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, dependant on the pupil's requirements and capacity of the best value provider. However, it will be possible, in some areas, for core places to be arranged on a regular basis. This will be with the provider who is the best value for money and has sufficient capacity. Should this capacity be reached then the next value for money provider with capacity shall be used.

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.