Editorial Support

This proposal is to establish a new contractual arrangement to support Ofsted's Communications team with flexible, on-demand editorial resource. The intention is to appoint multiple suppliers to a small pool, enabling Ofsted to call off services as required, ensuring flexibility, resilience, and continuity of service. The recommended approach is via a below-threshold open competition, advertised via Contracts Finder. In addition, targeted market engagement will be undertaken via the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) to raise awareness of the opportunity among relevant suppliers. Interested suppliers will be required to submit bids via a formal procurement route ensuring a compliant and auditable competition. The outcome will be the appointment of a small pool of suppliers Ofsted will only enter into contracts with suppliers operating through a registered limited company. This requirement is driven by tax, legal, and compliance considerations, including the need to ensure appropriate treatment under applicable employment status regulations (such as off payroll working/IR35), mitigate the risk of deemed employment, and ensure clarity of liability and contractual accountability Contracts will be awarded on a non-exclusive basis, with services called off as required through individual work packages. If you would like to express your interest please email info-contracts@ofsted.gov.uk and we will forward you the tender documents once they are available