Official UK procurement notice
Flexible contracting agreement (FCA) for Birmingham Virtual School Enrichment Services
Authority: Birmingham City Council (Local council)
What is being bought3 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionBirmingham City Council (the "Council") wishes to establish a Flexible Contracting Agreement (FCA) for Birmingham Virtual School (BVS) Enrichment Services in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, applying the provisions for Light Touch Contracts as defined in Section 9 of the Act and Schedule 1 of the Procurement Regulations 2024. These provisions apply to certain social, health, and education services that are subject to more flexible procurement rules due to their direct impact on individuals and communities. The requirement will be conducted in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, using a Competitive Flexible Procedure designed by the Council.
The Enrichment FCA will provide a comprehensive range of services designed to enrich the educational experiences and outcomes of looked-after children in Birmingham, as well as children and young people placed by Birmingham City Council in other local authority areas. The programme aims to promote educational achievement, inclusion, participation, and progression, ensuring that individual needs and aspirations are effectively supported.
The Enrichment FCA is structured into three lots designed to support young people in care through targeted provision.
Lot 1: Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG) - Supports young people aged 12–19 with disrupted education, transition challenges, or at risk of NEET. Includes personalised careers advice, programmes, and events.
To be awarded to one provider.
Lot 2: Short Courses and Qualifications - Supports Year 11–13 learners, especially newly arrived or NEET. Offers pre-entry to Level 2 courses.
Further divided into two;
Lot 2a: English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) – Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5
Lot 2b: Accredited courses & Qualifications – Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5
To be awarded to up to four providers. 2 providers for each of the Key Stage ins 2a and 2b.
Lot 3: Community Enrichment Activities - Covers Creative Arts, Music, Sport, Outdoor Learning, and STEM activities.
Tenderers can bid for one or more Lots and all tenderers who meet the minimum quality criteria will be appointed to the FCA. Potential Suppliers must complete all relevant tender documents including the main response document and the response document(s) for the Lot they are bidding for.
The Authority will operate a structured call-off procedure under the FCA. The default method will be direct award, with provision to conduct a further competition (mini-competition) where the requirement cannot be satisfied through direct award.
The FCA is expected to be established in February 2027, with call-offs and any mini competitions anticipated to commence from March 2027. The agreement will run for an initial period of three (3) years, with the option to extend for a further one (1) year, subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of funding.
- How the procedure runs: Call-Off Process (Lots 2 & 3) 1. Identify young person needs 2. Review Provider Offer Matrix 3. Assess based on location, provision type, and cost 4. Award to best-fit provider using pre-determined method
CPV: Counselling services · Education and training services · Entertainment services · Recreational, cultural and sporting services · Recruitment services · Secondary education services · Vocational training services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Framework period
- 3 yrs · up to 4 yrs from 11 Jan 2027
Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure
3 lots · all with a published value · evaluation weights differ by lotLot #1Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG)RenewalPublished value£0
Supports young people aged 12–19 with disrupted education, transition challenges, or at risk of NEET. Includes personalised careers advice, programmes, and events.
To be awarded to one provider.
Lot #2Short Courses and QualificationsRenewalPublished value£0
Supports Year 11–13 learners, especially newly arrived or NEET. Offers pre-entry to Level 2 courses.
Further divided into two;
Lot 2a: English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) – Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5
Lot 2b: Accredited courses & Qualifications – Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5
To be awarded to up to four providers. 2 providers for each of the Key Stage ins 2a and 2b.
Lot #3Community Enrichment ActivitiesRenewalPublished value£0
Covers Creative Arts, Music, Sport, Outdoor Learning, and STEM activities.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Lots publish different evaluation splits; there is no single procedure weighting.
| Lot | Quality | Price | Social value | Split |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG) | 60% | 20% | 20% | |
| 2 · Short Courses and Qualifications | 80% | — | 20% | |
| 3 · Community Enrichment Activities | 80% | 20% | — |
- Price carries 20 points on every lot: a 10% discount moves about 2 points.
- “Flexible contracting agreement (FCA) for Birmingham Virtual School…” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 29 Oct 2025, 11:39 GMT
- Last source update
- 1 Sept 2026, 12:47 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 15 Dec 2026
- Authority reference
P3401- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-082621- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d60aFind a Tender
- How it runs
Call-Off Process (Lots 2 & 3)
- Identify young person needs
- Review Provider Offer Matrix
- Assess based on location, provision type, and cost
- Award to best-fit provider using pre-determined method
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 1 Oct 2026, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 25 Sept 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
The Council will be using its free to use e-tendering system (in-tend) for the administration of this procurement process and potential suppliers must register with the system to be able to express an interest. If you wish to express an interest in this opportunity please click on the following link to access in-tendhost.co.uk/birminghamcc/ ↗ and submit your details to register. You will then be sent details on how to log on which will enable you to download all relevant Invitation to Tender (ITT) documentation.
If you are unable to register with In-tend or have any questions or problems on how to use this web site please either email us at: [email protected]
Your completed tender submission should be returned by noon 1st October 2026 via the ‘in-tend’ system in-tendhost.co.uk/birminghamcc ↗
Timeline
29 Oct 2025 → 11 Jan 2027 · 8 dates- Planning notice published361 days ago29 Oct 2025, 11:39 GMT
- Market engagement335 days ago24 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
The Soft Market Test (SMT) exercise is being issued via the Council’s e-tendering system, In-tend, with a link to an MS Forms questionnaire. Interested organisations are requested to complete and submit the questionnaire using the link:
forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx ↗
Closing date for completion of questionnaire is Noon 24 November 2025.
Responses from the questionnaire will only be made available to the Virtual School. All information shared during this SMT will be treated confidentially and used solely to inform future commissioning decisions.
The ‘In-tend’ system is secure and free to use for organisations. If you have any questions on how to use this website, please contact [email protected]
- Next notice expected314 days ago15 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Tender notice published54 days ago1 Sept 2026, 12:47 BST
- Clarification questions by30 days ago25 Sept 2026, 12:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends24 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown1 Oct 2026, 12:00 BST
- Today25 Oct 2026
- Award decision expected byin 51 days15 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 77 days11 Jan 2027
Notice history
6 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 29 Oct 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published29 Oct 2025, 11:39 GMTUK2
- Tender notice published1 Sept 2026, 12:47 BSTUK4
- Published value updated to £5,600,0001 Sept 2026, 12:47 BSTwas £2,100,000
- Status changed to active1 Sept 2026, 12:47 BST
- Procurement method changed1 Sept 2026, 12:47 BST
- Deadline published: 1 Oct 2026, 12:00 BST1 Sept 2026, 12:47 BST
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender