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Find a TenderAwarded without competitionContract award notice
Published 27 Aug 2025, 11:53 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Pre 16 Vocational courses

Official notice

Authority: Cornwall Council (Local council)

Direct awardLight touch regimeSME suitableVCSE suitable
Sectors: Education & Training (80) Delivery: UKSouth West (UKK3)
Awarded value£1,125,000published award · exc. VAT
Award in standstill 15 Jul 2025no call for competition
Award (standstill) to Cornwall College(Bicton College)

What is being bought

Published requirement description

This Procurement aims to provide the best education provision for pupils who are at risk of being excluded from mainstream school due to behavioural and/or Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) reasons.

A significant number of pupils are struggling to attend school, many due to emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) and these pupils are at risk of being suspended and excluded from mainstream education. A high proportion of these pupils are in Year 10 or 11 which is crucial time to secure a pathway to Post-16 education or employment.

There is a recognition for a varied curriculum which will help these pupils to engage in education and provide a base for Post-16 qualifications whilst enabling them to continue to access education and take their GCSEs in English and Mathematics.

The aim of this project is to provide a vocational offer which will support these pupils to not only continue their learning, but also to reduce the risk of suspensions and exclusions and provide a clear pathway of education from Key Stage 4 through to Post-16.

Cornwall council would like for the provision to offer 36 – 54 placements for pupils from Key Stage 4 (years 10 and 11) across 3 sites, ensuring a fair geographical spread of the service across Cornwall.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1AwardedSMEVCSE
Delivery: UK, South WestEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
80000000 Education and training services

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
27 Aug 2025, 11:53 BST
Last source update
3 Sept 2025, 09:48 BST
Authority reference
DN730462
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-053391
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Delivery area
UKSouth West (UKK3)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-058e77 Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Additional Repeat Extension Partial Replacement
Published justification

Direct Award in Special Cases under Section 41 of PA23, Schedule 5, Clause 7 – “The public contract concerns a supply of goods, services or works by the existing supplier which are intended as an extension to, or partial replacement, of, existing goods services or works, AND (b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operational maintenance.” Due to budget restraints.

The trial with Cornwall College was initially for one year (2023/2024) and extended to a second year (2024/2025).The trial period was extended and named the Thrive Model. Review of the model and analysis of the qualitative analysis of the data has shown that it is making significant difference to the engagement and attendance of young people and also their onwards trajectory to further education, and employment. In addition, it would be deemed disruptive to any students’ part way through their vocational course to have to change programme.

Review and risk notes
Risks

Contract Terms

This will be for one year only with the option of annual extensions subject to funding (1 + 1 + 1)

Risks

  1. Risk of disclosure of personal or sensitive personal information
  • mitigated through the contract terms and conditions and regular review meetings
  1. Risk of legal challenge to direct award
  • mitigated through legally compliant option to Direct Award and Transparency Notice

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

3 Sept 2025 → 16 Sept 2025 · 2 dates
  1. Notice published
    3 Sept 2025, 09:48 BST
  2. Standstill ends
    16 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST

Notice history

3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 27 Aug 2025
  1. Transparency notice published
    27 Aug 2025, 11:53 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract award notice published
    3 Sept 2025, 09:48 BST
    UK6
  3. Contract signature expected
    17 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £1,125,0001 award exc. VAT
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Cornwall College(Bicton College)18 Sept 2025 – 17 Sept 2026 · up to 17 Sept 2028Extensions: 2 x 12 month extensions£1,125,00015 Jul 2025standstill to 16 Sept 2025Standstill

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Cornwall Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PYRH-9827-DWLP County Hall, Truro, South West, TR1 3AYContact name, email, phone

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • Cornwall CollegeAwarded supplierGB-UKPRN: 10001696 Tregonissey Road, St Austell, South West, PL25 4DJContact email, phone

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