Planning

Provision of Community Short Breaks for Children with Disabilities and their Families in Bedford Borough 2026

BEDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

26 Nov 2025 at 10:55

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Bedford Borough Council is currently in the planning stage for the procurement of community short breaks for children with disabilities and their families within the Bedford Borough. This process, identified as tender BBC CH 04069, focuses on providing services designed to support children and young people (CYP) with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) by offering short breaks. These services aim to contribute positively to the personal, social, and emotional development of CYP while also providing respite for their families. The procurement falls under the services category, with specific classifications including daycare and social services. A market engagement event will take place on 15th December 2025 at Borough Hall in Bedford, serving as a platform for discussing the recommissioning process and inviting innovative insights from current and prospective providers. The procurement schedule aims to have contracts in place by April 2026 when current contracts end.

This tender offers significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in education and care services for children with disabilities. It is well-suited for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as voluntary and community sector enterprises (VCSEs) due to the suitability criteria outlined in the procurement process. Businesses that provide high-quality daycare and social services, especially those with experience working with CYP with SEND, can benefit from engaging in this procurement. By participating, organisations can contribute to a valued community service, supporting families and young people in Bedford, while expanding their service offerings in line with local government needs.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Community Short Breaks for Children with Disabilities and their Families in Bedford Borough 2026

Notice Description

Bedford Borough Council provides a range of Short Break Services that are designed to assist individuals who provide care for CYP with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND). The provision of short breaks is a statutory requirement under the Children and Families Act 2014. Local authorities are required to provide access to services that are designed to assist individuals who provide care for children with SEND to continue to do so, or to do so more effectively, by giving them breaks from caring. Local authorities must offer short breaks as part of a preventative model in keeping families together, preventing family breakdown and preventing CYP with SEND becoming children looked after. Short Breaks Services have been defined as services that give CYP with SEND enjoyable experiences away from their primary carers, thereby contributing to their personal and social development and reducing social isolation; and services that provide parents and families a necessary and valuable break from their caring responsibilities. Short Breaks Services can include day-time or overnight care in the homes of CYP with SEND or elsewhere, educational or leisure activities outside their homes, or services available to assist carers in the evenings, at weekends and during the school holidays.

Planning Information

Invitation to Market Engagement Event – Activities in the Community (Short Breaks) Recommissioning Since 1 April 2011, local authorities have had a duty to provide Short Breaks for children and young people with SEND who meet the eligibility criteria within this duty. Short Breaks are opportunities for children and young people with a disability to spend time away from their primary carers, contributing to their personal, social and emotional development. They also provide families, parents/carers and siblings with valuable time for rest and other responsibilities. Activities in the Community (Short Breaks) is Bedford Borough Council’s offer to children and young people with SEND who reside within the Borough. These activities take place during evenings, weekends and school holidays, providing educational and leisure opportunities outside the home. Current services are delivered by SSG, Autism Bedfordshire and Embrace, with contracts due to end in March 2026. As part of our recommissioning process, we are pleased to invite you to an Activities in the Community (Short Breaks) Market Engagement Event: Date: Monday 15th December Time: 10:00am – 11:30am Location: Committee Room 1, Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford, MK42 9AP This session will introduce our vision for the future of community-based activities (short breaks) and outline our intentions for the upcoming recommissioning process. We welcome attendance from current providers, prospective providers, voluntary and community organisations, and any organisation interested in delivering high-quality support for children and young people with SEND. During the session, we will: • Share Bedford Borough’s vision and priorities for the next commissioning cycle • Present insights from local families, young people, and recent engagement work • Outline the proposed commissioning and procurement timeline leading up to April 2026 • Invite providers to share their insights, experiences and innovative ideas • Explore how different organisations may contribute to a varied, high-quality local offer • Begin shaping the future model for Activities in the Community (Short Breaks) What to expect The session will include a short presentation followed by discussion and Q&A. Providers will leave with a clearer understanding of the future direction for short breaks, the likely commissioning approach, and forthcoming opportunities to engage in the process. If you have accessibility needs or require adjustments to participate, please let us know when booking. For further information and to register your organisation’s place please email: SENDEvents@bedford.gov.uk and cc Henry.masih@bedford.gov.uk Please note there will be a maximum of 2 attendees per organisation if attending Borough Hall. If you are unable to attend in person this session will also be held virtually, please specify your attendance route when registering interest.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05e8ef
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077133-2025
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

85 - Health and social work services

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

85312100 - Daycare services

85312110 - Child daycare services

85312120 - Daycare services for handicapped children and young people

85320000 - Social services

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Nov 20251 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
10 Dec 20255 days to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 2-3 years
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
BEDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
commercial.hub@bedford.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BEDFORD
Postcode
MK42 9AP
Post Town
Milton Keynes
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH24 Bedford
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Bedford
Electoral Ward
Cauldwell
Westminster Constituency
Bedford

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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