Blackdown Education Partnership are a Multi Academy Trust of 13 Schools based in Devon & Somerset. This tender will include six secondary schools, three of which deliver to Primary sites. The schools currently have a mixture of contracted services (4 Secondaries) and externally supported in-house services (2 Secondaries). The new contract will commence from Mon 12th April 2027, following the Easter break. Key Dates: Market Engagement - Aug & Sept 2026 Red Box Data Gathering- Aug & Sept 2026 ITT release date- Est. Early October 2026 Contractor Site visits- November across several days, exact dates TBC Bid Deadline- 5th Jan 2027 Shortlisting announced- 13th Jan 2027 Presentations- 21st Jan between 9.30 - 3.30 pm Contract start date- Mon 12th April (after Easter break)

Procurement Act 2023

Contractors are invited to register interest in this procurement through Red Box Tender Portal, where all communication, documents and bids will be managed. If you are not already registered with Red Box, please email [email protected] to request registration. We expect the ITT and supporting documents to be released and site visit bookings to open from W/C 5th October. Site visits will be held in November, giving contractors the opportunity to see service and meet the client. You must book onto these visits via the Red Box Portal. The deadline for bids will be 3pm January 5th 2027, with shortlisting on the 13th January 2027 and presentations for the shortlisted bidders on the 21st January 2027. New contract start date will be 12th April 2027, for a 3 year initial term and 2 x 12 month optional extensions.