Find a TenderAwardedContract details notice
Published 26 Feb 2026, 14:38 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

ALTERNATIVE PROVISION – OEAS PLACEMENTS - PERMANENTLY EXCLUDED PRIMARY PUPILS

Official notice

Authority: Lincolnshire County Council (Local council)

ServicesBelow threshold - limited competitionLight touch regimeSME suitableVCSE suitable
Published estimate£208,000≈ £227k / year · £249,600 inc. VAT4% below first published estimate
Awarded 2 Jul 2026
Awarded to Sophia High Limited
Contract term 11 moends 31 Mar 2027 · starts 15 Apr 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The Council requires the provision of ALTERNATIVE PROVISION PLACEMENTS for PERMANENTLY EXCLUDED PRIMARY PUPILS. This to be provided by a Department for Education Online Education Accreditation Scheme approved Supplier who can deliver full time online education to 5-11year olds (primary phase pupils). Pupils will be resident in Lincolnshire and be placed on an interim basis until a site based placement in either regulated site based Alternative Provision, returns to mainstream school or is progressed to a specialist setting in order to meet their needs.

The Service shall operate a ‘roll on, roll off’ education programme with PEX placements commencing and ending at any point of an academic year. Placement volumes will be demand based and occupancy will fluctuate according to PEX primary volumes and placement needs in an academic year.

This is a below services threshold (non covered) procurement and requires the supplier to hold a DfE accreditation with primary phase approval within the accreditation in order to participate. Therefore participation is by Request for Quotation and via direct invitation by the Council, which is in line with the Council's Contract and Procurement Procedure Rules for below threshold services procurement.

CPV: Primary education services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1Awarded 11 moSMEVCSE
Contract period: 15 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 (11 mo)
Delivery: East MidlandsEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Below threshold - limited competition
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Light touch regime
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
26 Feb 2026, 14:38 GMT
Last source update
30 Jul 2026, 11:41 BST
Authority reference
CS0033
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-072098
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Classification (CPV)
Primary education services
Delivery area
East Midlands (UKF3)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-065d30 Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

26 Feb 2026 → 30 Jul 2026 · 4 dates
  1. Planning notice published242 days ago
    26 Feb 2026, 14:38 GMT
  2. Market engagement234 days ago
    6 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT

    Online survey - questionnaire

  3. Contract starts195 days ago
    15 Apr 2026
  4. Latest notice published88 days ago
    30 Jul 2026, 11:41 BST

Notice history

6 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 26 Feb 2026
  1. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    26 Feb 2026, 14:38 GMT
    UK2
  2. Contract award notice published
    2 Jul 2026, 16:01 BST
    UK6
  3. Status changed to complete
    2 Jul 2026, 16:01 BST
  4. Procurement method changed
    2 Jul 2026, 16:01 BST
  5. Contract signature expected
    15 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled
  6. Contract details notice published
    30 Jul 2026, 11:41 BST
    UK7

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £199,6801 award exc. VAT
Bids received 32 from SMEs
Contracts signed 1latest 27 Jul 2026
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Sophia High LimitedSME20 Jul 2026 – 31 Aug 2027 · up to 31 Aug 2028Extensions: 1 year (12 month extension) where a service need remains and budget is available£199,6802 Jul 2026Awarded

Contracts

  • Contract 1 · Sophia High LimitedSME

    Signed
    27 Jul 2026
    Value
    £199,680
    Period
    1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2027 · up to 31 Aug 2028 with extensions
    Status
    active
    Extensions
    12 months - subject to any ongoing need for placements into 2027/28 academic year and where allocated budget remains available.

Bid statistics published by the authority

BidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
3final-stage tenders20—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Lincolnshire County Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PGRB-3736-CHZN County Offices, Newland, Lincoln, East Midlands, LN1 1YLContact name, email, phone

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • SOPHIA HIGH LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: 12765193 Office 315, The Engine Room Battersea Power Station 18 Power Station Road, London, London, SW11 8BZContact email

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure