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Short Breaks Services Framework

West Berkshire Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

29 Oct 2026 at 15:57

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

West Berkshire Council is reviewing its short-break services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and plans to procure a framework for delivering these services. The intended scope includes community-based short breaks, group activities and holiday schemes, specialist support for children and young people with SEND, family support and respite, inclusive leisure and social opportunities, and targeted interventions for children with complex needs. The Council is seeking provider input on its developing service specification and future service model. This is a health and social care services procurement focused on children and young people. The procurement information does not identify where the services themselves will be delivered.

The process is at the planning stage: the Council has announced an intention to procure but has not invited tenders. It plans one lot and a framework agreement, with a contract period expected to run from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029 and a possible extension to 31 March 2030. The next notice is expected on 4 January 2027. The Council is conducting market engagement to discuss service outcomes, priorities, delivery arrangements and the framework structure. A provider workshop is planned for 25 November 2026, and workshop registration is expected to close on 20 November 2026. Taking part in engagement is not a condition of bidding, and feedback will not be used to evaluate suppliers.

The planned work is relevant to providers experienced in short-break and respite services for children and young people with SEND. The Council specifically welcomes organisations delivering community-based breaks, group activities, holiday schemes, specialist or complex-needs support, family support, and inclusive leisure or social opportunities. Voluntary and community organisations, charities, not-for-profits, independent providers and social enterprises may be well placed to contribute; the planned lot is identified as suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises. Existing providers and new market entrants are also invited to help shape the service specification and procurement approach. Providers can use the engagement to explain their service models, delivery experience, market knowledge, innovation and good practice. The framework format suggests the procurement will involve selecting providers for future service delivery.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Short Breaks Services Framework

Notice Description

West Berkshire Council is seeking to engage with providers ahead of a future procurement for a Short Breaks Services Framework for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The Council is currently reviewing its Short Breaks offer for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The Council wishes to engage with providers to discuss the developing service specification and its vision for how Short Breaks Services should be delivered in the future. Feedback received through this market engagement activity will help inform the final specification and procurement approach

Planning Information

The Council is inviting interested organisations to complete a survey to gather views of short break providers and attend a Provider Engagement Workshop. The Council is interested in hearing from organisations that currently deliver, or have experience of delivering: • Community-based short breaks. • Group activities and holiday schemes. • Specialist support for children and young people with SEND. • Family support and respite services. • Inclusive leisure and social opportunities. • Targeted and specialist interventions for children with complex needs. The survey is open until 5pm on Tuesday, 17 November 2026 and can be accessed here: https://eu.surveymonkey.com/r/short-breaks-provider-survey Workshop Details Date: Wednesday 25th November 2026 Time: 1.30pm to 3pm Venue: Microsoft Teams The workshop will provide an opportunity for providers to: • Understand the Council's vision and ambitions for future Short Breaks Services. • Review and discuss proposed service outcomes and priorities. • Provide feedback on potential service models, delivery arrangements and the proposed framework structure. • Share market intelligence, innovation, and best practice. • Discuss opportunities and challenges within the current market. • Help shape the forthcoming procurement process. The workshop will also include an overview of the tender submission and e-procurement portal registration process. The Council welcomes attendance from: • Voluntary and community sector organisations. • Charities and not-for-profit organisations. • Independent providers. • Social enterprises. • Existing and potential new market entrants. Organisations wishing to attend should register their interest by contacting procurement@westberks.gov.uk Please provide: • Organisation name • Contact name • Email address • Number of attendees A Microsoft Teams invitation will be issued following confirmation of attendance. The closing date for workshop registration is Friday 20th November 2026 at 5pm This notice is not a call for competition, and participation is not a prerequisite to bidding. No information provided in response to this engagement will be used in supplier evaluation during the formal procurement. The Council reserves the right not to proceed with the procurement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0793ee
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/102802-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
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

85300000 - Social work and related services

85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
4 Jan 20273 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 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
West Berkshire 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
NEWBURY
Postcode
RG14 5LD
Postcode Area
Reading
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ16 Berkshire West
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
West Berkshire
Electoral Ward
Newbury Central
Westminster Constituency
Newbury

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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