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Short Breaks

Leicester City Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

28 Jul 2026 at 13:23

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Leicester City Council is exploring future short-break services for disabled children and young people in Leicester. The service would broaden the range of day, evening, overnight and weekend activities available to children and their families. Support could be delivered in a child’s own home, the home of an approved carer, or a residential or community setting. The procurement is for services, with the main classification covering daycare services. The Council is considering a provider framework alongside an enhanced online directory through its Local Offer. The wider purpose is to support children in need and their families through a continuum of short-break provision. This is relevant to organisations delivering children’s care, respite, activity, community, residential or supported services, including voluntary and community providers.

This process is at the planning stage and is not a call for competition. Leicester City Council is conducting a soft market test to understand how providers would work with it and to shape the future model; no decisions have yet been made. The engagement is expected to run from 28 July 2026 to 25 August 2026, with a future notice expected on 1 November 2026. The planned procurement is a single lot, with an estimated value of £2.5 million excluding VAT and £3 million including VAT. The anticipated contract period is 1 January 2027 to 1 January 2031. The Council expects to use a competitive flexible procedure under the light-touch regime, with a framework agreement. The procurement is above the relevant threshold.

The future model is likely to suit providers with practical experience supporting disabled children and young people, delivering safe and inclusive short breaks across daytime, evening, overnight and weekend settings. Relevant organisations may include children’s care and respite providers, approved-carer services, residential or community activity operators, and groups able to provide support in children’s homes. Providers should be prepared to explain how they would expand the range of local opportunities, work with the Council and present services through an online directory. The Council has indicated that the planned lot would be suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises. Organisations considering participation should use the market engagement to explain their delivery model, capacity, safeguarding approach and ability to work within a provider framework.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Short Breaks

Notice Description

THIS IS NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION - Leicester City Council is undertaking a Soft Market Test to understand how providers would like to work with the Council to improve the range of short break opportunities available for disabled children and young people. we are exploring the introduction of a Provider Framework alongside an enhanced online directory through the Local Offer. No decisions have yet been made, and this engagement is intended to help shape the future model. Short breaks are part of a continuum of services which support children in need and their families. They include the provision of day, evening, overnight and weekend activities for the child or young person, and can take place in the child's own home, the home of an approved carer, or in a residential or community setting. The soft market test will be live from 28th July 2026 to 25th August 2026

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d539
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071212-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85312100 - Daycare services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Nov 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 1 Jan 2031 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Leicester City 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
LEICESTER
Postcode
LE1 1FZ
Postcode Area
Leicester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF21 Leicester
Delivery Location
TLF21 Leicester
Local Authority
Leicester
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Leicester South

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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