This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

01 Apr 2025 at 14:07

AwardUpdate

10 Dec 2024 at 14:24

Award

19 Jan 2024 at 11:52

Tender

19 Sep 2023 at 18:49

Planning

13 Jul 2023 at 15:54

Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education recently extended the Fosterlink Service contract, originally set to end on 31 March 2025, by an additional year, now concluding on 31 March 2026. This service, focused on fostering carer recruitment, falls under the social services category and covers the UK. The initial contract term was 16 months starting from 01 December 2023, with the extension reflecting continued need and supplier performance. The total contract value, including the extension, is £802,224.23. Additionally, funding allocated for the period between 01/12/23 to 31/03/24 is £500,000 and £200,000 for the period between 01/04/24 to 31/03/25.

This extension and update in the Fosterlink Service contract highlight significant opportunities for businesses in the social services sector, specifically those with expertise in fostering carer recruitment and support services. Organisations capable of providing in-depth diagnostic support and management services to local authority fostering service providers would benefit from engaging with this contract. The project aims at building a strong evidence base for good practices nationally, making it an ideal growth opportunity for large firms and those involved in consultancy and diagnostic services within the social care and education sectors.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Fosterlink Service - Foster Carer Recruitment

Notice Description

The Department for Education has appointed a contractor for the provision of Fosterlink Service. The successful contractor will be responsible for developing, co-ordination and managing Fosterlink a support service for Local Authority (LA) fostering service providers, which will offer in-depth diagnostic support specifically focused on their recruitment and approval practices, with the aim of providing bespoke recommendations for improvement, alongside building a strong evidence base on which to share good practice nationally. The initial contract term will be 16 months. The contract is expected to commence on the 01 December 2023 and run until 31 March 2025. There will be an option to extend its term for an additional period of 12 months. The optional extension will be subject to supplier contract performance, the requirements of the Department, the outcomes of the upcoming Spending Review and the steers of the party in leadership following the General Election at the end of 2024.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Department for Education has appointed a contractor for the provision of Fosterlink Service. The successful contractor will be responsible for developing, co-ordination and managing Fosterlink a support service for Local Authority (LA) fostering service providers, which will offer in-depth diagnostic support specifically focused on their recruitment and approval practices, with the aim of providing bespoke recommendations for improvement, alongside building a strong evidence base on which to share good practice nationally. The initial contract term will be 16 months. The contract is expected to commence on the 01 December 2023 and run until 31 March 2025. There will be an option to extend its term for an additional period of 12 months. The optional extension will be subject to supplier contract performance, the requirements of the Department, the outcomes of the upcoming Spending Review and the steers of the party in leadership following the General Election at the end of 2024. The contract was varied in December 2024 to include some additional work under the same scope.

Renewal: There is an option to extend the Initial Contract term (16 months) for an additional period of 12 months. The optional extension period is not guaranteed and will be at the absolute discretion of The Department. Any extension will be subject to the Departments approval process, availability of budget and current performance of the supplier.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-03e1a1
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012271-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

79600000 - Recruitment services

85320000 - Social services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£560,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£560,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£1,198,903 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Apr 20251 years ago
Submission Deadline
19 Oct 2023Expired
Future Notice Date
4 Sep 2023Expired
Award Date
1 Jan 20242 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Department for Education
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 3BT
Postcode Area
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

Mott Macdonald Limited

Mott Mott Macdonald Limited

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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