Tender

Shortbreaks and Outreach Framework

SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Tender

03 Apr 2026 at 16:00

PlanningUpdate

19 Jan 2026 at 11:44

PlanningUpdate

19 Jan 2026 at 10:27

Planning

16 Jan 2026 at 14:36

Summary of the contracting process

Southampton City Council has initiated a procurement process to establish a Short Breaks and Outreach Framework intended to enhance service access for children and young people with disabilities up to 18 years of age. This procurement is in the tender stage, as of 3rd April 2026, with opportunities for interested providers to engage through preliminary market engagement events. The framework, centred around public authority services, is slated to operate in the Southampton region (UKJ32), with an overall contract value of £5.4 million. It utilizes an open procedure method and comprises two active lots: Care Support and Community Outreach, and Specialist Playschemes and Targeted Short Breaks. The enquiries period concludes on 24th April 2026, and tender submissions are due by 5th May 2026.

This tender process presents significant opportunities for businesses, particularly those specialising in social work, community, and personal services. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), are encouraged to participate, as the framework is likely to foster growth through potential direct awards or mini-competitions. The intended framework, allowing for responsive and high-quality support matching, aims to meet the varied needs of the beneficiaries while promoting family resilience and improving outcomes, presenting a lucrative avenue for service providers skilled in delivering personalised care and specialised activities.

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Notice Title

Shortbreaks and Outreach Framework

Notice Description

Southampton City Council intends to establish a multi provider Short Breaks, Outreach and Support Framework to improve access to high quality services for children and young people with disabilities aged up to 18 years. Before commencing the procurement, the Council is issuing this Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) to invite interested providers to attend online market engagement consultation events. These sessions will offer an overview of the planned Framework, specification requirements, proposed Lots, and the anticipated procurement timetable. They will also give providers the opportunity to give feedback and ask questions. The proposed Framework will include two Lots: Lot 1 - Care Support and Community Outreach This Lot covers personalised care and support delivered in the home or community. Services will help children and young people with disabilities to develop independence, access their community, and maintain their wellbeing, while supporting family stability. The service will include personalised care and community based support, including personal care, delegated health tasks, communication and independence building programmes, behaviour support, community access and, where required, overnight respite. Providers must be able to offer planned, responsive and crisis support across a range of hours. Lot 2 - Specialist Playschemes and Targeted Short Breaks This Lot provides specialist holiday playschemes and targeted short break opportunities for children with substantial or complex needs. These are for children who cannot safely access mainstream provision due to high levels of personal care, complex health needs, autism or behaviour that challenges. Services delivered under this Lot should offer group and community-based activities that support children's social development, independence, wellbeing and enjoyment, while providing families with essential respite. The purpose of the Framework is to deliver consistent, timely, high quality and value for money support, while strengthening family resilience and improving outcomes for children and young people with disabilities. By approving providers onto a single Framework, the Council can quickly match a child's assessed needs with an appropriate supplier, reducing delays and enabling responsive, high quality support across the local area.

Lot Information

Care Support and Community Outreach Service Specification with buddy service

The aim of Lot 1 is to develop a range of providers who can deliver personalised care and support in the home or community. The outreach service will ensure that children and young people with disabilities can develop independence skills, access their community, and maintain their wellbeing at the same time the family have a break from their caring duties.

Options: Potential for extension

Renewal: Potential for 2 years extension

Specialist Playschemes and Targeted Short Breaks

The goal of Lot 2 is to develop a range of specialist and targeted activities for children and young people in a variety of locations across the city. The activities will provide opportunities for children to try new skills things, develop their social skills and support their overall development whilst giving their parent carers a break from caring.

Options: Potential for extension

Renewal: Potential for 2 years extension

Planning Information

The Authority is issuing this Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) statement to notify the market of an upcoming procurement opportunity for Outreach and Short Breaks services for children and young people with disabilities. Our primary objective is to engage with experienced providers, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) to inform the design of a new Framework. We want to ensure that our service specifications are commercially viable, innovative, and, most importantly, capable of meeting the diverse needs of children and young people (0-25) within our region. This engagement is conducted in accordance with Sections 16 and 17 of the Procurement Act 2023. It is not a call for competition, but a collaborative fact-finding exercise to ensure a "best fit" between our requirements and market capability. 2. The Requirement: A Two-Lot Framework We intend to establish a multi-supplier framework divided into two distinct "Lots." Suppliers may apply for one or both lots, provided they meet the specific quality and safeguarding criteria. Lot 1 - Care Support and Community Outreach The aim of Lot 1 is to develop a range of providers who can deliver personalised care and support in the home or community. The outreach service will ensure that children and young people with disabilities can develop independence skills, access their community, and maintain their wellbeing at the same time the family have a break from their caring duties. Lot 2 - Specialist Playschemes and Targeted Short Breaks The goal of Lot 2 is to develop a range of specialist and targeted activities for children and young people in a variety of locations across the city. The activities will provide opportunities for children to try new skills things, develop their social skills and support their overall development whilst giving their parent carers a break from caring. 3. The Procurement Plan The Authority intends to use a Open Framework model. This is designed to be "supplier-friendly," allowing new providers to join at specific intervals throughout the framework's life (e.g., every 12 months). Estimated Contract Term: 4 years + optional 2-year extension. Pricing Model: We are seeking market feedback on sustainable hourly rates vs. "block" funding for group activities. Call-Off Mechanism: Services will be commissioned via Direct Award (for specific 1:1 matches) or Mini-Competition (for larger group-based contracts). Preliminary Market Engagement Events will be held virtually on Microsoft Teams via invite only. These individual sessions will be held on the 5th (12.00 - 14.00); Short Breaks and 10th of Feb (13.00 - 15.00); Outreach. If you are interested in attending either event, please email Scott.Goodhew@southampton.gov.uk with your company name, the name of attendees with relevant email address for the invite, and please inform us which one (or both) you would like to attend. Please be aware when responding each event will be individual based on the Lots with Short breaks on the 5th, and Outreach on the 10th. Thankyou.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0607c7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031211-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

85 - Health and social work services

98 - Other community, social and personal services


CPV Codes

75200000 - Provision of services to the community

85312000 - Social work services without accommodation

85320000 - Social services

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£4,500,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Apr 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
5 May 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
28 Feb 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Sep 2026 - 30 Sep 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SOUTHAMPTON CITY 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
SOUTHAMPTON
Postcode
SO14 7LY
Post Town
Southampton
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ32 Southampton
Delivery Location
TLJ South East (England), TLJ32 Southampton

Local Authority
Southampton
Electoral Ward
Bargate
Westminster Constituency
Southampton Itchen

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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