This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

02 Jul 2026 at 10:04

Summary of the contracting process

Medway Council, a sub-central government public authority located in Chatham, UK, is in the planning stage of a tender process to commission a Parenting Support Service. This procurement, valued at £500,000 (gross: £600,000) and classified under health and social work services, is part of the Best Start in Life programme, aiming to enhance early childhood development outcomes. An online Market Engagement Event is scheduled for 14th July 2026 via Microsoft Teams, providing an opportunity to discuss the service model, procurement process, and timelines. The contract is to commence on 1st December 2026 and will run until 31st March 2029, emphasising community outreach, home visiting support, and evidence-based interventions.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities for organisations experienced in delivering parenting support, early years, and family services. Ideal candidates include entities providing evidence-based parenting programmes, early help and family support, or home visiting services, as well as VCSE organisations focused on community outreach. Experienced providers with a background in perinatal mental health, early childhood development, or volunteer mobilisation are well-suited to compete. The service aims to integrate and enhance existing provisions for a cohesive support model, making it a vital opportunity for organisations aiming to expand their service offerings in the public sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Parenting Support Service

Notice Description

Medway Council is seeking to commission a Parenting Support Service as part of the Best Start in Life (BSiL) programme, aimed at improving outcomes for children in the early years. The overarching aim of the service is to provide accessible, evidence-based parenting support and training to families, with a particular focus on increasing the likelihood of children achieving a good level of development at the end of Reception. The service will deliver a blended model of universal and targeted support, combining community-based provision with more intensive home-based interventions. Delivery will include: *Community outreach and engagement, including regular stay-and-play sessions in wellbeing centres and other local venues *A visible presence at community events to promote access and engagement *Home visiting support, including both self-referral and Early Help pathways *Support for parents to address wider determinants of health, working in partnership with the wider BSiL network to reduce health inequalities *Early identification of perinatal mental health (PMH) and parent-infant relationship (PIR) needs, with appropriate signposting and referrals The service will also play a key role in building community capacity through: *Recruitment, training and coordination of volunteers to support home visiting and group-based interventions *Delivery (in partnership with Parenting Workers) of evidence-based interventions, such as Incredible Years or other approved programmes *Collaboration with Best Start in Life partners, including Best Start in Life Practitioners (BSIPs), to support families where there may be emerging SEND needs This service will replace and integrate elements of current provision, including the Universal Parenting Programme and volunteer-led home visiting services, creating a more cohesive and outcomes-focused model of support for families. *The Council is seeking a provider with the capability to deliver a high-quality, integrated service, working collaboratively across the system to improve early childhood outcomes and reduce inequalities.

Planning Information

Medway Council Public Health is preparing to commission a parenting service and is seeking to engage with the market ahead of the formal procurement process. We invite prospective providers to attend an online Market Engagement Event: •Date: Tuesday 14th July 2026 •Time: 13:00-14:00 •Location: Microsoft Teams - - Please copy and paste the following into your internet address bar, URL bar to join the meeting – Microsoft Teams meeting Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/398431779167120?p=wQrfTllK2yOwlkWOhc Purpose of the event: •Share an overview of the service model being commissioned •Outline the anticipated procurement process and indicative timelines. •Provide an opportunity for prospective providers to ask questions. •To seek feedback from the market to help shape the service model and specification •To highlight key considerations, including TUPE implications and service integration expectations •To outline the process of writing a successful tender Who should attend: Organisations with experience in delivering parenting support, early years and family services including: •Providers of evidence-based parenting programmes •Organisations delivering early help, family support, or home visiting services •VCSE organisations with experience of community outreach and volunteer-led provision •Providers with expertise in perinatal mental health, parent-infant relationships, or early childhood development •Experience recruiting, training and mobilising volunteers How to attend: Please confirm your attendance via the following Forms link. If you are unable to attend on the date but would like to know more please indicate this in the form- https://forms.office.com/e/N4mtDrF6Nb Please log into the meeting via the Teams link provided Important note: This event is for information and engagement purposes only. This event is subject to governance approval processes. Attendance does not confer any advantage in the subsequent procurement process.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c21d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062135-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

98 - Other community, social and personal services


CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

85323000 - Community health services

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Jul 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
14 Jul 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Dec 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MEDWAY 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
CHATHAM
Postcode
ME4 4TR
Post Town
Rochester
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ41 Medway
Delivery Location
TLJ41 Medway

Local Authority
Medway
Electoral Ward
Chatham Central & Brompton
Westminster Constituency
Rochester and Strood

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.

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