Alternative Provision Framework

Descriptions

For the avoidance of doubt this is not a call for competition, this is to initiate preliminary market engagement.

Staffordshire County Council wishes to re-procure the Alternative Provision currently procured via the Dynamic Purchasing System for the Provision of Opportunities to Improve Attainment and Engage Vulnerable Children and Young People in Education (ref IA1256 known as the Alternative Provision DPS).

The current provision is across Staffordshire (excluding Stoke-on-Trent) and the DPS is currently divided into 4 Lots:

Lot 1 Full Time Alternative Provision

Lot 2 Part Time Alternative Provision

Lot 3 Tutoring

and Lot 4 Complementary Provision.

The DPS commenced in 2018, and the current end date is 31 August 2026.

The Council invites all Providers and prospective Providers to participate in a market engagement event to review the existing arrangements and input into how Alternative Provision will be commissioned going forward.

The market engagement event will be held in person from 10:00-12:00 on 18 September 2025 in the Rudyard Suite, Staffordshire Place 1, Tipping Street, Stafford, ST16 2LP. Providers will also be able to join via Microsoft Teams for those not able to attend in person. To book a place on an event please email educationcommissioning@staffordshire.gov.uk by no later than 16 September.

Please note that places at the event in person are restricted to 1 per Provider. As it will be possible to join via Microsoft Teams for those not able to attend in person. Please state whether you intend to attend the event in person or via Teams when requesting a place.

Providers are urged to register on the Council's e-tendering portal where the current DPS tender is live, and future tender will be advertised: https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login

Providers are now also required to register on the Governments Central Digital Platform prior to submitting a tender response. Providers are therefore also urged to register and complete their information at www.gov.uk/find-tender

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.