Tender

Independent Review Mechanism for fostering and adoption

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

TenderAmendment

17 May 2018 at 08:09

TenderAmendment

09 May 2018 at 14:01

Tender

18 Apr 2018 at 12:30

Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education is inviting tenders for the provision of an Independent Review Mechanism for fostering and adoption. This procurement, initiated as an open procedure above the threshold, is currently in the tender stage, with submissions closing on 17th May 2018. This review mechanism aims to provide an independent route for prospective adopters and foster carers to challenge decisions made by their agencies. The contract is expected to commence on 1st June 2018 and will run until 31st March 2020, with an estimated value of £550,000. The services required will cover various locations, including the United Kingdom and British Overseas Territories.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the social care and legal services sectors, particularly those with expertise in children's services and independent reviews. Companies that can provide objective assessments and support services to foster carers and adopters would be particularly well-suited to compete. The involvement of organisations that have a history of working with vulnerable populations or have proven track records in delivering similar services may enhance their chances of success in this procurement process.

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Notice Title

Independent Review Mechanism for fostering and adoption

Notice Description

The Independent Review Mechanism was first introduced in 2005 through secondary legislation, made under sections 9 and 12 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002. The purpose of the 2005 Regulations was to offer prospective adopters an opportunity to have decisions (technically known as 'qualifying determinations') reviewed by an independent panel if they had not been approved to adopt by their local authority or agency and were unhappy with the decision. The 2009 Regulations expanded the original remit to provide a similar service to prospective and existing foster carers who are deemed ineligible to foster; and to adult adoptees wishing to review historic decisions made about accessing their birth records. Most of the applications to the IRM currently are foster carer cases. On average, between 2013 and 2016, 85% of cases were for foster carers; 13.8% were for adopters; and 1.2% were for adult adoptees. The Regulations broadly stipulate how the IRM should be carried out. You can read the Regulations by entering the following URL into your browser. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/395/contents/made Additional information: The Department for Education will soon be inviting organisations to tender for the provision of the Independent Review Mechanism for fostering and adoption (IRM). The IRM provides an objective, independent route for challenging or reviewing decision-making within children's social care, and is the only route for prospective adopters and foster carers to challenge decisions made about them by their agency. They can apply to the IRM to have their case heard by an independent panel of children's services experts.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-b3d2ef85-e1a7-4708-a9cc-b199dea942ed
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/5cee5928-72dc-4d3f-8850-66ef521fbc23
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure (above threshold)
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£550,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 May 20187 years ago
Submission Deadline
17 May 2018Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 May 2018 - 31 Mar 2020 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION
Contact Name
Fostering Team, Children in Care and Permanence division
Contact Email
irm.enquiries@education.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 3BT
Post Town
South West London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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