Find a TenderAwarded without competitionContract award notice
Published 8 Jul 2026, 16:19 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Post 16 Digital Skills Centre

Official notice

Authority: South Gloucestershire Council (Local council)

Direct awardLight touch regimeSME suitableVCSE suitable
Awarded value£657,402published award · exc. VAT
Award in standstill 22 Jul 2026no call for competition
Award (standstill) to BOOMSATSUMA SPECIALIST PROVISION LIMITED

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Contract Details

  • Subject Matter:
  • The Provider shall deliver a specialist, creative technology-focused post-16 alternative education provision, offering a structured but flexible programme tailored to learners with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) who have been unable to engage in mainstream or traditional settings.
  • The provision shall operate at a maximum capacity of 20 commissioned places at any one time. Placements shall be managed on a rolling admission basis, enabling entry and exit throughout the academic year in accordance with agreed referral processes and individual need.
  • The provision is intended for learners with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs and/or neurodiverse profiles who are not currently in education. It shall not be commissioned for learners with severe learning difficulties requiring provision typically delivered within specialist Severe Learning Difficulty (SLD) settings.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Direct award
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Notice status
Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Light touch regime
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
8 Jul 2026, 16:19 BST
Last source update
22 Jul 2026, 11:45 BST
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-069089
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Delivery area
North East (UKC)North West (UKD)Yorkshire & Humber (UKE)East Midlands (UKF)West Midlands (UKG)East of England (UKH)London (UKI)South East (UKJ)
+1 moreSouth West (UKK)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c6c3 Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
Published justification

The proposed contract is for the delivery of a further education (post 16 alternative provision) service. To test the market and identify potential capable providers, an Expressions of Interest (EOI) process was published via ProContract and open to the market. Although the alternative provision market is generally robust and continues to grow, the highly specific nature of this commission - namely a specialist, technology led creative post 16 offer - significantly reduced the number of providers capable of delivering the required service. Two organisations responded; however, following assessment of the submissions against the defined service requirements, BoomSatsuma was identified as the only provider able to meet and deliver the service as specified. As a result, meaningful competition could not be achieved.

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

22 Jul 2026 → 4 Aug 2026 · 2 dates
  1. Notice published98 days ago
    22 Jul 2026, 11:45 BST
  2. Standstill ends84 days ago
    4 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST

Notice history

3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 8 Jul 2026
  1. Transparency notice published
    8 Jul 2026, 16:19 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract award notice published
    22 Jul 2026, 11:45 BST
    UK6
  3. Contract signature expected
    5 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £657,4021 award exc. VAT
Awarded toValueDateStatus
BOOMSATSUMA SPECIALIST PROVISION LIMITEDVCSE1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2028 · up to 31 Aug 2029Extensions: 50% of total contract value = 1 year · Options: If 1:1 additional support is required above and beyond the standard staffing ratio this can be agreed on an individual basis.£657,40222 Jul 2026standstill to 4 Aug 2026Standstill

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

South Gloucestershire Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PCMC-1241-BLJQ Badminton Road Offices, Bristol, South West, BS37 5AFContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

Official documents & specifications (2)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender