Dynamic Purchasing System for the provision of Alternative Education

Derby City Council (the Council) is inviting applications from suitably experienced and qualified entities to participate in a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the provision of Alternative Education across the city. The DPS will be partly managed by colleagues from the Respect Collaboration of Schools, the schools within which are "maintained".

Respect Collaboration of Schools (RCS) has a statutory duty to make arrangements for the provision of appropriate education otherwise than at school, for children of compulsory school age who, by reason of suspension or exclusion from school or otherwise, will not receive a suitable education without these arrangements.

All provision should offer progression throughout their courses, regardless of the category of Alternative Provision or Key Stage. Pupils, where appropriate, should work towards qualifications that fit within the Qualifications and Curriculum Framework (QCF) and/or accreditation that supports post 16/industry recognised education.

The scope of this agreement is not restricted by pupil numbers. It is anticipated that places will be purchased on an ad hoc basis,

Applications to join the DPS will be considered in a series of "rounds". Round Four will close on 31/10/2025 (10.00am). The Council will then consider the applications to join the DPS and Applicants are expected to be notified of the outcome of the application within one calendar month.

For clarity, this DPS is not a full DPS as defined under the Public Contract Regulations 2015, Regulation 34, but is a modified version. This is because Section 7 - Education and Training services (the Light Touch Regime as allowed under Regulations 74 to 77) are not subject to the full requirements of the procurement procedures set out in the Regulations. This has given us scope to create a more flexible DPS to fit the on-going requirements of RCS.

Please note suppliers wishing to express interest and obtain the documentation for Round Four must do so by 11.30pm on 30/10/2025. It is recommended that you express interest and obtain the documentation well before this time to allow sufficient time to prepare and submit a bid.

As stated above, the deadline for applications for Round Four is 10.00am on 31/10/2025.

Documents are available at www.eastmidstenders.org

Please search for TD2205

Please note: we will only accept expressions of interest through the e-tendering system.

Additional information: Applications to join the DPS will be considered in a series of "rounds". Round One will close on 31/03/2025 (10.00am). The Council will then consider the applications to join the DPS and Applicants are expected to be notified of the outcome of the application within one calendar month.

Round Two will open after the closure of Round One. Applicants will have 30 days to submit their application. This period will conclude on: 30/04/2025 (10.00am).

Round Three will open after the closure of Round Two. Applicants will have three months to submit their application. This period will conclude on: 31/07/2025 (10.00am)

Round Four, and all subsequent Rounds will ordinarily then close every three months until the end of the DPS. The Council, however, reserves the right to amend the closing dates as it sees fit, dependant on changes to the provider marketplace.

Once successful in a round applicants need not apply again in future rounds.

If an applicant is unsuccessful in a round they may re-apply in any future round.

The DPS shall operate for an initial term of three years with initial agreements to commence 1st June 2025 and end 31st May 2028. There will be options to extend the DPS in annual increments for up to four further years. The maximum term for the DPS will, therefore, be seven years.

For clarity, this DPS is not a full DPS as defined under the Public Contract Regulations 2015, Regulation 34, but is a modified version. This is because Section 7 - Education and Training services (the Light Touch Regime as allowed under Regulations 74 to 77) are not subject to the full requirements of the procurement procedures set out in the Regulations. This has given us scope to create a more flexible DPS to fit the on-going requirements of RCS.

Please note suppliers wishing to express interest and obtain the documentation for Round Four must do so by 11.30pm on 30/10/2025. It is recommended that you express interest and obtain the documentation well before this time to allow sufficient time to prepare and submit a bid.

As stated above, the deadline for applications for Round Four is 10.00am on 31/10/2025.

Documents are available at www.eastmidstenders.org

Please search for TD2205

Please note: we will only accept expressions of interest through the e-tendering system.