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DHSC: ASC: Leadership Development Programme for new and aspiring DASS

Department of Health and Social Care

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

18 Sep 2026 at 14:13

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department of Health & Social Care is exploring a leadership development programme for new and aspiring Directors of Adult Social Services (DASS). This is a specialist training and adult social care service intended to build leadership capacity, confidence and capability across two participant streams: aspiring DASSs and people recently appointed to the role. The programme is expected to support up to 50 participants and help leaders drive sustainable improvement in councils, improve retention in the DASS role and increase the number of councils rated Good or Outstanding in the Care Quality Commission’s local authority adult social care assessments. Delivery is intended across England, covering the North East, North West, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London and the South West.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is currently preliminary market engagement, not a competition or invitation to tender. DHSC expects to use the GCA Learning and Training Services Dynamic Purchasing System, RM6219, as its route to market; suppliers wishing to participate in a future tender should register on that system and meet its relevant filters. The planned procurement has one lot and an estimated value of up to £909,000 excluding VAT, or £1,090,800 including VAT. The proposed contract term is 15 months, expected to start on 4 January 2027 and end on 31 March 2028, with evaluation concluding in March 2028. DHSC expects the next notice on 26 October 2026. Market feedback is requested by 17:00 on 2 October 2026.

This will suit leadership development, executive coaching, management training and adult social care improvement providers with experience supporting senior or aspiring local government social care leaders. Relevant suppliers should be able to design and mobilise a programme rapidly, deliver across two cohorts, and provide structured development for both people preparing to become DASSs and those newly in post. Strong understanding of adult social care reform, local authority operating environments, workforce retention and improvement activity will be important. Providers able to demonstrate measurable development outcomes and support strategic improvement in councils are likely to be well placed. The buyer is seeking broad market participation, including SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises, and will consider collaborative bids. Future participation will depend on registration and eligibility for the proposed dynamic purchasing system.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

DHSC: ASC: Leadership Development Programme for new and aspiring DASS

Notice Description

DHSC is undertaking preliminary market engagement to understand supplier interest, capability and capacity to deliver a Leadership Development Programme for new and aspiring Directors of Adult Social Services (DASS). This exercise gives potential bidders an opportunity to review the requirement and provide market feedback to help DHSC develop the final Invitation to Tender (ITT) fairly and transparently. The government recognises that its significant ambitions for adult social care reform and improvement will require strong leadership at local level. We need to ensure that new and aspiring DASSs are equipped with the confidence and capability to harness the benefits of reforms and to deliver improvements in outcomes for residents. In order to develop leadership capacity, support career progression and enable reform and improvement across adult social care, we are exploring a new leadership development programme for new and aspiring DASSs. The proposed Leadership Development Programme for adult social care aims to help develop adult social care leadership capacity and capability, specifically amongst those new to leadership. The programme should support up to 50 participants across two streams, one for aspiring DASSs and one for those recently appointed to the role. Its aims are to: * Rapidly equip a cohort of aspiring DASSs with the necessary capability and confidence to be exemplary leaders. * Support a cohort of new to post DASSs to develop their capability and confidence-contributing to improving attrition rates within the sector by helping DASSs remain in post for longer periods. * Support DASSs to drive sustainable, strategic improvement in councils. * Help to increase the number of councils rated as 'Good' and 'Outstanding' in the CQC's local authority adult social care assessments. Although this PME is being made available via the open market, DHSC currently expects to conduct the procurement through the GCA Learning and Training Services Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), RM6219. We have identified this as our proposed route to market due to the benefits it provides for both DHSC and potential bidders. Organisations wishing to participate in any tender which may follow this market engagement, should ensure they are registered on this DPS. If the DPS is used as the procurement strategy, only suppliers listed in the DPS according to the specified filters will receive an ITT. DHSC is also keen to maximise opportunities to participate in procurement for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs). Consideration will be given to collaborative bids. Contract Value: The estimated total value of the contract is up-to PS909,000 excluding VAT, PS1,090,800 including VAT. The funding is expected to be divided broadly equally between the two financial years, reflecting the substantial work required to develop and mobilise the programme rapidly during the final quarter of 2026/27 and to support delivery throughout 2027/28. Contract Term: A term of 15-months. The programme is expected to commence in January 2027, with programme evaluation to conclude in March 2028. There is not expected to be an option to extend at this stage. Disclaimers - this PME: * Does not signify the commencement of a competitive procurement. * Does not constitute any commitment by the Department of Health and Social Care to procure services. * Does not create any obligation on the Department. * Does not provide a competitive advantage to any suppliers engaging with DHSC at this early stage, and DHSC will ensure equal treatment of all interested parties at all times. Any funding estimates referenced are indicative only and subject to change. The Department makes no commitment at this stage to the final scope or funding envelope of any future contractual activity.

Planning Information

This is not a call for competition, but an opportunity to gather feedback to better understand market capabilities, develop the final specification, confirm the procurement strategy, encourage supplier engagement and identify any barriers. We are sharing programme aims with the market, alongside expected deliverables, to invite feedback from interested parties. Interested parties can access the relevant documentation via the Atamis system at https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome using the contract reference C470300. The completed questionnaire should be returned via email to ccsinbox@dhsc.gov.uk by no later than 17:00 on Friday 2nd October 2026. Responses should cite the subject reference “C470300 – PME Questionnaire – Leadership Development Programme for new and aspiring Directors of Adult Social Services”. The input by suppliers will help shape DHSC’s final approach. Alongside structured responses, the questionnaire will also allow suppliers to provide any additional information which they feel might be of value or to highlight any additional items that need to be taken into consideration by DHSC.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077585
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088724-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Dynamic
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

80 - Education and training services

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

80510000 - Specialist training services

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£909,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
26 Oct 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Jan 2027 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 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
Department of Health and Social Care
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
SW1H 0EU
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

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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