Planning

Delivering the Best Start in Life - Implementation Partner

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

06 Mar 2026 at 15:11

PlanningUpdate

26 Jan 2026 at 09:38

PlanningUpdate

23 Jan 2026 at 14:36

Planning

23 Jan 2026 at 14:27

Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process aimed at selecting an Implementation Partner for the "Delivering the Best Start in Life" programme. Market engagement notices were published in early 2026, indicating the department's intent to assess the market landscape before proceeding with formal procurement. An online event is scheduled for 16th March 2026, focused on market engagement and exploratory purposes, with a final notice expected by 1st May 2026. The procurement falls within the services category and targets the education and training sector, with delivery across various regions in England. Interested parties should take note of the previously held event on 4th February, which provided insights into the forthcoming opportunities.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the education and training services sector, including SMEs, VCSEs, consortia, and collaborative bids. The selected Implementation Partner will be pivotal in driving systemic reform, enhancing local leadership, and improving family support services at the community level. Businesses with strategic vision and capacity for innovation are well-suited to engage in this procurement. Moreover, entities capable of delivering high-quality, evidence-based services and leveraging data and digital solutions will be integral in supporting local authorities to achieve transformation in early childhood development outcomes. This engagement is a chance to harness expertise in nurturing systems reform and delivering impactful solutions in partnership with local councils.

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Notice Title

Delivering the Best Start in Life - Implementation Partner

Notice Description

The Department for Education (DfE) is issuing this Market Engagement Notice to invite interest from suitably qualified and experienced organisations in advance of a forthcoming procurement for an Implementation Partner(s) to support local authorities in the delivery of the Best Start in Life (BSiL) programme. This procurement seeks to engage strategic partner(s) with the vision and capability to supporting delivering transformation of family support services. The event will be a key opportunity to test emerging models and draw on the expertise of a diverse range of organisations, ensuring we harness the full breadth of innovation and experience available across the sector. The successful Implementation Partner(s) will play a pivotal role in supporting local authorities to: 1. Lead System Reform and Drive Ambitious Local Action Support local authorities to champion bold, innovative, and collaborative approaches across their 0-5 systems. This includes strengthening local leadership, commissioning and coordinating Partner(s)s effectively, harnessing community assets, and ensuring alignment with wider national and local reform programmes to maximise improvements in early childhood development and health outcomes. 2. Deliver Consistent, High Quality BSiL and Best Start Family Hub Services Provide expertise and practical guidance to ensure that local areas deliver integrated, evidence based services across core BSiL priority areas. These include Healthy Babies, Parenting Support and the Home Learning Environment, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and childcare access, sufficiency and entitlements. The Implementation Partner(s) will help local authorities ensure families can access the right support at the right time, through high quality, connected pathways. 3. Build Sustainable Capability, Learning and Innovation Across the Sector Promote a culture of continuous improvement by enabling local authorities to learn from one another, share best practice, and engage in test and learn activities. The Implementation Partner(s) will develop tools, resources, peer learning networks, and targeted 1-2-1 small group specialist support to build long term capability and strengthen the effective use of data and digital solutions in improving outcomes. 4. Provide Flexible, Responsive Support Aligned with a Changing Landscape Ensure that local authorities receive timely, relevant support that can adapt quickly to emerging needs, policy developments, and operational challenges. The Implementation Partner(s) must demonstrate the infrastructure, agility, and expertise to respond at pace, enabling local authorities to maintain momentum in delivering the ambitions of the Best Start in Life programme. We welcome suggestions on the most effective procurement approach to secure a flexible, responsive model that ensures value for money and supports local authorities to drive system transformation and continuous improvement.

Planning Information

The Department will be hosting an online event which will take place on Monday 16th March 2026. If you are interested in joining this event, please use the link below to register via Jaggaer (see View Opportunities) https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html Please Note: • This notice is for market engagement and exploratory purposes and is not a call for competition. • The Department for Education reserves the right not to enter any formal processes or agreements. • Accordingly, the Department for Education will not be liable for any bid cost, expenditure, work, or effort incurred by a provider in acting based on this notice. We intend to share the questions and answers from the event with all potential suppliers. The opportunity is suitable for but not limited to SME's and VCSEs Consideration will also be given to consortia and collaborative bids from all forms of organisations.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060d7c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020524-2026
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

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,400,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Mar 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 May 20261 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2028 2-3 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
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

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
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

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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