Published date: 29 September 2025

Last edited date: 29 September 2025

Open opportunity - This means that the contract is currently active, and the buying department is looking for potential suppliers to fulfil the contract.


Closing: 20 October 2025, 12pm

Contract summary

Industry

  • Education and training services - 80000000

Location of contract

North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West, Scotland

Value of contract

£0

Procurement reference

tender_506359/1520098

Published date

29 September 2025

Closing date

20 October 2025

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

28 November 2025

Contract end date

31 March 2029

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (above threshold)

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

This procedure can be used for procurements above the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

The Department for Education (DfE) is responsible for supporting improvement in local authorities with regards to the provision of special educational needs and disability (SEND) services. This is done in part
through drawing down external expertise to support local authorities.

The Department wishes to appoint SEND Advisers in FY 25-26 to provide tailored advice and support to local authorities and help them improve readiness for and effectively implement the SEND reforms such
that they sustainably deliver the best possible outcomes for their children and young people with SEND. These could be former or practising local government officers with a robust knowledge of the current
SEND system.

MAXIMUM VALUE: up to £600 daily rate ex VAT

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

SEND Advisers will provide advisory support to a portfolio of local authorities as they work with their system partners to effectively plan and implement the SEND reforms such that they sustainably deliver the
best possible outcomes for their children and young people with SEND. The role requires in-depth knowledge of the SEND sector as a whole, as well as understanding of strategy, governance and leadership for
delivering system transformation and change.

Essential skills and experience

A strong understanding of the SEND system and underlying drivers of inclusive practice.
Experience, knowledge and understanding of local area SEND provision.
Experience in influencing effective change and improvement in educational settings and/or LAs.
Strong communication skills to convey complex information effectively, engage with a wide range of partners and to manage competing views.
The ability to work autonomously, collaboratively and proactively to support local areas to drive forward change and implementation at pace.

Responsibilities

Act as a critical friend and provide support and challenge to the designated authorities as required.
Provide mentoring and coaching support to LA senior leaders and SEND management teams as required.
Support the Department for Education to undertake reviews, as required, of relevant local authorities' progress against implementation.
Provide written reports on local authorities' progress to DfE as required
Provide other support services

More information

Previous notice about this procurement

Reopening of Lot 4 (DfE ECSC Framework) SEND Advisors

  • Future opportunity
  • Published 17 September 2025, last edited 19 September 2025

Links

Additional text

This procurement is being conducted in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.


The purpose of this notice is to invite potential new suppliers to submit bids for Lot 4: SEND Advisors.

Lot 4 - SEND Advisors under ECSC Framework already exists. The department is reopening the existing framework, and this procurement will involve adding new suppliers and opening LOT4, and new call off agreements to allocate work.​

Supplier Instructions - Accessing Tender Documents via Jaggaer
All interested suppliers must either:

Register on the Jaggaer e-Sourcing portal, or
Log in to their existing Jaggaer account.

To access the tender documents, raise clarification questions, and submit responses, please follow these steps:

Go to the Jaggaer portal: (link include)
Register by clicking "Click here to register!" and completing the required fields.
Once registered or logged in, navigate to "ITTs Open to All Suppliers".
Locate ITT_3709 and click to express interest in the procurement.
After expressing interest, you will be able to access all tender documentation and begin your response.

How to apply

Follow the instructions given in the description or the more information section.

About the buyer

Address

Sanctuary Bld, Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
England

Email

Implementationsupport.SEND@education.gov.uk