Tender

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Children's Advocacy and Independent Visitors Service

Swindon Borough Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

04 Sep 2026 at 11:54

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

23 Apr 2026 at 12:35

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Swindon Borough Council is procuring a single-supplier Children’s Advocacy and Independent Visitors Service. The service will support children and young people to understand their rights, express their wishes and feelings, raise concerns or complaints, and participate meaningfully in decisions affecting them. Advocacy work will cover statutory and non-statutory processes, while Independent Visitors will provide Children We Care For with trained volunteers offering consistent, trusted relationships, guidance and positive experiences outside their care arrangements. The requirement includes 1,200 advocacy hours and maintaining 18 Independent Visitor relationships at any one time. It is a children’s rights, advocacy, guidance and counselling service, delivered in Swindon. The procurement is for services and is subject to the light-touch regime. The council is the buyer and commissioning authority.

The procurement has reached tender: the council invited suppliers to participate through an open competitive flexible procedure, with an accelerated timetable justified by the light-touch contract. Conditions of Participation were due by 25 September 2026 at 17:00 UK time, enquiries closed on 18 September 2026 at 12:00 UK time, and the expression-of-interest deadline was 25 September 2026 at 17:00 UK time. The anticipated Invitation to Tender issue date was 9 October 2026, with award decision due by 9 October 2026. The contract is scheduled to run from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030, with two possible 12-month extensions to 31 March 2032. Estimated spend is £359,100 for three years and £598,500 for five years, or £718,200 including gross amounts. Price carries 30%; quality criteria cover service models, mobilisation, social value, promotion and collaboration.

This opportunity suits an established provider of children’s advocacy and Independent Visitor services with suitably qualified and experienced staff, strong understanding of children’s rights and safeguarding, and the capacity to deliver both elements through one service. Bidders need to demonstrate credible advocacy arrangements for children and young people navigating statutory and non-statutory systems, alongside the ability to recruit, train, support and retain Independent Visitors who can build long-term trusted relationships. The service model must manage advocacy demand, maintain 18 relationships at a time and mobilise effectively, including handling open cases. Evaluation gives substantial weight to delivery quality, mobilisation, awareness and promotion, collaborative working and social value, so providers will need practical partnership arrangements and evidence of effective engagement. TUPE applies, making workforce-transfer planning relevant to incoming suppliers. Electronic responses in English are permitted.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Children's Advocacy and Independent Visitors Service

Notice Description

Swindon Borough Council invites expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced service providers for the provision of statutory, Children's Advocacy and Independent Visitor Services. Project Description The Council is seeking to award a single supplier, with a contract to provide CHILDREN'S Advocacy and Independent Visitor services (1200 advocacy hours and maintaining 18 IV relationships at any-one time). This requirement will not be divided into 'Lots'. TUPE does apply. Swindon Borough Council is seeking to commission a Children's Advocacy and Independent Visitor Service to support children and young people to have their voices heard, understand their rights, and meaningfully participate in decisions that affect their lives. Children's Advocacy is a rights-based service that places the voice, wishes and feelings of the child or young person at the centre of decision-making. The service provides independent support to help children and young people understand their rights, navigate complex systems, raise concerns or complaints, and communicate what matters to them. Advocates work alongside children and young people to ensure their views are heard and represented within statutory and non-statutory processes. Independent Visitors provide Children We Care For (Children Looked After) with access to an independent, trained volunteer who develops a consistent, long-term and trusted relationship with them. Independent Visitors offer support, guidance and positive experiences outside of the child's care arrangements, helping to promote confidence, resilience, wellbeing and a sense of belonging. The initial contract term will be for 36 months with an option to extend for a further 24 months in 12-month increments (2 periods of 12 months) for a potential total contract term of 5 years as stated in the ITT documents. Estimated contract spend is PS359,100 across the initial 3-year contract term and PS598,500 across the potential total 5-year contract term.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The option to extend for a maximum of 24 months shall be in 12-month increments (2 periods of 12 months).

Planning Information

Engagement Process Description DN814029 To participate in the Preliminary Market Engagement Suppliers will need to Register as a Supplier with ProContract, www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk, then Register an Interest before obtaining access to the Preliminary Market Engagement documents. Responses to the Preliminary Market Engagement Questionnaire are required to be submitted no later than 15th May 2026, 17:00 hrs UK Local time via ProContract tender portal - https://www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk/

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-068987
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083846-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85312300 - Guidance and counselling services

85312310 - Guidance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£598,500 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£598,500 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 years
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
Swindon Borough 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
SWINDON
Postcode
SN1 2JH
Postcode Area
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
TLK14 Swindon
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Eastcott
Westminster Constituency
Swindon South

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...