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Holistic Support Services for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) in Highland

The Highland Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

15 Sep 2026 at 10:08

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Highland Council intends to commission holistic support services for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children referred through the National Transfer Scheme and for children arriving spontaneously in the Highland area. The service will provide social work and welfare support, helping young people who may have experienced displacement, trauma, loss and uncertainty to live safely and successfully in local communities while progressing through the asylum and immigration process. Its purpose is to promote safety, stability, wellbeing, integration, independence and positive outcomes. This is a children’s social care service delivered across the whole Highland Council geographical area, with the Council as the buying organisation. The work falls within health and social work services, including welfare and social work services for children and young people without accommodation.

This is a planned procurement at the market-consultation stage, not a call for competition. The Council expects an initial two-year contract from April 2027 to March 2029, with options for yearly extensions of up to a further three years, potentially taking delivery to March 2032. The estimated total value is £3.6 million including the stated contract scope, although the Council says the value and indicative timetable may change. Interested organisations are asked to submit a response of no more than 800 words describing how they would intend to deliver the service, by 5pm on 7 October 2026. The Council estimated that a subsequent tender process could begin in the second half of October 2026, subject to funding and market consultation.

This will suit organisations experienced in supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people with complex needs, including those affected by displacement, trauma, loss and uncertainty. Relevant providers are likely to need the capacity to deliver consistent support across communities throughout Highland, promote safety and wellbeing, and help young people develop stability, independence and positive outcomes. Experience of working with children during asylum and immigration processes, supporting integration into local communities, and coordinating welfare or social work services would be directly relevant. The Council is seeking market responses that explain a practical approach to delivering the holistic service, so prospective providers should prepare a concise service model addressing the requirements in the Summary of Requirement before any later competitive procurement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Holistic Support Services for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) in Highland

Notice Description

The Highland Council are looking to notify the market of their intention to commission a holistic support service for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) referred through the National Transfer Scheme (NTS) and those arriving spontaneously within the Highland area. It is anticipated that the initial contract length will be two years (April 2027 - March 2029) with additional options to extend the contract on a yearly basis for up a further three years (March 2032). Funding will be provided through the UK Government's funding arrangements and the Council's ability to exercise any extension option will be dependent on the continuation of this funding supply.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Highland Council are looking to notify the market of their intention to commission a holistic support service for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) referred through the National Transfer Scheme (NTS) and those arriving spontaneously within the Highland area. The service will promote safety, stability, wellbeing, integration, independence and positive outcomes for young people who may have experienced displacement, trauma, loss and uncertainty. The service will support UASC to live safely and successfully within local communities across Highland while progressing through the asylum and immigration process. Organisations wishing to express an interest are invited to submit a response to the Summary of Requirement, setting out how they would propose to deliver the service and addressing the questions contained within that document. Responses should be provided in a word-processed document and be no longer than 800 words (Arial, size 11). Responses must be submitted no later than 5.00 pm on Wednesday 7 October 2026. Submission details are provided within the Summary of Requirement document. Any subsequent procurement process will be notified through Public Contracts Scotland and conducted through Public Contracts Scotland-Tender (PCS-T). At this stage it is estimated that a tender process could commence during the second half of October 2026. Please note that this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is being issued for market consultation purposes only and that the content of this Notice, including the estimated contract value and indicative contract timelines, is subject to change. Additional information: 1. Summary of Requirement is enclosed. 2. Potential interested parties are requested to note their interest in line with the instructions contained in the Summary of Requirement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f9c2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087146-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning 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

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

85312000 - Social work services without accommodation

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,600,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Sep 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
21 Oct 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
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
The Highland 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
INVERNESS
Postcode
IV3 5NX
Postcode Area
Inverness
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM2 Highlands and Islands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM20 Highlands and Islands
Delivery Location
TLM6 Highlands and Islands
Local Authority
Highland
Electoral Ward
Inverness West
Westminster Constituency
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

Further Information

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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