Planning

Preliminary Market Engagement - Online Parenting Interventions

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

23 Sep 2025 at 08:40

Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education is initiating a planning phase for a tender titled "Preliminary Market Engagement - Online Parenting Interventions." This initiative is part of the central government's strategy to improve child development across England, particularly targeting children aged 0 to 5 years. The project is under the goods category, focusing on educational software and training services, and is set within the UK region, notably London. A market engagement event is scheduled for 1st October 2025, with the opportunity for feedback extending until 8th October 2025. The procurement stage is currently in the planning phase, establishing groundwork for future tenders anticipated to commence on 22nd April 2026 and conclude by 21st April 2029.

The tender offers a significant opportunity for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) to contribute to a national, evidence-informed online parenting programme. Businesses specialising in the development and delivery of educational software solutions, and those with expertise in scalable digital interventions aimed at improving early childhood development, are particularly well-suited for participation. The Department for Education encourages collaboration, including consortium and partnership bids, highlighting the potential for diverse business growth aligned with national educational objectives.

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Notice Title

Preliminary Market Engagement - Online Parenting Interventions

Notice Description

On the 7th of July 2025, the government published Giving every child the best start in life. 'Giving every child the best start in life' outlines how the government will improve child development and ensure that all children have the chance to achieve and thrive. To achieve the government's overall mission objective of closing the opportunity gap, a milestone of a record proportion of children starting school ready to learn has been set. Progress will be measured through 75% of five-year-olds reaching a good level of development (GLD) in the early years foundation stage assessment by 2028. This assessment looks at children's development across areas like language, personal, social and emotional development, and maths and literacy. This strategy pledges to deliver a "new evidenced-informed core offer for parents" of which a "digital parenting offer" will form one part. Requirement In line with this, the Department for Education (DfE) is seeking to engage with potential suppliers to share its early thinking, gain insight into the current market landscape for delivering an online parenting intervention and gather feedback to help shape the future delivery approach and inform potential procurement. The Department for Education is seeking a national, evidence-informed online parenting intervention to support families with children aged 0-5 across England, aiming to improve early childhood development and school readiness. The intervention should be accessible, inclusive, and scalable, offering high-quality digital support which can demonstrate positive impact on 3-4 year-old children's socio-emotional / behavioural and/or communication outcomes, helping to achieve the 75% GLD milestone by 2028. For more information search for: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/giving-every-child-the-best-start-in-life https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2 Important: This is a zero-value notice for early market engagement purposes only. It is not a call for competition and does not commit the Department to procuring, or procuring services in any specific way. Any future opportunities will be subject to budgetary decisions and the availability of funding. The DfE is keen to maximise opportunities to participate in procurement for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs). Consideration will also be given to consortia and collaborative bids from all forms of organisations.

Planning Information

We will hold an online market engagement event on Wednesday 1st October 2025 10:00 - 11:00. To register your interest and secure a place at the event, please use this link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/439ea89a-b542-4e37-823a-26bfc80895c8@fad277c9-c60a-4da1-b5f3-b3b8b34a82f9 Following the event, participants will be invited to complete a survey to provide structured feedback on the proposed delivery and commercial models. The anticipated deadline to provide your responses to the survey will be 8th October 2025.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-059fd0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058755-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

48190000 - Educational software package

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
8 Oct 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
21 Apr 2026 - 21 Apr 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
commercialdelivery.skills@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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