Official UK procurement notice
Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) Flexible Framework
Authority: Dumfries and Galloway Council (Local council)
What is being bought15 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThe Scottish Government has committed to providing additional funding in the form of Pupil Equity Funding (PEF), to schools as part of the Scottish Attainment Challenge programme. This funding is allocated directly to schools and is aimed at closing the poverty related attainment gap.
The aim of this framework agreement is to allow schools to contract compliantly with providers who will be able to support the pupil equity fund.
- Recurrence: This flexible framework will open on an annual basis to allow new providers to submit bids to be awarded places on the framework
CPV: Administrative educational services · Adult and other education services · Ballroom dance-instruction services · Community action programme · Counselling services · Dance and performance entertainment services · Dance-instruction services · Discotheque dance-instruction services · Education and training services · Guidance and counselling services · Guidance services · Miscellaneous health services · +15 more
How this framework works
From the published notice- Places
- up to 150 suppliers · 14 bids on the busiest of 15 lots (0.1 per place) · 49 appointed
Lots and requirements (15)Procurement structure
15 lots · no lot values published · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Activity based LearningRenewal
Providing services that engages and encourages pupils to learn and develop through the participation in a range of learning activities and experiences.
Services may include but are not limited to outdoor learning and sport and social activities.
Lot #2Counselling, Support & Advice ServicesRenewal
Providing services that provide professional assistance, guidance and support in resolving personal or psychological problems.
Services may include but are not limited to group and/or one to one work with pupils or families, counselling, befriending, mediation and services to promote positive mental wellbeing.
Lot #3Creative EngagementRenewal
Providing services that focuses on engaging pupils and learning through creative activities. Services may include but are not limited to, music, art, drama and dance.
Lot #4External Tutors - Additional SupportRenewal
Providing services where external personnel offer additional support to pupils on a group or one to one basis.
Services may include but are not limited to; resilience coaching, speech and language therapy, literacy and maths champions and Nurture support.
Lot #5Pupil workshopsRenewal
Providing services that engages pupils on a particular subject, activity or project through discussion, performance or participation in class(s)dedicated to the project or activity.
Services may include but are not limited to mindfulness, yoga, confidence building, nutrition, diversity, health and wellbeing (physical and mental).
Lot #6Parental Support & Family LearningRenewal
Providing services that engage with parents and families to provide support to increase involvement in the pupil’s learning.
Services may include, but are not limited to, parental engagement workshops, leadership training, one to one sessions.
Lot #7Community EngagementRenewal
Providing services that focuses on engaging pupils, parents/carers and the wider community in learning and will build and develop local capacity.
Services provided should draw on existing interventions and community programmes to build a stronger local community based on local needs and aspirations.
Lot #8MentoringRenewal
Providing a service that focuses on the support and encouragement of pupils to manage their own learning in order that they may develop their learning skills, improve their academic performance and maximise their potential.
Services may include, but are not limited to, additional support with academic studies, coaching, youth work and support and mentoring programs
Lot #9Leadership for PupilsRenewal
Provide services that will develop leadership and team working skills in pupils of all ages and abilities across the local authority.
Lot #10Educational leadershipRenewal
Providing support and assessment materials primarily in the areas of Literacy, Numeracy and Health and Wellbeing.
Services may include, but are not limited to, standardised and diagnostic assessment and screening tools.
Lot #11Educational AssessmentsRenewal
Providing support and assessment materials primarily in the areas of Literacy, Numeracy and Health and Wellbeing.
Services may include, but are not limited to, standardised and diagnostic assessment and screening tools.
Lot #12Developing the Young WorkforceRenewal
Providing services that will assist schools in developing skills for learning, life and work in children and young people in the broad general education, particularly for those young people with barriers to learning and at risk of disengaging from education early.
Services may include but are not limited to work-related learning experiences and involvement with families or employers.
Lot #13Out of School ClubsRenewal
Providing services that provides a regulated club that offers a safe environment for children outside of school hours. Clubs often include the provision of food and some activities or social element. These may include but are not limited to breakfast, after school and holiday clubs.
Lot #14ResidentialRenewal
at locations away from the educational environment
Lot #15Miscellaneous ServicesRenewal
This lot will provide for any service that does not easily fall into any of the categories above e.g., Pet Therapy, Bee Keeping, Massage-in-Schools
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).
