Notice Information
Notice Title
Perceptions of Practice Placements on Social Work Courses
Notice Description
Social Work England is commissioning independent research to strengthen its understanding of practice-based learning across qualifying routes into social work in England. This work supports Social Work England's role as the regulator of social work education and training, and will inform future regulatory standards, guidance and quality assurance activity. The requirement is for the design and delivery of a mixed-methods research study exploring perceptions and experiences of practice-based learning, including statutory and non-statutory placements. The research will examine issues of placement quality, placement sufficiency and variation across regions, qualifying routes and workforce contexts. The supplier will be expected to engage with a range of stakeholders, which may include education providers, employers, practice educators, placement providers and newly qualified social workers. Research activity is likely to include a combination of desk-based review and primary research methods such as surveys, interviews, focus groups and/or case studies. Key outputs will include a midpoint findings presentation, a final written report suitable for publication, and a final presentation of findings. The supplier must ensure proportionate but robust research governance, inclusive methods, and compliance with ethical standards and UK GDPR. The contract is expected to commence on 19 June 2026 and conclude by 19 December 2026. The estimated value of the contract is PS50,000. Full technical requirements are set out in the specification.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-067fc7
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032722-2026
- Current Stage
- Tender
- All Stages
- 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
73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
80 - Education and training services
-
- CPV Codes
73110000 - Research services
73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
80300000 - Higher education services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £41,666 Under £100K
- Lots Value
- £41,666 Under £100K
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 10 Apr 20262 days ago
- Submission Deadline
- 6 May 20264 weeks to go
- Future Notice Date
- Not specified
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 18 Jun 2026 - 19 Dec 2026 6-12 months
- 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
- SOCIAL WORK ENGLAND
- Contact Name
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Email
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Phone
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Buyer Location
- Locality
- SHEFFIELD
- Postcode
- S3 8JY
- Post Town
- Sheffield
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLE3 South Yorkshire
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLE32 Sheffield
- 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
- Sheffield
- Electoral Ward
- City
- Westminster Constituency
- Sheffield Central
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032722-2026
10th April 2026 - Tender 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.
{
"tag": [
"compiled"
],
"id": "ocds-h6vhtk-067fc7-2026-04-10T11:16:49+01:00",
"date": "2026-04-10T11:16:49+01:00",
"ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-067fc7",
"initiationType": "tender",
"parties": [
{
"id": "GB-PPON-PZYZ-1666-HXBQ",
"name": "Social Work England",
"identifier": {
"scheme": "GB-PPON",
"id": "PZYZ-1666-HXBQ"
},
"address": {
"streetAddress": "1 North Bank, Blonk Street",
"locality": "Sheffield",
"postalCode": "S3 8JY",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom",
"region": "UKE32"
},
"contactPoint": {
"name": "Andrew Bailey",
"email": "commercial.team@socialworkengland.org.uk"
},
"roles": [
"buyer"
],
"details": {
"classifications": [
{
"id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
"scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
"description": "Public authority - central government"
}
]
}
}
],
"buyer": {
"id": "GB-PPON-PZYZ-1666-HXBQ",
"name": "Social Work England"
},
"tender": {
"id": "SWE10611",
"legalBasis": {
"id": "2023/54",
"scheme": "UKPGA",
"uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
},
"title": "Perceptions of Practice Placements on Social Work Courses",
"description": "Social Work England is commissioning independent research to strengthen its understanding of practice-based learning across qualifying routes into social work in England. This work supports Social Work England's role as the regulator of social work education and training, and will inform future regulatory standards, guidance and quality assurance activity. The requirement is for the design and delivery of a mixed-methods research study exploring perceptions and experiences of practice-based learning, including statutory and non-statutory placements. The research will examine issues of placement quality, placement sufficiency and variation across regions, qualifying routes and workforce contexts. The supplier will be expected to engage with a range of stakeholders, which may include education providers, employers, practice educators, placement providers and newly qualified social workers. Research activity is likely to include a combination of desk-based review and primary research methods such as surveys, interviews, focus groups and/or case studies. Key outputs will include a midpoint findings presentation, a final written report suitable for publication, and a final presentation of findings. The supplier must ensure proportionate but robust research governance, inclusive methods, and compliance with ethical standards and UK GDPR. The contract is expected to commence on 19 June 2026 and conclude by 19 December 2026. The estimated value of the contract is PS50,000. Full technical requirements are set out in the specification.",
"status": "active",
"items": [
{
"id": "1",
"additionalClassifications": [
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "73110000",
"description": "Research services"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "73200000",
"description": "Research and development consultancy services"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "80300000",
"description": "Higher education services"
}
],
"deliveryAddresses": [
{
"region": "UKC",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKD",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKE",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKF",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKG",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKH",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKI",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKJ",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKK",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
}
],
"relatedLot": "1"
}
],
"value": {
"amountGross": 50000,
"amount": 41666.67,
"currency": "GBP"
},
"procurementMethod": "open",
"procurementMethodDetails": "Below threshold - open competition",
"mainProcurementCategory": "services",
"aboveThreshold": false,
"submissionMethodDetails": "https://in-tendhost.co.uk/socialworkengland/aspx/Home All submissions must be made through the Social Work England In-Tend e-procurement portal.",
"submissionTerms": {
"electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed"
},
"tenderPeriod": {
"endDate": "2026-05-06T17:00:00+01:00"
},
"enquiryPeriod": {
"endDate": "2026-04-29T17:00:00+01:00"
},
"lots": [
{
"id": "1",
"status": "active",
"value": {
"amountGross": 50000,
"amount": 41666.67,
"currency": "GBP"
},
"suitability": {
"sme": true,
"vcse": true
},
"contractPeriod": {
"startDate": "2026-06-19T00:00:00+01:00",
"endDate": "2026-12-19T23:59:59Z"
},
"awardCriteria": {
"description": "The contract will be awarded on the basis of the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT), using a 70% quality and 30% price evaluation model. Quality will be assessed through bidders' written responses to the Quality Evaluation Questionnaire and will account for 70% of the total tender score. Evaluation will consider: the bidder's understanding of Social Work England's regulatory role and the purpose of the research; the appropriateness, robustness and feasibility of the proposed research methodology in addressing the specified workstreams; the quality of project management, delivery plan and risk management; relevant experience, capability and expertise of the proposed team; the approach to data collection, processing, ethics, inclusivity and data protection; and; the quality, accessibility and suitability of proposed reporting and outputs. A minimum overall quality threshold of 50% applies. Any tender failing to meet this threshold will be excluded from further consideration. Price will account for 30% of the total tender score and will be evaluated based on the total contract price inclusive of VAT, as submitted in the Pricing Schedule. The price score will be calculated using the following formula: (lowest total cost / bidder's total cost) x 30. The final award decision will be based on the combined quality and price score, with the highest scoring tender recommended for award, subject to completion of due diligence and contract execution."
}
}
],
"documents": [
{
"id": "L-1",
"documentType": "biddingDocuments",
"url": "https://in-tendhost.co.uk/socialworkengland/aspx/Home"
},
{
"id": "L-2",
"documentType": "technicalSpecifications",
"url": "https://in-tendhost.co.uk/socialworkengland/aspx/Home"
},
{
"id": "032722-2026",
"documentType": "tenderNotice",
"noticeType": "UK4",
"description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
"url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032722-2026",
"datePublished": "2026-04-10T11:16:49+01:00",
"format": "text/html"
}
]
},
"language": "en"
}