Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education has completed the procurement process for the "Fostering Recruitment and Retention Programme Delivery Partner 25-26" contract. This tender falls under the business and management consultancy services category and covers a wide geographic area, including British Overseas Territories, the Channel Islands, Europe, the Isle of Man, the rest of the world, and the United Kingdom. Using a selective procurement method, the contract was awarded through a call-off from the RM6187 Management Consultancy Framework Three (MCF3) Lot 7, with a total contract value of £374,520. The procurement stage has reached the "Award" phase as of 22nd April 2025, with the contract period starting from 9th April 2025 and ending on 31st March 2026.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses, particularly SMEs and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), given its suitability criteria. The programme is designed to provide strategic oversight and support to local authorities (LAs) in foster care recruitment, enhancing regional collaboration and sharing of insights. Businesses with expertise in management consultancy, particularly those with experience in working with public sector organisations and policy development, are well-suited to compete for such contracts in the future. Successful engagement in this programme can lead to further opportunities in the public sector, strengthening a company's portfolio and fostering growth.

Award

Fostering Recruitment and Retention Programme Delivery Partner 25-26

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION

Contract Timeline

Publication Date

22nd April 2025 12:33:49 PM
Contract Summary

We required a delivery partner to work alongside us and the sector to provide challenge, independent oversight and support to LAs in relation to foster care recruitment support hubs, to ensure that this programme results in real, lasting change. The delivery partner would provide oversight of the project and leverage regional working at a senior strategic level to establish regional working patterns. The purpose of a delivery partner is to provide appropriate levels of both challenge and support to LAs to ensure new ways of working are embedded, as well as gathering and sharing insights between groups of LAs on approaches, successes and challenges to bring shared learning to the regions taking part in this programme nationally and inform DfE policy development. We ran this competition using RM6187 Management Consultancy Framework Three (MCF3) Lot 7. This means that only those who were on the Commercial Agreement Lot 7 could submit a bid in response to the published contract notice.
Contract Details

Open Contracting ID

ocds-b5fd17-51ca1d63-8da4-4588-8cd2-fbecd8c633df

Publication Source

Contracts Finder

Procurement Stage

Award

Procurement Method

Selective

Procurement Method Details

Call-off From A Framework Agreement

Procurement Category

Services

Tender Suitability

SME VCSE

Framework / DPS

Framework
Contract Classification

CPV Code(s)

79410000

CPV Division(s)

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
Awarding Authority

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION

Buyer Name

Buyer Email

emily.kitching@education.gov.uk

Buyer Phone

Buyer Address

Bishopsgate House

Darlington

DL1 5QE

England
Awarded Supplier(s)

Supplier Name(s)

MUTUAL VENTURES LTD

View contract on Contracts Finder

Fostering Recruitment and Retention Programme Delivery Partner 25-26

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION

Contract Timeline

Contract Summary

Contract Details

Contract Classification

Awarding Authority

Awarded Supplier(s)