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Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme

Cumberland Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

30 Sep 2026 at 11:16

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

25 Sep 2026 at 08:03

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cumberland Council is planning to commission Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme activities and Short Breaks for children and young people with disabilities across Cumberland. The services are intended to provide holiday activities and food, alongside specialist short-break provision. The council is exploring a new approach to commissioning HAF activities from Summer 2027. Delivery is across Cumberland. This is a public service contract, covering health and social work services (CPV 85000000). The council is seeking views from existing and prospective providers to help shape future commissioning and payment arrangements, and is holding information sessions to explain changes to how organisations apply and use its procurement and commissioning systems.

This is at planning and pre-market engagement stage: Cumberland Council has set out an intention to procure, but has not invited tenders. It expects the new application process to begin in November 2026. Providers were asked to submit survey responses by 7 October 2026, with information sessions scheduled for 8 October and 3 November 2026. The Easter 2027 application process is expected to remain unchanged. The planned contract period is 1 April 2027 to 1 April 2029, with a possible extension to 1 April 2031. The procurement is presented as one lot. The council is consulting on future payment options and seeking feedback to develop a fair and practical commissioning approach; no award criteria or procurement method is set out at this stage.

The work is likely to suit organisations able to deliver holiday activities and food for children and young people, as well as providers of short breaks for children and young people with disabilities. Cumberland Council is seeking a broad range of potential providers, including voluntary and community groups, charities, sports clubs, arts and leisure providers, and specialist disability-support organisations. Both existing providers and organisations entering this market for the first time are invited to take part in the preparatory engagement. Small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises are considered suitable. Providers may use the planned information sessions to understand how to register and work with the council’s procurement and commissioning systems, and to give feedback on how alternative payment arrangements could affect their organisations.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme

Notice Description

HAF Provider Engagement: Future Payment Options Cumberland Council is exploring a new approach to commissioning HAF activities from Summer 2027 onwards. The application process for Easter 2027 will remain unchanged and will follow the current arrangements. To help providers prepare for future changes, we will be holding two information sessions. The first stage of the new application process is likely to open in November 2026. Invitations to these sessions will be sent separately with meetings scheduled for the 8th October and 3rd November. We strongly encourage all providers to attend so that you can understand the proposed process, ask questions, and provide feedback. A HAF pre market engagement survey to engage with providers was sent out via the Council's e-procurement portal (The Chest). Please use the survey to share your views and explain how different payment arrangements could affect your organisation. This feedback will be essential in helping us develop a fair and practical approach for future HAF commissioning. Responses to be submitted by 7th October 2026. As part of our ongoing work to develop and strengthen the delivery of Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme activities and Short Breaks for children and young people with disabilities across Cumberland, we are inviting organisations to attend an upcoming online information session. The way organisations apply for and access future opportunities is changing, and we want to ensure that both existing and prospective providers are supported through the transition. The session will provide practical guidance on registering and using the Council's procurement and commissioning systems, including the Central Digital Platform (CDP) and The Chest Procurement Portal. Whether you currently deliver HAF or Short Breaks activities or are interested in becoming a provider for the first time, we would strongly encourage you to attend. We are keen to engage with a wide range of organisations, including voluntary and community groups, charities, sports clubs, arts and leisure providers, and specialist organisations supporting children and young people with disabilities. For further details use the council's online procurement portal - The Chest - https://www.the-chest.org.uk.

Planning Information

HAF Provider Engagement: Future Payment Options Cumberland Council is exploring a new approach to commissioning HAF activities from Summer 2027 onwards. The application process for Easter 2027 will remain unchanged and will follow the current arrangements. To help providers prepare for future changes, we will be holding two information sessions. The first stage of the new application process is likely to open in November 2026. Invitations to these sessions will be sent separately with meetings scheduled for the 8th October and 3rd November. We strongly encourage all providers to attend so that you can understand the proposed process, ask questions, and provide feedback. A HAF pre market engagement survey to engage with providers was sent out via the Council's e-procurement portal (The Chest). Please use the survey to share your views and explain how different payment arrangements could affect your organisation. This feedback will be essential in helping us develop a fair and practical approach for future HAF commissioning. Responses to be submitted by 7th October 2026. As part of our ongoing work to develop and strengthen the delivery of Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme activities and Short Breaks for children and young people with disabilities across Cumberland, we are inviting organisations to attend an upcoming online information session. The way organisations apply for and access future opportunities is changing, and we want to ensure that both existing and prospective providers are supported through the transition. The session will provide practical guidance on registering and using the Council's procurement and commissioning systems, including the Central Digital Platform (CDP) and The Chest Procurement Portal. Whether you currently deliver HAF or Short Breaks activities or are interested in becoming a provider for the first time, we would strongly encourage you to attend. We are keen to engage with a wide range of organisations, including voluntary and community groups, charities, sports clubs, arts and leisure providers, and specialist organisations supporting children and young people with disabilities. For further details use the council's online procurement portal - The Chest - https://www.the-chest.org.uk.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077a03
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092265-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
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

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Sep 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 1 Apr 2029 2-3 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
Cumberland 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
CARLISLE
Postcode
CA1 1RD
Postcode Area
Carlisle
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD1 Cumbria
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD13 Cumberland
Delivery Location
TLD1 Cumbria
Local Authority
Cumberland
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Carlisle

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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