Planning

SOFT MARKET TEST FOR CO-PRODUCTION CONTRACTS WITHIN ADULT SOCIAL CARE

CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

17 Apr 2026 at 10:10

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cambridgeshire County Council is initiating a public procurement process as part of its adult social care strategy in the UK, specifically located in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. The current stage of this procurement is planning, with a focus on engaging potential providers through a Soft Market Test (SMT) for co-production contracts within adult social care. This engagement covers various service categories such as learning disabilities, mental health, elderly care, and more. Key timeline includes a market engagement due by 15th May 2026, with a tender communication anticipated from 1st February 2027, eventually leading to contract commencement on 1st July 2027. The procurement process follows the light-touch regime and involves services valued at approximately £600,000 to £720,000 GBP, above the threshold.

This tender provides abundant opportunities for business growth, particularly for SMEs and VCSEs interested in health and social work services. Businesses that specialise in creating tailored social care solutions and have experience working with diverse needs in the adult social care sector stand to benefit significantly. Engaging in this tender will enable such entities to collaborate with the Council to enhance service provision based on direct feedback from people with lived experiences, potentially influencing the shaping of future services within the region. An open window for renewal extends the potential for long-term engagements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

SOFT MARKET TEST FOR CO-PRODUCTION CONTRACTS WITHIN ADULT SOCIAL CARE

Notice Description

This Soft Market Test (SMT) seeks to engage the provider market in Cambridgeshire in developing future co-production services for people who use adult social care for the following groups: * Learning Disability / Autism * Mental Health * Older People * Physical Disability * Sensory Impairment * Unpaid Carers * Drugs & alcohol Cambridgeshire County Council wants providers to help us work with people with lived experience of adult social care to ensure their voices are heard to shape services to best meet needs.

Planning Information

We have provided an SMT document on ProContract for potential providers to read through. This can be found here by registering your interest and navigating to the project dashboard: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=5a8e5d32-3a3a-f111-813c-005056b64545 Within the SMT document there is a link to a Microsoft Forms document which we hope potential providers will complete in full. If there are any questions relating to this market engagement, please could they be submitted via the ProContract messaging function by the 8th May 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-068508
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035078-2026
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

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£600,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Apr 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Feb 202710 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Jun 2027 - 30 Jun 2029 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
CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY 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
HUNTINGDON
Postcode
PE28 4YE
Post Town
Peterborough
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH42 Cambridgeshire CC
Delivery Location
TLH12 Cambridgeshire CC
Local Authority
Huntingdonshire
Electoral Ward
The Stukeleys
Westminster Constituency
Huntingdon

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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