£250,000,000
Procedure
Open
Contract type
Framework agreement
Published
20 May 2024
Deadline
Closed
Classification (CPV)
Education and training servicesSpecial education services

Award outcome

Awarded value
£922,500,000
Award date
29 June 2025
Contract period
— → 11 September 2029
Winners
  • A Place to Call Our Own (APTCOO)
  • Autism East Midlands
  • Esland North Limited
  • Hardwick House School Ltd
  • Kedleston (Wings Education) Limited
  • Silver Linings Education Ltd
  • Speech and Language UK Services Ltd. t/as Dawn House School
  • Witherslack Group Ltd
  • Woodside Group

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Notice history

Every published notice in this contracting process, newest first.

  1. Contract

    10 September 2025

  2. Contract Notice

    8 September 2025

  3. Contract

    27 January 2025

  4. Contract Notice

    17 December 2024

  5. Contract Notice

    20 May 2024

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