External Support Service to the Free Schools Programme - Future Opportunity

Tender description

This Contracts Finder Future Opportunity Notice is linked to an Early Supplier Engagement Event and a PIN without call for competition. The purpose of this Future Opportunity Notice is to notify the market of the Department for Education's (DfE) intention to undertake a procurement exercise to appoint a suitably qualified contractor to provide an external support service to the Free Schools Programme Free schools remain a priority for this government to help provide a good school place for every child, that allows them to reach their potential regardless of where they live and their background. They are an important tool to deliver new, high quality places of all types where they are needed most. Work is ongoing to finalise how future free school waves will run, but it is expected that there will be a need for an external support service to deliver the following: - Generate interest in new applications via the DfE-led free school application process, including targeting specific areas, supporting groups to submit high quality applications and providing support to applicant groups throughout the department's application and assessment process. - Providing support to approved free school projects in the pre-opening phase, and to open free schools up to their first Ofsted inspection. The type and level of support should be varied depending on the needs of the trust and include targeted support for new free school providers and delivery of a small number of good practice and information sharing events. - Deliver a small number of free school information events on behalf of the Department for Education. Ahead of commencing any future procurement, we wish to engage with the market to outline our requirements and explain how potential bidders may ready themselves for any procurement process that may follow. The event will also provide an opportunity for potential bidders to ask questions regarding the draft requirements. This online early market engagement event for interested parties will be held on 30th September 2020 (11.30am to 13:00pm BST). If you are interested in attending this early market engagement event, please 1) respond to the question contained in the qualification envelope within the opportunity listing for the Early Supplier Engagement Event notification by 17:00 on 29th September 2020 accessible via https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html, and 2) register directly to the Eventbrite event registration site at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/early-supplier-engagement-event-tickets-121225465631