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Short Breaks

Leicester City Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

28 Jul 2026 at 16:22

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Leicester City Council is exploring services that expand short-break opportunities for disabled children and young people in Leicester. The scope covers day, evening, overnight and weekend activities, delivered in a child or young person’s own home, an approved carer’s home, or residential and community settings. The service category is children’s daycare and short-break support (CPV 85312100). The council is considering a provider framework alongside an enhanced online directory through its Local Offer. Short breaks form part of support for children in need and their families. This is a council-led service model intended to broaden the range of available provision and improve how families find suitable opportunities.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is not a call for competition. Leicester City Council is running a Soft Market Test, with engagement scheduled to 25 August 2026, to understand how providers would work with it and help shape the future model. The council expects to publish a subsequent notice on 1 November 2026. It is considering a light-touch services procedure involving a provider framework. The planned contract period is 1 January 2027 to 1 January 2031. The estimated value is £2.5 million excluding VAT, or £3 million including VAT. One planned lot covers the service, with a four-year period indicated.

The engagement is likely to suit organisations already providing short breaks, respite, childcare, daycare, or community activities for disabled children and young people. Relevant providers may include small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community or social enterprises, which the council has identified as suitable for the planned lot. Strong candidates will be able to offer safe, reliable activities across day, evening, overnight and weekend periods, and work across home, approved-carer, residential or community settings. Providers should be prepared to discuss how they could participate in a future framework and how their services could be presented through the Local Offer directory. This stage is useful for shaping the model and preparing for a later procurement.

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

Planning Information

Soft Market Test

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d5b2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071393-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
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
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
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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