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OpenFind a Tender · UK4
BuyerBolton Metropolitan Borough Council
StatusOpen
Deadline24 Sept 2026
Value£4,000,000
Published18 Aug 2026

What is being bought

Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council "The Authority" is seeking provision for Section 19 Alternative Provision services. Section 19 of the Education act 1996 is the statutory duty to provide suitable education for all children and young people of compulsory school age who cannot access mainstream school places. This includes, permanently excluded pupils, and pupils who, because of illness or other reasons, cannot attend mainstream. Bolton Council determine the number of high needs places required each year and submits the figures to the DfE by December 5th for the following academic year. These are finalised and published in February before September term starts. This process should reflect planned and predicted changes for the following academic year, so that schools and colleges receive an appropriate level of core funding, that enables them to make the special provision that is to be commissioned, particularly any expansion of that provision. The Authority intends to run an Open Tender Process for a 1-year contract for the Academic year 2027 to 2028 provision, as the Provider needs to be in place before November 2026 to be able to submit to the DfE on time. The Authority then intends to run a further process for the 2028 provision for a longer contract of 3 Years with the option to extend for up to 2 x 12 month periods, which will be advertised in 2027.

Delivery location

UKD3, GB

Categories

Education and training services 80000000

Lot details

Lot 1

No lot description published.

Statusactive
Value£4,000,000
Contract periodFrom 1 Sept 2027 to 31 Aug 2028

Award criteria
Quality (35%)
Price (45%)
Social Value (20%)

What is included

ItemCategoryQuantity
1Education and training servicesNot published

Comparable-procurement analytics

Benchmarked against retained Find a Tender procedures with CPV division 80. The category anchor is Education and training services (80000000); this is a deliberately broad market comparator. The comparison is shown at several levels rather than pretending one company or region is always the best benchmark.

Comparison setProceduresReported bids per procedureNamed award suppliersPrice evidence
Market: CPV division 801,5633 median · 65.3 average (330 of 1,563 with a bid count)4.6 average (354 of 1,563 with named award suppliers)1 comparable price pairs
Same buyer0Not publishedNot publishedNot published
Delivery region: UKD3168.5 median · 8.5 average (2 of 16 with a bid count)3.5 average (2 of 16 with named award suppliers)Not published
Similar published value (0.5×–2×)15521 median · 15.3 average (3 of 155 with a bid count)12.3 average (3 of 155 with named award suppliers)Not published

“Reported bids” is an official aggregate, sometimes reported per lot; it is the closest available competition measure. “Named award suppliers” are winners, not all applicants.

Price-outcome signal

Not enough comparable procedures currently publish both a GBP tender value and a usable lowest-valid-bid value to calculate a responsible price-reduction benchmark. Tenderline deliberately does not infer a saving from named award suppliers or from missing award values.

Procurement strategy & market signals

Framework agreementNot published
Dynamic purchasing systemNot published
Competitive procurementNot published
Recurring requirementYes
Procurement method rationaleNot published
Rationale classificationsNot published
Special regimelightTouch
Covered byNot published
Submission policyallowed
Selection criteriaNot published
Risk detailsNot published

Planning & early market engagement

BudgetNot published
No-engagement rationaleNot published
Planning documents0
Planning milestones0

No planning milestones published.

Related procurements

No linked framework, prior procurement or reprocurement published.

Documents & submission route

Source data inventory

Diagnostic view. “Not published” means this current release does not provide a value.

OCIDocds-h6vhtk-06d7b8
Latest release ID078718-2026
Latest release timestampTue Aug 18 2026 16:16:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Sourcefind-a-tender
Official notice URLhttps://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078718-2026
Tender statusactive
Procurement methodopen
Procurement method detailsOpen procedure
Main procurement categoryservices
Above thresholdYes
Legal basis2023/54
Tender period: startNot published
Tender period: end2026-09-24T16:00:00+01:00
Expression of interest deadlineNot published
Enquiry deadline2026-09-17T16:00:00+01:00
Award period: startNot published
Award period: end2026-10-31T23:59:59Z
Submission method detailsTender submissions must be made via the Chest: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=08e59d68-169b-f111-813c-005056b64545&p=e0cc5631-4690-e511-80fb-000c29c9ba21
Submission languagesen
Electronic catalogue policyNot published
Total tender value£4,000,000
Tender lots in source1
Tender items in source1
Tender documents in source2
Awards in latest release0
Contracts in latest release0
Parties in latest release1

Notice history

DateEventReference
18 Aug 2026tender078718-2026
30 Jul 2026planning072225-2026

All source data

Unmodified official OCDS data retained by Tenderline for this procurement process.