Published sub-criteria (2)
- meeting minimum standards: 60%
- price: 40%
Published award criteria (2)
- meeting minimum standards: 60
- Price: 40
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) Flexible Framework” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 150 suppliers, 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 · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Open admission
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- 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
Yes · This flexible framework will open on an annual basis to allow new providers to submit bids to be awarded places on the framework
- First published
- 18 May 2023, 11:33 BST
- Last source update
- 13 Oct 2026, 11:00 BST
- Award evaluation window
- 13 Sept 2027 – …
- Authority reference
DGCP-0245- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-096433- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-03cd6dFind a Tender
- Electronic trading
- e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment
Publisher note: If you have already been awarded a place on the framework, you DO NOT need to apply again. The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 65950. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343 The Contracting Authority does not intend to include a sub-contract clause as part of community benefits (as per Section 25 of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014) in this contract for the following reason: As detailed in the tender pack Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/ A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows: Community benefits will be deliverable from this framework and are detailed in the tender pack (SC Ref:845584)
How to participate & submission route
Official notice Apply via Public Contracts Scotland- Requests to participate (first stage)
- —
- Appointment period ends
- 13 Sept 2027, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- —
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bid validity
- 90 days from the deadline
- Bids opened
- 13 Sept 2027, 12:00 BST
Timeline
13 Oct 2026 → 13 Sept 2027 · 3 dates- Notice published9 days ago13 Oct 2026, 11:00 BST
- Today22 Oct 2026
- Admission / appointment period endsin 326 days · period end, not a bid countdown13 Sept 2027, 12:00 BST
- Bids openedin 326 days13 Sept 2027, 12:00 BST
Notice history
7 events · 7 releases on Find a Tender · since 6 Sept 2023- Status changed to complete6 Sept 2023, 09:49 BST
- Status changed to active20 Sept 2023, 10:32 BST
- Deadline moved to 26 Aug 2024, 12:00 BST20 Sept 2023, 10:32 BST+424 days · was 29 Jun 2023, 12:00 BST
- Deadline moved to 6 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT6 Dec 2024, 14:25 GMT+437 days · was 26 Aug 2024, 12:00 BST
- Status changed to complete28 Jan 2025, 10:36 GMT
- Status changed to active13 Oct 2026, 11:00 BST
- Deadline moved to 13 Sept 2027, 12:00 BST13 Oct 2026, 11:00 BST+676 days · was 6 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT
Routine re-releases (7)
- 2024-12: 1 release · 6 Dec 2024
- 2023-09: 2 releases · 6 Sept 2023, 20 Sept 2023
- 2023-05: 1 release · 18 May 2023
Commercial outcome & contract awardsAwards so far
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast41 suppliers are admitted to this framework without individual award values or dates, see the supplier list below.
Contracts
All 20 of these contracts carry the same published figure, £22,918,805, the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each contract's own value. They are not eleven separate sums.
Leadership for Pupils
- Signed
- 6 Oct 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
External Tutors - Additional Support
- Signed
- 6 Oct 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Pupil workshops
- Signed
- 6 Oct 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Parental Support & Family Learning
- Signed
- 6 Oct 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Community Engagement
- Signed
- 6 Oct 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Mentoring
- Signed
- 6 Oct 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Activity based Learning
- Signed
- 6 Oct 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Educational leadership
- Signed
- 6 Oct 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Educational Assessments
- Signed
- 6 Oct 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Developing the Young Workforce
- Signed
- 6 Oct 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Out of School Clubs
- Signed
- 6 Oct 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Miscellaneous Services
- Signed
- 6 Oct 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Counselling, Support & Advice Services
- Signed
- 6 Oct 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Creative Engagement
- Signed
- 6 Oct 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Activity based Learning
- Signed
- 26 Aug 2024
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Educational leadership
- Signed
- 26 Aug 2024
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Developing the Young Workforce
- Signed
- 26 Aug 2024
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Residential
- Signed
- 26 Aug 2024
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Miscellaneous Services
- Signed
- 26 Aug 2024
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Counselling, Support & Advice Services
- Signed
- 26 Aug 2024
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Activity based Learning | 14bids · 14 electronic · 25 from abroad | 14 | — | — |
| 2 · Counselling, Support & Advice Services | 14bids · 14 electronic · 21 from abroad | 14 | — | — |
| 3 · Creative Engagement | 14bids · 14 electronic · 18 from abroad | 14 | — | — |
| 4 · External Tutors - Additional Support | 14bids · 14 electronic · 16 from abroad | 14 | — | — |
| 5 · Pupil workshops | 14bids · 14 electronic · 20 from abroad | 14 | — | — |
| 6 · Parental Support & Family Learning | 14bids · 14 electronic · 21 from abroad | 14 | — | — |
| 7 · Community Engagement | 14bids · 14 electronic · 16 from abroad | 14 | — | — |
| 8 · Mentoring | 14bids · 14 electronic · 16 from abroad | 14 | — | — |
| 9 · Leadership for Pupils | 14bids · 14 electronic · 19 from abroad | 14 | — | — |
| 10 · Educational leadership | 14bids · 14 electronic · 20 from abroad | 14 | — | — |
| 11 · Educational Assessments | 1bids · 1 electronic · 1 from abroad | 1 | — | — |
| 12 · Developing the Young Workforce | 14bids · 14 electronic · 19 from abroad | 14 | — | — |
| 13 · Out of School Clubs | 14bids · 14 electronic · 15 from abroad | 14 | — | — |
| 14 · Residential | 14bids · 14 electronic · 17 from abroad | 14 | — | — |
| 15 · Miscellaneous Services | 14bids · 14 electronic · 20 from abroad | 14 | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Dumfries Sheriff CourtReview body
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Official documents & specifications (8)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Economic and financial selection criteria
- Technical selection criteria
- Economic and financial selection criteria
- Technical selection criteria
- Economic and financial selection criteria
- Technical selection criteria
- Economic and financial selection criteria
- Technical selection criteria