Planning

Designated Family Judge Trailblazer

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

24 Mar 2025 at 15:38

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education (DfE) is initiating a procurement process for the "Designated Family Judge Trailblazer" project, focusing on addressing delays in the family justice system across England. This process is currently in the planning stage and involves a market consultation event scheduled for 31 March 2025. The initiative falls under the services category, specifically general management consultancy services (CPV 79411000). The project aims to expand guided learning and develop solutions to improve family court processes, with the first contractual period expected to commence on 7 July 2025 and conclude on 31 March 2026. Businesses interested in participating in the consultation can contact the DfE via the provided email address to arrange an invitation.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specializing in consultancy services, particularly those experienced with complex policy areas and public law interventions related to children's services. SMEs and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to engage, as the project seeks to broaden networks for improvement and harness diverse insights for impactful solutions. Involvement in this tender could bolster a company's portfolio, demonstrate capability in handling intricate legal and social issues, and foster long-term relationships with central government authorities.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Designated Family Judge Trailblazer

Notice Description

The family justice (FJ) system is one of the most complex and cross-system policy areas in Children's Services. DfE holds responsibility for public law, covering all vulnerable children in England who require local authority (LA) intervention. Unacceptable delays in the family courts have been a long-standing issue for over 10 years. We want to create sustainable cross-system changes that bring down family court delays. We want to build on the work of our 24/25 Trailblazer pilot. This pilot involved five DFJ trailblazer areas with significant delays taking part in deep dives to determine the most pressing drivers of delay in Family Courts in their local context and implement tailored solutions. Expected services will include: Roll out Guided Learning * Expand Guided Learning: Offer the Guided Learning (GL) process to the remaining 23 DFJ areas and enhance the offer for the first 15 areas. * Enhanced Offer: Prescribe solutions based on Trailblazers' existing solutions for all 38 areas. * Toolkit Development: Provide a toolkit for local solution development, supported by Trailblazer insights. Support ongoing learning for DFJ areas, the DfE, and the wider sector * Expand PLGs: Broaden Communities of Practice for all DFJ areas to build networks for improvement. * Pilot Evaluation: Continue supporting the evaluation of the pilot programme. * Disseminate Learning: Share ongoing learning through events, webinars, podcasts, newsletters, etc. Develop and embed learning from Trailblazers * Collate Insights: Analyse learning from the Trailblazers pilot, highlighting impactful initiatives and lessons learned. * Build Evidence Base: Expand the Guided Learning evidence base with additional DFJ areas. * Early Adopters' Toolkit: Develop a toolkit for implementing Trailblazer solutions. Further develop system accountability work 1. Engage Stakeholders: Work with key stakeholders to understand challenges and solutions. 2. Address NAO Recommendations: Review and implement relevant recommendations from the National Audit Office. 3. Develop Family Justice Strategy: Conduct research and gather data to inform policy and practice. 4. Practical Recommendations: Develop actionable recommendations and policy proposals to drive improvement. The purpose of this Notice is to initiate market consultation and is not being used as a call for competition. The Notice is intended to: Raise awareness with the market of a potential future procurement process and to enable time for organisations to begin early discussions with the Department and each other as to how they may be able to deliver any future contract. The family justice (FJ) system is one of the most complex and cross-system policy areas in Children's Services. DfE holds responsibility for public law, covering all vulnerable children in England who require local authority (LA) intervention. Unacceptable delays in the family courts have been a long-standing issue for over 10 years. We want to create sustainable cross-system changes that bring down family court delays. We want to build on the work of our 24/25 Trailblazer pilot. This pilot involved five DFJ trailblazer areas with significant delays taking part in deep dives to determine the most pressing drivers of delay in Family Courts in their local context and implement tailored solutions. Expected services will include: Roll out Guided Learning * Expand Guided Learning: Offer the Guided Learning (GL) process to the remaining 23 DFJ areas and enhance the offer for the first 15 areas. * Enhanced Offer: Prescribe solutions based on Trailblazers' existing solutions for all 38 areas. * Toolkit Development: Provide a toolkit for local solution development, supported by Trailblazer insights. Support ongoing learning for DFJ areas, the DfE, and the wider sector * Expand PLGs: Broaden Communities of Practice for all DFJ areas to build networks for improvement. * Pilot Evaluation: Continue supporting the evaluation of the pilot programme. * Disseminate Learning: Share ongoing learning through events, webinars, podcasts, newsletters, etc. Develop and embed learning from Trailblazers * Collate Insights: Analyse learning from the Trailblazers pilot, highlighting impactful initiatives and lessons learned. * Build Evidence Base: Expand the Guided Learning evidence base with additional DFJ areas. * Early Adopters' Toolkit: Develop a toolkit for implementing Trailblazer solutions. Further develop system accountability work 1. Engage Stakeholders: Work with key stakeholders to understand challenges and solutions. 2. Address NAO Recommendations: Review and implement relevant recommendations from the National Audit Office. 3. Develop Family Justice Strategy: Conduct research and gather data to inform policy and practice. 4. Practical Recommendations: Develop actionable recommendations and policy proposals to drive improvement.

Planning Information

The Department will be undertaking market consultation activity during the coming weeks, to gather information about the supply market. This will consist of a virtual event via MS Teams. We aim for this event to take place Monday, 31 March, 10:00-11:00. If you are interested, please contact Varick.HARRISON@education.gov.uk to arrange an invitation to the event. We intend to share the outcomes from the main session with all potential suppliers following the conclusion of the consultation period.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04f809
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010958-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79411000 - General management consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Mar 202511 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
28 Apr 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
6 Jul 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
policyassurance.commercialqueries@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

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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