Complete current OCDS release JSON
{
  "id": "078718-2026",
  "tag": [
    "tender"
  ],
  "date": "2026-08-18T17:16:34+01:00",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-06d7b8",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PBJZ-9785-JTLD",
    "name": "Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council"
  },
  "tender": {
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        "value": {
          "amount": 4000000,
          "currency": "GBP",
          "amountGross": 4000000
        },
        "status": "active",
        "awardCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "name": "Quality",
              "type": "quality",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 35,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "name": "Price",
              "type": "price",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 45,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "name": "Social Value",
              "type": "quality",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 20,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2028-08-31T23:59:59+01:00",
          "startDate": "2027-09-01T00:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "selectionCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "type": "economic",
              "description": "As detailed in the Invitation to Tender"
            },
            {
              "type": "technical",
              "description": "As detailed in the Invitation to Tender"
            }
          ]
        }
      }
    ],
    "items": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1",
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
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            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
          }
        ],
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "id": "80000000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Education and training services"
          }
        ]
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    ],
    "title": "Section 19",
    "value": {
      "amount": 4000000,
      "currency": "GBP",
      "amountGross": 4000000
    },
    "status": "active",
    "documents": [
      {
        "id": "conflictOfInterest",
        "description": "Not published",
        "documentType": "conflictOfInterest"
      },
      {
        "id": "078718-2026",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078718-2026",
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    ],
    "legalBasis": {
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      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents",
      "scheme": "UKPGA"
    },
    "recurrence": {
      "dates": [
        {
          "startDate": "2027-04-01T23:59:59+01:00"
        }
      ]
    },
    "awardPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-10-31T23:59:59Z"
    },
    "description": "Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council \"The Authority\" is seeking provision for Section 19 Alternative Provision services.\nSection 19 of the Education act 1996 is the statutory duty to provide suitable education for all children and young people of compulsory school age who cannot access mainstream school places. This includes, permanently excluded pupils, and pupils who, because of illness or other reasons, cannot attend mainstream.\nBolton Council determine the number of high needs places required each year and submits the figures to the DfE by December 5th for the following academic year. These are finalised and published in February before September term starts. This process should reflect planned and predicted changes for the following academic year, so that schools and colleges receive an appropriate level of core funding, that enables them to make the special provision that is to be commissioned, particularly any expansion of that provision.\nThe Authority intends to run an Open Tender Process for a 1-year contract for the Academic year 2027 to 2028 provision, as the Provider needs to be in place before November 2026 to be able to submit to the DfE on time.\nThe Authority then intends to run a further process for the 2028 provision for a longer contract of 3 Years with the option to extend for up to 2 x 12 month periods, which will be advertised in 2027.",
    "tenderPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-09-24T16:00:00+01:00"
    },
    "enquiryPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-09-17T16:00:00+01:00"
    },
    "hasRecurrence": true,
    "specialRegime": [
      "lightTouch"
    ],
    "aboveThreshold": true,
    "submissionTerms": {
      "languages": [
        "en"
      ],
      "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed"
    },
    "procurementMethod": "open",
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "submissionMethodDetails": "Tender submissions must be made via the Chest: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=08e59d68-169b-f111-813c-005056b64545&p=e0cc5631-4690-e511-80fb-000c29c9ba21",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure"
  },
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "GB-PPON-PBJZ-9785-JTLD",
      "name": "Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UKD36",
        "country": "GB",
        "locality": "Bolton",
        "postalCode": "BL1 1RU",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "Town Hall, Victoria Square"
      },
      "details": {
        "url": "http://www.bolton.gov.uk",
        "classifications": [
          {
            "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
            "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
          }
        ]
      },
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PBJZ-9785-JTLD",
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      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "corporate.procurement@bolton.gov.uk"
      }
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "initiationType": "tender"
}
Complete JSON history (2 releases)
18 Aug 2026 · 078718-2026 · tender
{
  "id": "078718-2026",
  "tag": [
    "tender"
  ],
  "date": "2026-08-18T17:16:34+01:00",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-06d7b8",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PBJZ-9785-JTLD",
    "name": "Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council"
  },
  "tender": {
    "id": "TC107",
    "lots": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "value": {
          "amount": 4000000,
          "currency": "GBP",
          "amountGross": 4000000
        },
        "status": "active",
        "awardCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
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              "type": "quality",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 35,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
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            },
            {
              "name": "Price",
              "type": "price",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 45,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "name": "Social Value",
              "type": "quality",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 20,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2028-08-31T23:59:59+01:00",
          "startDate": "2027-09-01T00:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "selectionCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "type": "economic",
              "description": "As detailed in the Invitation to Tender"
            },
            {
              "type": "technical",
              "description": "As detailed in the Invitation to Tender"
            }
          ]
        }
      }
    ],
    "items": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1",
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "region": "UKD3",
