Official UK procurement notice
Tailored Learning Open Framework 2025
Authority: Nottinghamshire County Council (Local council)
What is being bought3 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionNottinghamshire County Council (the Council) receives an annual grant from the Department for Education (DfE) via East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) to fund Community and Family Learning for adults aged 19+ in Nottinghamshire. The Council uses this Grant to ensure that local people have access to a range of flexible learning opportunities that contribute to their personal, social, educational and economic development. The vast majority of provision is delivered directly to the public via the Council's Contract with Inspire Learning. In addition to the contract to deliver direct services, the Council has appointed Inspire Learning to act as its agent and coordinate and manage supplementary contractors that deliver specialist provision that they do not deliver themselves.
Nottinghamshire County Council is seeking organisations who:
- are able to provide high quality Tailored Learning to adults over the age of 19 in Nottinghamshire. This provision should principally be courses that Inspire Learning is unable to deliver themselves;
- if subject to Ofsted inspections, their most recent inspection was graded Good (grade 2) or better;
- are not currently subject to a DfE notice to improve linked to their financial performance.
- will not be in receipt of Adult Skills Fund funding for the 2025-26 academic year; and
- directly deliver services.
Subcontracting is not allowed.
Providers are invited to tender for contracts for the following Community Learning provision:
- General Adult Learning
- Family Learning
- Discrete provision for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LLDD)
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 17 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT.
CPV: Adult and other education services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework · open framework scheme (admission reopens)
- Call-offs
- every call-off is a further competition among the appointed suppliers
- Bids received
- 17 bids on the busiest of 3 lots · 5 suppliers appointed
- Framework period
- 1 yr 9 mo · up to 2 yrs 9 mo from 3 Nov 2025
- Scheme runs until
- 31 Jul 2026
Published description of the framework
The scores for all criteria will be totalled to give an overall score for each lot. The Council intends to select the bidders that meet or exceed the minimum thresholds, for both Quality and the overall score as its successful bidders and place them on the framework. Those successful Framework providers will be ranked by their scores. Provider ranking will be used as part of the award criteria for allocation of Contracts.
There is no guarantee that providers that successfully make it on to the framework will be allocated any or all of the courses they are bidding for. We expect that in some circumstances there may be more providers than we can fund given the limited resources available.
The Council will decide on how the provision for each Lot will be allocated to successful Providers by considering the following criteria to co-ordinate a balanced curriculum and avoid unnecessary duplication:
- Quality 80%
- Price/ Value for money 20%
The following factors are also taken into account:
- Learner needs
- Course content
- Course location
- Maximum Contract value
Overall ranking
The highest ranked provider in each Lot will be the provider that has the highest combined score of Quality & Price (Weight 80% Quality and 20% Price). Commissioners will work down the ranked list of providers for each Lot until the budget has been exhausted.
Scoring the Pricing Response
The following weighting shall be applied to price:
- Total Gross Cost - 25 marks
- Gross Cost per Enrolment (Total Gross Cost/Total Enrolments) - 25 marks
- Gross Cost per Course Hour per Enrolment (Gross Cost per Course Hour/Average Class Size) - 25 marks
- Gross Cost per Course Hour (Total Gross Cost/Total Sector Subject Hours) - 25 marks
Price will be evaluated based on a maximum of 25 marks per sub-criteria for the lowest priced compliant bid (subject always to the provisions noted above in relation to abnormally low tenders). Other bids will be awarded a number of points in direct proportion to the relation between their bid and the lowest bid.
The Council reserves the right to use its discretion to pass over a supplier in a lot if there is a duplication of Course content, location or learner needs. Where a supplier is bidding for multiple Lots, the Council reserves the right to allocate Lots in any order when calculating the maximum contract value.
Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure
3 lots · all with a published value · same conditions of participation on every lot · same evaluation weights on every lotEvery one of these 2 lots carries the same published figure, £225,000: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.
Lot #1General Adult LearningAwardedRenewalPublished value£300,000
Courses under this theme will be under either Employability (ACL1, ACL2, ACL 3 or ACL 4) or Health and Wellbeing (ACL1, ACL6 or ACL7).
Employability courses will build the confidence and basic skills for people not supported by Department of Work and Pensions programmes. Courses should not duplicate existing provision, for example basic CV writing and job searching. A need has been identified for short employability or pre-employability courses for some job seekers and under-employed people with very low-level literacy or numeracy skills. Learners with specific protected characteristics (as defined in the Equality Act 2010) may require tailored provision under this theme. Courses under this theme must have employability or pre-employability learning outcomes reflected in course planning and delivery.
