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Direct award for the provision of independent advice and quality assurance to the OAWY Adoption Panel

Leeds City Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

17 Aug 2026 at 14:44

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Leeds City Council procured independent advice and quality assurance services for the OAWY Adoption Panel. The work supports the Panel by providing independent professional advice and checking that adoption paperwork meets regulatory requirements, helping maintain high standards and support effective decision-making. This is a specialist public-sector service combining consultancy with welfare-related expertise. Delivery is for Leeds City Council and its adoption-panel functions in Leeds. The requirement is relevant to consultancies and specialist advisers experienced in adoption services, panel support, regulatory compliance, quality assurance and the review of statutory or casework documentation. It may also suit organisations able to provide independent scrutiny of decisions and paperwork within regulated children’s social care or adoption settings.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to Highton Consultancy LTD on 17 August 2026. Leeds City Council used a direct award below the threshold without competition, under the light-touch regime. The award covers one lot and the contract is active. The contract was signed on 17 August 2026 and runs from 17 August 2026 to 31 March 2028, with a maximum extent to 31 March 2030 and a stated 24-month renewal option. Its value is £84,000 excluding VAT, or £100,800 including VAT. The award is for services classified as design consultancy and welfare services not delivered through residential institutions. The published outcome identifies Highton Consultancy LTD as the selected supplier.

This award shows Leeds City Council’s demand for independent specialist support to an adoption panel, particularly advice that strengthens decision-making and quality assurance. A credible future competitor would need demonstrable expertise in adoption or related children’s social care services, understanding of regulatory requirements, and the ability to review casework paperwork rigorously and independently. It would also need to provide clear, reliable advice to a formal panel and identify whether documentation supports effective decisions and meets required standards. The selected supplier is an SME, indicating that the requirement can be delivered by a focused specialist consultancy rather than only by a large national provider. Relevant firms should be able to evidence comparable regulated-sector assignments, strong written analysis and effective quality-control processes.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Direct award for the provision of independent advice and quality assurance to the OAWY Adoption Panel

Notice Description

Directly award a contract to Highton Consultancy for the for the provision of independent advice and quality assurance to the OAWY Adoption Panel. This contract will provide further independent advice and quality assurance to the Panel, ensuring the paperwork meets the regulatory requirements to maintain high standards to enable effective decision making.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e5b8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078165-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

79415200 - Design consultancy services

85312400 - Welfare services not delivered through residential institutions

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£84,000 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
17 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
17 Aug 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Leeds 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
LEEDS
Postcode
LS1 1UR
Postcode Area
Leeds
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE4 West Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE42 Leeds
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Leeds
Electoral Ward
Little London & Woodhouse
Westminster Constituency
Leeds Central and Headingley

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Highton Consultancy LTD

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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