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Supported Internship Programme for Care Leavers

NHS England

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

01 Sep 2026 at 14:08

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

21 Aug 2026 at 15:59

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

03 Aug 2026 at 14:35

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

03 Aug 2026 at 12:41

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS England is procuring a delivery partner or consortium for a Supported Internship Programme for care-experienced young people. The service will pilot paid, supported internships using NHS organisations as work-placement hosts, helping participants who are furthest from education, employment or training. The provider will coach and mentor young people, work with local organisations to design recruitment, train NHS line managers and support delivery of the pilot. The programme is intended for 18 to 25-year-olds who have the right to work in the UK and meet the eligibility criteria in the procurement specification. It will recruit 350 participants for a randomised controlled trial, with intervention and control groups, across Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside, and/or Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country. The service category is education and training.

The process has reached tender: NHS England invited offers through an open procedure under the light-touch regime. It is one lot, with an estimated value of £1,500,000 including tax. Completed tender submissions were due by 12:00 midday on 21 September 2026, and clarification questions were due by 12:00 midday on 9 September 2026. Bids are submitted electronically through the NHS e-tendering portal, in English. The intended contract period is 29 October 2026 to 31 March 2029, with the award decision period scheduled to end on 9 October 2026. Evaluation gives 60% to technical quality, 10% to social value and 30% to the commercial offer. The lot is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

This opportunity suits organisations that deliver employability, supported internship, youth or care-leaver services, particularly those able to work with young people who are economically inactive and furthest from work, education or training. Strong providers will have a demonstrable track record of coaching, mentoring and supporting care leavers, alongside the ability to build trusted relationships with NHS organisations and local partners. The requirement calls for practical recruitment design, participant support, line-manager training and coordination of work placements. Experience of designing or delivering randomised controlled trials, managing intervention and control groups, and communicating appropriately with young people will be advantageous. A consortium could combine specialist youth support, evaluation, recruitment, training and regional delivery capabilities across the named West Midlands and North West areas.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Supported Internship Programme for Care Leavers

Notice Description

NHS England is seeking a delivery partner (or consortium) to pilot a bespoke supported paid internship for care-experienced young people, using NHS organisations to provide work placements. The programme is intended to support care-experienced young people aged 18 to 25 who are furthest from education, employment or training and have the right to work in the UK. Participants will be recruited in accordance with the eligibility criteria set out in the procurement specification. The deadline for submission of completed ITT submissions is 21st September 2026 at 12:00pm (midday). Late submissions will not be accepted therefore, please submit in good time prior to the deadline date and time. The Contracting Authority requests that all communications are channelled through the e-portal system and not with the Contracting Authority itself other than as expressly permitted within this ITT. Further information relating to this project can be found on the NHSE e-tendering portal at the link below. All clarification questions and submission bids must be received via this portal only. Registration is free of charge. https://health-family-contract-search.secure.force.com/?SearchType=Projects

Planning Information

Pilot a bespoke supported paid internship for care leavers furthest away from employment, using NHS organisations to provide work placements. It will target care leavers aged 16-25 who are classed as economically inactive, have a right to work in the UK and are reliant on universal credit/legacy benefits. Using funding allocated by DHSC to procure a delivery partner (or consortium) with demonstrable track record of coaching, mentoring and supporting care leavers and local organisations to design recruitment of interns, train line managers and pilot a cohort. The delivery partner will have access to care experienced young people and be able to mobilise partnerships, recruiting 350 eligible participants into an NHS-hosted Supported Internship Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) (175 intervention; 175 control) across Greater Manchester, Cheshire & Merseyside and/or Birmingham, Solihull & Black Country. Prior experience of RCT work and associated communications with young people will be advantageous.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d9d9
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082683-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Sep 2026Today
Submission Deadline
21 Sep 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
31 Aug 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
29 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS England
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
SE1 8UG
Postcode Area
South East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI45 Lambeth
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Lambeth
Electoral Ward
Waterloo & South Bank
Westminster Constituency
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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