Tuition Flexible Contracting Agreement

Procurement reference

P3490

Procurement description

Birmingham City Council (BCC) is inviting expressions of interest to support commissioners in developing a clearer understanding of the provider landscape.

We are undertaking a soft market testing exercise to explore options for the potential procurement, redesign, and expansion of a Flexible Contracting Agreement (FCA) to deliver tuition services for children and young people. This exercise is purely exploratory and is intended to support Birmingham City Council in assessing the feasibility, scope, and approach for any future procurement. Participation is voluntary and will not influence your eligibility to participate in any subsequent procurement process.

Tuition services are needed for children and young people who are in care, known to social workers, medically unfit to attend school, children without alternative provision and children with an Education Health Care Plan supported by the Home Bridging Team without a formal education placement.

The cohort of children and young people are:

• Children in care temporarily between a school/college place

• Children in care who need to re-sit GCSE exams in November of Year 12 to secure their course entry at KS5

• Children in care newly arrived in the country and Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers while seeking a school or college place

• Children and young people who are too unwell to attend school due to medical needs

In addition to the cohorts outlined above, the new Birmingham Tuition FCA will also seek to include the following groups, which are currently commissioned through ad-hoc spot purchasing arrangements:

• Children unable to access suitable alternative provision or 6th day provision

• Children with an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) supported by the Home Bridging Team without a formal education placement

Closing date for submission of response - 28 June 2026

Main category

Services

Delivery regions

• UKG31 - Birmingham

Total value (estimated)

0 GBP Excluding VAT

0 GBP Including VAT

Contract dates (estimated)

02 January 2027, 00:00AM to 01 January 2030, 23:59PM

Extension end date (if all the extensions are used): 01 January 2033

Birmingham City Council

Is this procurement under a special regime?

Light touch

CPV classifications

• 80000000 - Education and training services
• 80340000 - Special education services
• 80590000 - Tutorial services
• 85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

Delivery regions

• UKG31 - Birmingham

Sustainability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)

Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)

Contract start date (estimated)

02 January 2027, 00:00AM

Contract end date (estimated)

01 January 2030, 23:59PM

Extension end date (estimated)

01 January 2033, 23:59PM

Can the contract be extended?

Yes

Engagement process description

The Soft Market Test (SMT) exercise is being issued via the Council’s e-tendering system, In-tend, with a link to an MS Forms questionnaire. Interested organisations are requested to complete and submit the questionnaire using the link:

Soft Market Testing - Birmingham Tuition Framework

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Z86aaeTSzUuzA9K74rm78U08A4wKJXtGjBhaNwNPuqtUQjlUWDNMRUU5VEpHV0tRRVlISEsySVlaSi4u&route=shorturl

Closing date for completion of questionnaire is Noon 28 June 2026.

Responses from the questionnaire will only be made available to the Strategic Commissioning Team for Children and Families. All information shared during this SMT will be treated confidentially and used solely to inform future commissioning decisions.

The ‘In-tend’ system is secure and free to use for organisations. If you have any questions on how to use this website, please contact cps@birmingham.gov.uk

Due date

28 June 2026, 23:59PM

Has the engagement period already ended?

No

Publication date of tender notice (estimated)

17 August 2026