Notice Information
Notice Title
Newham Best Start Family Hubs Befriending, Navigation and Peer Support Service
Notice Description
The London Borough of Newham is looking to commission a new Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS)-led befriending and navigation service, to complement our existing Best Start Family Hubs offer. This service should be flexible and accessible, supporting Newham families from pregnancy to age five. We are particularly interested in commissioning a model with multi-channel access, for instance with a telephone helpline and additional options such as text, WhatsApp, web-based or other virtual channels. At this stage, we want to test the market on a model that could act as a trusted first point of contact for parents and carers, particularly during out of hours periods such as evenings and weekends when other services are less available. The intention is that the service would combine informal emotional support, 'a listening ear', with practical advice, including signposting and referrals. The overall aim is to reduce isolation, build parental confidence, engage seldom heard groups, and support families to navigate local services and systems. This service will utilise a peer support approach that reflects Newham's diverse communities, recruiting and training local volunteers to deliver elements of the offer. We would expect the service to connect closely into the Best Start Family Hubs network, enabling warm handovers and ongoing light-touch support until families are successfully linked into wider provision. Alongside the core phone offer, we are also interested in how providers might use outreach, community engagement and digital channels to extend reach, particularly to underrepresented groups who may not access traditional services. Through this market engagement, we are looking to shape a realistic and deliverable approach that will support vulnerable families in Newham. Feedback will be used to directly inform the service design and subsequent service specification. For access to the event please register via the below link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/newham-best-start-family-hubs-befriending-service-market-engagement-tickets-1994028739638
Planning Information
The Procurement Process will be undertaken using the Procurement Act 2023 regulations. Procurement Policy Note 005 applies as the tender will be reserved for Small Medium Enterprise (SME) organisations and Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE). Organisations will need to be registered in England for this procurement. We welcome organisations participation in this event and for them to bring their knowledge and expertise for the ongoing development of the service and the procurement.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-06cdab
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067671-2026
- 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
-
- CPV Codes
85300000 - Social work and related services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £450,000 £100K-£500K
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 17 Jul 20262 weeks ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- 11 Aug 20265 days to go
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 1 Dec 2026 - 30 Nov 2028 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
- LONDON BOROUGH OF NEWHAM
- Contact Name
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Email
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Phone
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Buyer Location
- Locality
- LONDON
- Postcode
- E16 2QU
- Post Town
- East London
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLI London
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLI4 Inner London - East
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLI41 Hackney and Newham
- Delivery Location
- TLI41 Hackney and Newham
-
- Local Authority
- Newham
- Electoral Ward
- Royal Albert
- Westminster Constituency
- West Ham and Beckton
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067671-2026
17th July 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
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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