This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

Planning

19 May 2026 at 14:23

Planning

16 Dec 2025 at 10:16

PlanningUpdate

08 Aug 2025 at 09:28

PlanningUpdate

27 Jun 2025 at 13:37

Planning

27 Jun 2025 at 13:30

Summary of the contracting process

Devon County Council is in the planning stage for a public procurement process titled "Short Breaks Commissioning," aimed at enhancing support services for disabled children and young people in Devon. This initiative falls under the health and social work services category and involves a framework agreement worth £44,000,000. Set to begin on 4 January 2027 and continue until 3 January 2032, with potential extension to 2035, the procurement seeks to strengthen community offerings, expand access to universal activities, and establish specialist short breaks. Key activities include an online information event scheduled for 3 June 2026. Interested parties can contact the council to participate and further understand the framework commissioning intentions and timelines involved.

This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses specialising in community, social, personal, and health services. Particularly suited to SMEs and VCSEs, the process emphasises the inclusion of enablers’ support and group activities like youth clubs and holiday clubs. Businesses with experience in delivering holistic, community-focused services or those capable of offering innovative solutions for short breaks and facilitating personal growth for children and young people are encouraged to engage. The tender represents a substantial opportunity for collaboration and service development, helping providers align with Devon’s strategic vision for short breaks while promoting independence and community involvement among the service users.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Short Breaks Commissioning

Notice Description

Our aim is to improve our local Short Breaks offer for disabled children and young people in Devon. Disabled children and young people have the right to be supported at home and in their local communities, to have opportunities to meet and make friends, feel confident, and to thrive with a good family life. Short breaks help to do this by giving an opportunity for children and young people to meet new people, take part in activities, enjoy positive learning opportunities and have different experiences whilst giving their families a break from their caring responsibilities. Short breaks can last a few hours, a whole day, evening, overnight or for a whole weekend, or during the school holidays. They can take place at home, in the community or in a residential setting. Childcare settings can sometimes be used as venues for short break activities. They can include support to access activities such as sports, music, crafts, drama or community groups; this might be through support from workers often called 'enablers'. This could be for a limited time to help a child join in with an activity until they can attend independently, or ongoing depending on their individual needs.

Planning Information

The new Devon Local Area Short Break strategy 2026-2030 sets out a clear vision for an inclusive, high quality graduated short break offer that promotes independence, life skills, and community involvement. This strategy has been developed with input from children and young people, parent carers and community partners, and builds on statutory responsibilities and co-production principles. Key changes will include a strengthened community offer, expanding universal and universal-plus activities, and the creation of a commissioned framework of providers for targeted and specialist short breaks. Devon County Council would now like to invite providers to an information event at which the latest details of our framework commissioning intentions, planned process and expected timeframes will be shared. This event will be held online via Microsoft Teams on 3rd June 2026 from 11:00 to 12:00. If you would like to attend the event please email childrenscommissioningsecure-mailbox@devon.gov.uk and a Teams invitation will be sent to you.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-055545
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045830-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
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

85 - Health and social work services

98 - Other community, social and personal services


CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£44,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 May 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Jun 20265 days to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Jan 2027 - 3 Jan 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EXETER
Postcode
EX2 4QD
Post Town
Exeter
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK43 Devon CC
Delivery Location
TLK4 Devon, TLK43 Devon CC

Local Authority
Exeter
Electoral Ward
Newtown and St Leonard's
Westminster Constituency
Exeter

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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