Tender

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Services for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) in Highland

The Highland Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

21 Oct 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts)
Summary of the contracting process

The Highland Council is seeking a provider for a holistic support service for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children across the Highland Council area. The service covers children referred through the National Transfer Scheme and those arriving spontaneously. It is intended to help young people live safely and successfully in local communities while they progress through the asylum and immigration process. Support should promote safety, stability, wellbeing, integration, independence and positive outcomes, taking account of young people who may have experienced displacement, trauma, loss and uncertainty. This is a social care service for children and young people, rather than a supply of goods or construction work.

The buyer invited offers through an open procedure, with electronic submissions. The tender submission deadline set was 1 December 2026 at 12:00. The initial contract period runs from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029, with options for yearly extensions for up to a further three years, potentially to March 2032. The stated contract value is £3.6 million. The extensions depend on continuation of UK Government funding, and the Council’s ability to exercise them is conditional on that funding. There is one lot covering the service across Highland. The award basis is the most economically advantageous tender, weighted 95% for quality and 5% for price.

This opportunity is suited to providers with relevant experience supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and helping young people affected by displacement, trauma, loss and uncertainty. Relevant experience is specifically identified as a selection consideration. Bidders will undergo financial checks, including credit assessment; where a credit check is unavailable, the stated requirements include financial accounts or, for newer businesses, cash-flow information and a bank letter. A parent-company guarantee may support a bidder that does not otherwise meet the financial criteria. Providers must hold, or commit to obtain before contract start, employer’s liability insurance of £10 million and public liability insurance of £5 million. Community benefits, fair working practices and environmental benefits also form part of the evaluation.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Services for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) in Highland

Notice Description

A holistic support service for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) referred through the National Transfer Scheme (NTS) and those arriving spontaneously within the Highland area. The initial contract length will be two years (April 2027 - March 2029) with additional options to extend the contract on a yearly basis for up a further three years (March 2032). Funding will be provided through the UK Government's funding arrangements and the Council's ability to exercise any extension option will be dependent on the continuation of this funding supply.

Lot Information

Lot 1

A holistic support service for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) referred through the National Transfer Scheme (NTS) and those arriving spontaneously within the Highland area. The service will promote safety, stability, wellbeing, integration, independence and positive outcomes for young people who may have experienced displacement, trauma, loss and uncertainty. The service will support UASC to live safely and successfully within local communities across Highland while progressing through the asylum and immigration process.. The contract contains additional options to extend the contract on a yearly basis for up a further three years (March 2032).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000846052
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT567045
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts)
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

85312000 - Social work services without accommodation

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,600,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Oct 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
1 Dec 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2029 2-3 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
The Highland 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
INVERNESS
Postcode
IV3 5NX
Postcode Area
Inverness
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM2 Highlands and Islands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM20 Highlands and Islands
Delivery Location
TLM6 Highlands and Islands
Local Authority
Highland
Electoral Ward
Inverness West
Westminster Constituency
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT567045
    Services for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) in Highland - A holistic support service for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) referred through the National Transfer Scheme (NTS) and those arriving spontaneously within the Highland area. The initial contract length will be two years (April 2027 - March 2029) with additional options to extend the contract on a yearly basis for up a further three years (March 2032). Funding will be provided through the UK Government's funding arrangements and the Council's ability to exercise any extension option will be dependent on the continuation of this funding supply.

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...