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            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
          }
        ],
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "id": "80000000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
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          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "title": "Section 19",
    "value": {
      "amount": 4000000,
      "currency": "GBP",
      "amountGross": 4000000
    },
    "status": "active",
    "documents": [
      {
        "id": "conflictOfInterest",
        "description": "Not published",
        "documentType": "conflictOfInterest"
      },
      {
        "id": "078718-2026",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078718-2026",
        "format": "text/html",
        "noticeType": "UK4",
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      }
    ],
    "legalBasis": {
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      "scheme": "UKPGA"
    },
    "recurrence": {
      "dates": [
        {
          "startDate": "2027-04-01T23:59:59+01:00"
        }
      ]
    },
    "awardPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-10-31T23:59:59Z"
    },
    "description": "Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council \"The Authority\" is seeking provision for Section 19 Alternative Provision services.\nSection 19 of the Education act 1996 is the statutory duty to provide suitable education for all children and young people of compulsory school age who cannot access mainstream school places. This includes, permanently excluded pupils, and pupils who, because of illness or other reasons, cannot attend mainstream.\nBolton Council determine the number of high needs places required each year and submits the figures to the DfE by December 5th for the following academic year. These are finalised and published in February before September term starts. This process should reflect planned and predicted changes for the following academic year, so that schools and colleges receive an appropriate level of core funding, that enables them to make the special provision that is to be commissioned, particularly any expansion of that provision.\nThe Authority intends to run an Open Tender Process for a 1-year contract for the Academic year 2027 to 2028 provision, as the Provider needs to be in place before November 2026 to be able to submit to the DfE on time.\nThe Authority then intends to run a further process for the 2028 provision for a longer contract of 3 Years with the option to extend for up to 2 x 12 month periods, which will be advertised in 2027.",
    "tenderPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-09-24T16:00:00+01:00"
    },
    "enquiryPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-09-17T16:00:00+01:00"
    },
    "hasRecurrence": true,
    "specialRegime": [
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    ],
    "aboveThreshold": true,
    "submissionTerms": {
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        "en"
      ],
      "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed"
    },
    "procurementMethod": "open",
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "submissionMethodDetails": "Tender submissions must be made via the Chest: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=08e59d68-169b-f111-813c-005056b64545&p=e0cc5631-4690-e511-80fb-000c29c9ba21",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure"
  },
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "GB-PPON-PBJZ-9785-JTLD",
      "name": "Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UKD36",
        "country": "GB",
        "locality": "Bolton",
        "postalCode": "BL1 1RU",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "Town Hall, Victoria Square"
      },
      "details": {
        "url": "http://www.bolton.gov.uk",
        "classifications": [
          {
            "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
            "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
          }
        ]
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      "identifier": {
        "id": "PBJZ-9785-JTLD",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "corporate.procurement@bolton.gov.uk"
      }
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "initiationType": "tender"
}
30 Jul 2026 · 072225-2026 · planning
{
  "id": "072225-2026",
  "tag": [
    "planning"
  ],
  "date": "2026-07-30T14:11:13+01:00",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-06d7b8",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PBJZ-9785-JTLD",
    "name": "Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council"
  },
  "tender": {
    "id": "TC107",
    "lots": [
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        "id": "1",
        "status": "planned",
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        ],
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "id": "80000000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Education and training services"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "title": "Section 19",
    "value": {
      "amount": 4000000,
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      "amountGross": 4000000
    },
    "status": "planned",
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
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    "description": "Section 19 of the Education act 1996 is the statutory duty to provide suitable education for all children and young people of compulsory school age who cannot access mainstream school places. This includes, permanently excluded pupils, and pupils who, because of illness or other reasons, cannot attend mainstream.\nBolton Council determine the number of high needs places required each year and submits the figures to the DfE by December 5th for the following academic year. These are finalised and published in February before September term starts. This process should reflect planned and predicted changes for the following academic year, so that schools and colleges receive an appropriate level of core funding, that enables them to make the special provision that is to be commissioned, particularly any expansion of that provision.\nThe Authority intends to run an Open Tender Process for a 1-year contract for the Academic year 2027 to 2028 provision, as the Provider needs to be in place before November 2026 to be able to submit to the DfE on time.\nThe Authority then intends to run a further process for the 2028 provision for a longer contract of 3 Years with the option to extend for up to 2 x 12 month periods.",
    "communication": {
      "futureNoticeDate": "2026-08-03T23:59:59+01:00"
    },
    "specialRegime": [
      "lightTouch"
    ],
    "aboveThreshold": true,
    "procurementMethod": "open",
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure"
  },
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "GB-PPON-PBJZ-9785-JTLD",
      "name": "Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council",
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        ]
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      "identifier": {
        "id": "PBJZ-9785-JTLD",
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      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "corporate.procurement@bolton.gov.uk"
      }
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "planning": {
    "documents": [
      {
        "id": "072225-2026",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072225-2026",
        "format": "text/html",
        "noticeType": "UK1",
        "description": "Pipeline notice on Find a Tender",
        "documentType": "plannedProcurementNotice",
        "datePublished": "2026-07-30T14:11:13+01:00"
      }
    ]
  },
  "initiationType": "tender"
}