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CCS110 Provision of Independent Experts to investigate Statutory Children's Service Complaints

Derbyshire County Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

08 Oct 2026 at 09:16

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Derbyshire County Council intends to procure independent experts to support statutory complaints about children’s services under the Children Act 1989. The service covers independent investigating officers and independent persons for Stage 2 complaints, plus independent panel members and chairs for Stage 3 review panels. It is a specialist professional service combining complaints investigation, independent scrutiny and panel-based review. The work is intended to support the Council’s statutory complaints process in England. The planned service is associated with one lot and is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises. The Council is consulting the market to understand suitable delivery models, supplier capability and capacity, service risks, innovation and options for value for money before shaping the future service and procurement documents.

This is at planning stage: Derbyshire County Council has set out an intention to procure, but has not yet invited tenders. It expects to publish a further notice by 1 February 2027. The Council’s scheduled pre-market engagement is intended to gather market insight by 3 November 2026; participation is voluntary and non-binding, and responses will not be used in any future evaluation. The procurement is planned as a single lot. Its estimated value is £150,000 excluding VAT (£180,000 including VAT). The planned contract period is 1 September 2027 to 31 August 2029, with an option to extend to 31 August 2031. The Council is seeking views on delivery models, commercial approaches and costs, risks, barriers to participation and ways to support competition, including SME participation.

This is likely to suit providers with experienced, independent practitioners able to investigate statutory children’s services complaints and carry out the distinct Stage 2 and Stage 3 roles. Relevant capability includes supplying independent investigating officers and independent persons, as well as panel members and chairs who can support review panels. Suppliers should be prepared to explain their capacity to cover these functions and propose workable service delivery models. The Council is also interested in innovative approaches and technology for case management, reporting and efficient delivery, alongside ways to manage delivery risks and dependencies. Commercial models and cost proposals that demonstrate value for money will inform its planning. The Council is explicitly exploring how to reduce barriers and encourage competition, with the service identified as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

CCS110 Provision of Independent Experts to investigate Statutory Children's Service Complaints

Notice Description

The provision of independent investigating officers and independent persons for stage 2 complaints, and independent panel members and panel chairs for stage 3 review panels.

Planning Information

The Council is seeking information from the market in relation to the statutory complaints process for children's services in England. This Pre Market Engagement exercise (PME) is intended to gather insights from potential Suppliers to help shape our future service model, inform the development of procurement documentation, and understand market capabilities and deliver value for money. Participation in this process is entirely voluntary and non-binding. Responses will be used for information gathering only and will not form part of any future evaluation process. The Aim of this PME is to explore: • Suitable delivery models for a Children's Act 1989 complaints service. • Market capability, capacity and experience in delivering statutory complaints investigations and Independent Person services. • Innovative approaches and technology that support efficient service delivery, case management and reporting. • Key risks, challenges and dependencies associated with service delivery and how these may be mitigated. • Commercial models, costs and opportunities to achieve value for money. • Potential barriers to market participation and opportunities to encourage competition, including from SMEs. • Market interest in the proposed procurement opportunity. https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=5bee9a01-5bc1-f111-813c-005056b64545

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078351
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095011-2026
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

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

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

79410000 - Business and management consultancy services

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£150,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Feb 20274 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Sep 2027 - 1 Sep 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
Derbyshire County 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
MATLOCK
Postcode
DE4 3AG
Postcode Area
Derby
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF13 South and West Derbyshire
Delivery Location
TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Local Authority
Derbyshire Dales
Electoral Ward
Matlock West
Westminster Constituency
Derbyshire Dales

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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