Health and Wellbeing Courses will improve physical, emotional and mental health through group learning. Providers are encouraged to deliver courses that engage people who are disadvantaged and least likely to participate in learning, including people on low incomes, people with caring responsibilities, people experiencing isolation and loneliness and people with mental health issues. Learners with specific protected characteristics may require tailored provision under this theme. Courses under this theme must have health and wellbeing learning outcomes reflected in course planning and delivery.
- Economic & financial standing
At point of contract award:
D&B Credit score of 3 or higher
- Public liability insurance with a limit of indemnity of not less than £5million in relation to any one claim or series of claims,
- Employers' liability insurance with a limit of indemnity in accordance with the legal requirement for the time being in force in relation to any one claim or series of claims; and
- Professional Indemnity liability insurance with a limit of indemnity of not less than £3million in relation to any on claim or series of claims.
- Technical & professional ability
Prospective bidders will need to demonstrate that they have sufficient technical, professional ability, together with any applicable registrations to perform the contract:
Ofsted - Pass / Fail
OTLAs - Pass / Fail
Tutor Qualifications - Pass / Fail
Staff Employment - Pass / Fail
ESFA Income - Pass / Fail
ROTO registration - Pass / Fail
Safeguarding & Prevent Policy - Pass / Fail
Lot #2Family LearningAwardedRenewalceiling above
Family Learning courses strengthen families and improve the skills of parents to support their children, particularly in maths and English. Family Learning courses will fall within one of these curriculum areas: Literacy; Numeracy; Information and Communication Technology (ICT); Health and Wellbeing; Creative Arts and could fall under any of ACL1-7. Courses can be adult-only or joint courses for adults and children.
- Economic & financial standing
At point of contract award:
D&B Credit score of 3 or higher
- Public liability insurance with a limit of indemnity of not less than £5million in relation to any one claim or series of claims,
- Employers' liability insurance with a limit of indemnity in accordance with the legal requirement for the time being in force in relation to any one claim or series of claims; and
- Professional Indemnity liability insurance with a limit of indemnity of not less than £3million in relation to any on claim or series of claims.
- Technical & professional ability
Prospective bidders will need to demonstrate that they have sufficient technical, professional ability, together with any applicable registrations to perform the contract:
Ofsted - Pass / Fail
OTLAs - Pass / Fail
Tutor Qualifications - Pass / Fail
Staff Employment - Pass / Fail
ESFA Income - Pass / Fail
ROTO registration - Pass / Fail
Safeguarding & Prevent Policy - Pass / Fail
Lot #3Learners with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LLDD)AwardedRenewalceiling above
These are courses to improve the lives of people with learning difficulties and disabilities. They should enable Learners to actively participate in and contribute to their communities, making choices, taking decisions, speaking for themselves, taking responsibility for their actions and exercising control over their lives. These courses could fall under any of ACL1-7.
- Economic & financial standing
At point of contract award:
D&B Credit score of 3 or higher
- Public liability insurance with a limit of indemnity of not less than £5million in relation to any one claim or series of claims,
- Employers' liability insurance with a limit of indemnity in accordance with the legal requirement for the time being in force in relation to any one claim or series of claims; and
- Professional Indemnity liability insurance with a limit of indemnity of not less than £3million in relation to any on claim or series of claims.
- Technical & professional ability
Prospective bidders will need to demonstrate that they have sufficient technical, professional ability, together with any applicable registrations to perform the contract:
Ofsted - Pass / Fail
OTLAs - Pass / Fail
Tutor Qualifications - Pass / Fail
Staff Employment - Pass / Fail
ESFA Income - Pass / Fail
ROTO registration - Pass / Fail
Safeguarding & Prevent Policy - Pass / Fail
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 award criteria (2)
- Quality: Intent - 25% (minimum threshold 15%) Impact - 25% (minimum threshold 15%) Implementation - 25% (minimum threshold 15%) Personal Development - 10% Behaviour and attitude - 10% Leadership - 5% (overall minimum threshold - 60%)
- Price: Total Gross Cost - 25% Gross Cost per Enrolment (Total Gross Cost/Total Enrolments) - 25% Gross Cost per Course Hour per Enrolment (Gross Cost per Course Hour/Average Class Size) - 25% Gross Cost per Course Hour (Total Gross Cost/Total Sector Subject Hours) - 25%
- Economic & financial standing
At point of contract award:
D&B Credit score of 3 or higher
- Public liability insurance with a limit of indemnity of not less than £5million in relation to any one claim or series of claims,
- Employers' liability insurance with a limit of indemnity in accordance with the legal requirement for the time being in force in relation to any one claim or series of claims; and
- Professional Indemnity liability insurance with a limit of indemnity of not less than £3million in relation to any on claim or series of claims.
