Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

CONTRACT FOR THE PROVISION OF PROVISION OF SELECT LIST OF PROVIDERS FOR RECRUITMENT SUPPORT (PERMANENET STAFF FOR CHILDRENS HOMES MANAGEMENT ROLES)

Durham County Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

19 Aug 2026 at 16:54

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

24 Jun 2026 at 16:16

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Durham County Council procured specialist recruitment support for permanent management appointments in two areas: its community children’s homes and Aycliffe Secure Centre, a secure children’s home. The requirement covers recruitment services for permanent staff in children’s homes management roles, delivered for the Council in Durham. It is a public-sector service opportunity under the light-touch regime. The Council established a select list of recruitment providers, allowing it to draw on specialist suppliers for this defined requirement. The awarded providers include a mix of small and large recruitment businesses, indicating that the work is suited to firms with relevant public-sector recruitment capability and access to candidates for senior children’s social care and residential care management positions.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a below-threshold open competition. One lot was evaluated against contract-specific essential criteria on a pass/fail basis. Four bids reached the final stage, including three from SMEs. Four active awards were made on 24 July 2026: £200,000 net (£240,000 gross) each to 365 HRC, BS Project Services Limited, Sanctuary Personnel Limited and Dovetail and Slate Limited. Each award covers recruitment services in Durham. The awarded contract period is 1 September 2026 to 31 July 2028, with two possible 12-month extensions, subject to continuing need, performance, funding and commissioner approval, and a maximum extent date of 31 July 2030. Contract signature was scheduled for 24 August 2026.

This award demonstrates established demand from Durham County Council for specialist recruitment of permanent managers in community children’s homes and a secure children’s home. Suppliers well placed for a future requirement would need demonstrable experience recruiting senior professionals in children’s social care, residential childcare or closely related regulated care settings, together with access to suitable candidates and the ability to support permanent appointments. Credibility would also require an understanding of the operational and safeguarding demands of children’s homes and secure accommodation, alongside a reliable recruitment delivery model for a public authority. The competition attracted four final-stage bidders, three of them SMEs, suggesting that specialist independent recruitment firms can compete alongside larger providers when they can evidence the essential contract-specific requirements.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

CONTRACT FOR THE PROVISION OF PROVISION OF SELECT LIST OF PROVIDERS FOR RECRUITMENT SUPPORT (PERMANENET STAFF FOR CHILDRENS HOMES MANAGEMENT ROLES)

Notice Description

This contract is for specialist recruitment support for the permanent appointment of employees at management levels covering two key areas within the Council, the Children's Homes in the community and Aycliffe Secure Centre (Secure Children's Home).

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: 2 periods of 12 months from the contract end date subject to performance, funding and commissioner approval.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06bc7f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079200-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79600000 - Recruitment services

79611000 - Job search services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£400,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£400,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£200,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
23 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
24 Jul 20261 months ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Jul 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Durham 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
DURHAM
Postcode
DH1 5WB
Postcode Area
Durham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC41 Durham
Delivery Location
TLC14 Durham
Local Authority
County Durham
Electoral Ward
Framwellgate & Newton Hall
Westminster Constituency
City of Durham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
4
Supplier Names

365 HRC

BS PROJECT SERVICES LIMITED

DOVETAIL AND SLATE LIMITED

SANCTUARY PERSONNEL LIMITED

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...