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25074 Cambridgeshire County Council Childrens Services Independent Complaints

Cambridgeshire County Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

17 Sep 2026 at 14:11

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

17 Oct 2025 at 16:13

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cambridgeshire County Council is seeking a provider for an independent complaints service for its children’s services. The requirement covers the handling and investigation of complaints independently of the council’s children’s services, supporting fair consideration of concerns raised about services for children and young people. It is a social work and related service, classified under CPV 85300000. Delivery is for Cambridgeshire County Council’s area. The procurement is a single service requirement and is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises. The council is the buying organisation and public authority responsible for commissioning the service. Suppliers will need to provide the service as a specialist children’s complaints provider, with the detailed operational requirements set out in the tender documents and questionnaire.

The process reached tender: the council invited offers through a below-threshold open competition. The tender submission deadline set by the council was 14 October 2026 at 12:00 noon. The contract is scheduled to run from 1 March 2027 to 28 February 2029, with one possible 12-month extension to 28 February 2030. The estimated value is £325,500 excluding VAT, or £390,600 including VAT. There is one lot. Bids are evaluated equally on quality and price, weighted 50% each. Suppliers must submit their responses electronically through the council’s In-Tend supplier portal, including the completed questionnaire, mandatory documents and any other relevant supporting documents. The procurement uses the light-touch regime.

This opportunity suits organisations experienced in providing independent complaints handling or investigation services, particularly in children’s social care or related public services. It may be relevant to specialist complaints providers, social work organisations, independent reviewing or advocacy services, and voluntary, community or social enterprises with the right expertise. The requirement is explicitly suitable for SMEs as well as VCSEs, so it is not limited to large national contractors. Competitors will need the capability to operate independently of the council’s children’s services, assess complaints fairly, produce clear findings and communicate appropriately with children, families and professionals. They should also have the capacity to manage the commissioned caseload and meet the service standards and documentary requirements set out in the tender questionnaire. The published evaluation gives quality equal importance to price, favouring credible delivery arrangements as well as competitive costs.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

25074 Cambridgeshire County Council Childrens Services Independent Complaints

Notice Description

25074 Cambridgeshire County Council Childrens Services Independent Complaints Service

Planning Information

Please complete the attached market engagement form via the link https://forms.office.com/e/F430ijy86g

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05cf2a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088266-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85300000 - Social work and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£325,500 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£325,500 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Sep 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
14 Oct 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Mar 2027 - 28 Feb 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Cambridgeshire 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
ALCONBURY WEALD, HUNTINGDON
Postcode
PE28 4YE
Postcode Area
Peterborough
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH42 Cambridgeshire CC
Delivery Location
TLH12 Cambridgeshire CC
Local Authority
Huntingdonshire
Electoral Ward
The Stukeleys
Westminster Constituency
Huntingdon

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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