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Regulation 44

Bradford Children & Families Trust

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

25 Sep 2026 at 17:03

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Bradford Children & Families Trust is seeking one provider for an Independent Visitor Service for its registered children’s homes in the Bradford District. The provider must make independent monthly visits, assess care and safeguarding, review children’s welfare and wellbeing, and scrutinise each home’s leadership, management, practice, records and physical environment. The service must capture children’s views and lived experience, alongside engagement with staff, families and relevant professionals, and produce Regulation 44 reports identifying strengths, concerns, themes and recommended actions. Visits may be announced or unannounced and should include varied times, such as evenings, weekends and school holidays where appropriate. The requirement currently covers nine homes and at least 108 visits each year; the number of homes may change. This is a social work and related service delivered across Bradford.

The buyer invited tenders through a below-threshold open competitive process. Enquiries were due by 16 October 2026 at 11:00 and tenders by 23 October 2026 at 11:00. The planned contract runs from 1 February 2027 to 31 March 2030, with an optional extension of up to twelve months, described as running from 1 February 2030 to 31 January 2031. The maximum total value, including any extension, is £240,000 excluding VAT. There is one complete-service contract and no division into lots. Evaluation is weighted 70% for quality and social value and 30% for price. Quality and social value cover service delivery (20%), children and young people’s voice (20%), safeguarding (10%), quality assurance and communication (10%), and social value (10%).

The opportunity suits providers with demonstrable experience delivering independent oversight of children’s residential care and producing timely, evidence-based Regulation 44 reports that meet statutory and Ofsted requirements. They will need to assess safeguarding, care quality, welfare and wellbeing, and provide independent scrutiny of leadership, management, records and the physical environment. Strong engagement skills are important: the provider must hear and reflect children’s views, wishes, feelings and lived experiences, and work constructively with staff, managers, families, professionals and the Trust. Delivery requires capacity for regular visits across multiple homes, including occasional unannounced visits and work at varied times, as well as effective escalation, quality assurance and support for continuous improvement. Bidders need appropriate insurance, data protection and health and safety compliance, and Enhanced DBS checks for service personnel. Voluntary, community and social enterprises are considered suitable.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Regulation 44

Notice Description

Bradford Children and Families Trust (BCFT) is seeking to appoint a suitably experienced provider to deliver an Independent Visitor Service in accordance with Regulation 44 of the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015. The service will provide independent monthly visits to BCFT's registered children's homes within the Bradford District. The current requirement covers nine registered children's homes, equating to a minimum of 108 visits per year. The number of homes may change during the contract term in line with the Trust's service requirements. The Independent Visitor will be required to assess the quality of care provided, consider whether children are effectively safeguarded, review how each home promotes children's welfare and wellbeing, and provide independent scrutiny of leadership, management, practice, records and the physical environment. The successful provider will be expected to engage meaningfully with children and young people, staff, managers, families and relevant professionals, ensuring that children's views, wishes, feelings and lived experiences are captured and reflected within Regulation 44 reporting. Visits may be announced or unannounced and should take place at varied times, including evenings, weekends and school holidays where appropriate. Following each visit, the provider will produce timely, evidence-based Regulation 44 reports that meet statutory and Ofsted requirements. Reports must identify strengths, areas for improvement, safeguarding concerns, emerging themes and recommended actions. The provider will also be expected to work collaboratively with BCFT to support continuous improvement, effective escalation, contract monitoring and quality assurance across the Trust's residential provision. The anticipated contract term is three years, with an option to extend for a further twelve months, subject to satisfactory performance and ongoing service requirements. The maximum total contract value is PS240,000 excluding VAT, inclusive of the optional extension period. The requirement is not divided into lots. BCFT intends to appoint a single provider to deliver the complete service. The procurement will be conducted as a below-threshold competitive tender process under the Procurement Act 2023. Full details of the service requirements, evaluation criteria, pricing requirements and contract terms are set out in the tender documentation.

Lot Information

Lot LOT-0000

Options: The Authority may require additional Regulation 44 visits during the contract term, including visits arising from additional children's homes being brought into scope. Any additional visits will be commissioned at the successful Supplier's tendered cost per visit. The Authority does not guarantee any minimum volume of additional visits. All services commissioned, including any additional homes or visits and any extension period, will remain subject to the maximum total contract value of PS240,000 excluding VAT.

Renewal: The Authority may extend the Contract for a further period of up to twelve months, from 1 February 2030 to 31 January 2031, subject to satisfactory performance, ongoing service requirements, available budget and approval by the Authority. The extension is optional and is not guaranteed. The maximum total contract value, including the extension period, is PS240,000 excluding VAT.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077af6
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091184-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85300000 - Social work and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£240,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£240,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
23 Oct 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Feb 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 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
Bradford Children & Families Trust
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRADFORD
Postcode
BD5 0QL
Postcode Area
Bradford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE4 West Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE41 Bradford
Delivery Location
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Local Authority
Bradford
Electoral Ward
City
Westminster Constituency
Bradford West

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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