- Technical & professional ability
Prospective bidders will need to demonstrate that they have sufficient technical, professional ability, together with any applicable registrations to perform the contract:
Ofsted - Pass / Fail
OTLAs - Pass / Fail
Tutor Qualifications - Pass / Fail
Staff Employment - Pass / Fail
ESFA Income - Pass / Fail
ROTO registration - Pass / Fail
Safeguarding & Prevent Policy - Pass / Fail
- Price carries 20 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 2 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Tailored Learning Open Framework 2025” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: each call-off is a further competition, so the pricing contest starts after appointment.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Open framework scheme
- 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
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 17 Mar 2026
- First published
- 21 May 2025, 13:46 BST
- Last source update
- 3 Dec 2025, 11:39 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 3 Oct 2025
- Authority reference
DN777117- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-049055- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-051ac5Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 12 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 5 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Suppliers must submit their tenders through the e-tendering system below before the deadline shown in the e-tendering system.
Timeline
21 May 2025 → 3 Dec 2025 · 11 dates- Planning notice published21 May 2025, 13:46 BST
- Market engagement31 May 2025, 23:59 BST
Information published to the open market to detail the requirement, estimated timelines and the requirement to register on FTS Central Digital Platform.
- Next notice expected2 Jun 2025, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published15 Aug 2025, 11:16 BST
- Clarification questions by5 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown12 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent383 days ago3 Oct 2025, 00:00 BST
- Award decision expected by382 days ago3 Oct 2025, 23:59 BST
- Standstill ends370 days ago15 Oct 2025, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts352 days ago3 Nov 2025
- Latest notice published322 days ago3 Dec 2025, 11:39 GMT
Notice history
10 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 21 May 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published21 May 2025, 13:46 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published15 Aug 2025, 11:16 BSTUK4
- Published value published: £720,00015 Aug 2025, 11:16 BST
- Status changed to active15 Aug 2025, 11:16 BST
- Procurement method changed15 Aug 2025, 11:16 BST
- Deadline published: 12 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST15 Aug 2025, 11:16 BST
- Contract award notice published3 Oct 2025, 13:20 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete3 Oct 2025, 13:20 BST
- Contract signature expected22 Oct 2025, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published3 Dec 2025, 11:39 GMTUK7
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-05: 1 release · 21 May 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · General Adult Learning1 award | |||
| Creative Paths (EM) CICSMEVCSE, GET WISE ENTERPRISE C.I.C.SMEVCSE3 Nov 2025 – 31 Jul 2026 | £37,842 inc. VAT | 3 Oct 2025 | Awarded |
| Lot 2 · Family Learning1 award | |||
| Life Education East Midlands LimitedSMEVCSE, THE HARLEY FOUNDATIONSMEVCSE3 Nov 2025 – 31 Jul 2026 | £62,622 inc. VAT | 3 Oct 2025 | Awarded |
| Lot 3 · Learners with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LLDD)1 award | |||
| Creative Paths (EM) CICSMEVCSE, Reach Learning DisabilitySMEVCSE, THE HARLEY FOUNDATIONSMEVCSELot 3: Discrete provision for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LLDD)3 Nov 2025 – 31 Jul 2026 | £154,533 inc. VAT | 3 Oct 2025 | Awarded |
Contracts
Lot 1. General Adult Learning · Creative Paths (EM) CICSMEVCSE, GET WISE ENTERPRISE C.I.C.SMEVCSE
- Signed
- 14 Nov 2025
- Value
- £37,842 inc. VAT
- Period
- 17 Nov 2025 – 31 Jul 2026
- Status
- active
Lot 3: Discrete provision for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LLDD) · Creative Paths (EM) CICSMEVCSE, Reach Learning DisabilitySMEVCSE, THE HARLEY FOUNDATIONSMEVCSE
- Signed
- 14 Nov 2025
- Value
- £154,533 inc. VAT
- Period
- 17 Nov 2025 – 31 Jul 2026
- Status
- active
Lot 2: Family Learning · Life Education East Midlands LimitedSMEVCSE, THE HARLEY FOUNDATIONSMEVCSE
- Signed
- 5 Nov 2025
- Value
- £62,622 inc. VAT
- Period
- 17 Nov 2025 – 31 Jul 2026
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · General Adult Learning | 17final-stage tenders | 17 | 0 | — |
| 2 · Family Learning | 8final-stage tenders | 8 | 0 | — |
| 3 · Learners with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LLDD) | 6final-stage tenders | 6 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
5 commercial parties on the notice- CREATIVE PATHS (EM) CICFramework contractor
- GET WISE ENTERPRISE C.I.C.Framework contractor
- LIFE EDUCATION EAST MIDLANDS LIMITEDFramework contractor
- REACH LEARNING DISABILITYFramework contractor
- THE HARLEY FOUNDATIONFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (9)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender