Notice Information
Notice Title
National Advocacy Information Advice and Safety Net Service. - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Notice Description
The Department for Education is seeking market feedback on the re-procurement of a national advocacy information, advice and safety net service for looked-after children, care leavers, children in need, and other eligible children and young people in England. The service will provide clear, child-friendly information on advocacy rights; national multichannel advice and signposting; and a safety net advocacy function where local provision is unavailable, unreasonably delayed or denied. The provider will also deliver national intelligence on access, waiting times and systemic barriers; maintain a secure CRM and digital platform; meet safeguarding and data security requirements; and ensure service continuity, workforce capacity and robust reporting and security requirements.
Planning Information
The Department for Education is undertaking preliminary market engagement to gather views on the proposed scope, delivery model, digital requirements, and commercial approach for the reprocured national advocacy information, advice and safety net service. Supplier experience and capability (indicative) To support this engagement, the Department would be interested in feedback from suppliers with experience in: • delivering national or regional advocacy, information or advice services. • supporting children in care, care leavers, and vulnerable young people. • providing independent advocacy in statutory or regulated contexts. • operating helplines, digital triage services, or online advice platforms. • safeguarding‑related or social‑care‑related service delivery. These capability areas are indicative and do not constitute formal selection or evaluation criteria. Feedback from the market will be taken into consideration to help shape the departments proposed scope to ensure that the offer meets the sector’s needs. The Department will be holding an initial supplier engagement event on Thursday 5th March from 11am to 12pm. This will be an online event hosted through Microsoft Teams platform. Deadline for registering for the event on 5th March is 12:00 noon Tuesday 3rd March via Jaggaer. The event will be accessible via the ‘View Opportunities’ link on the Jaggaer e-Tendering portal Homepage. Select the Opportunity Notice for ‘National Advocacy Information, Advice and Safety Net Service- SSQ' and this will take you directly to the registration page. This event is open to all potential suppliers, regardless of previous engagement with the Department. The event will provide an overview of the National Advocacy Information, Advice and Safety Net Service and outline and upcoming market engagement activities scheduled shortly afterwards. Following the event, suppliers will be invited to complete a questionnaire to register for the 1-2-1 sessions which will be held between 9th and 13th March 2026. Deadlines for registration for 1-2-1 events will be noted via the jaggaer messaging system or via the event on 5th March 2026. All correspondence will be shared via Jaggaer. Important notice: This notice: • Does not signify the commencement of a competitive procurement • Does not constitute any commitment by the Department for Education to procure services • Does not create any obligation on the Department 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 be given to consortia and collaborative bids from all forms of organisations. Any funding estimates referenced are indicative only and subject to change. The Department makes no commitment at this stage to the final scope or funding envelope of any future contractual activity.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-065951
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015701-2026
- 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
71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
85 - Health and social work services
-
- CPV Codes
71356300 - Technical support services
85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people
85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £540,000 £500K-£1M
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 20 Feb 20262 days ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- 13 Apr 20262 months to go
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 30 Sep 2026 - 30 Sep 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
- DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION
- Contact Name
- Not specified
- Contact Email
- vsh.cin@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
- TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), 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
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015701-2026
20th February 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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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