--- title: "Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) for Fostering and Adoption 2024-2027 services" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-2ec924f4-e4f1-492a-889f-2986f3f04680" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-2ec924f4-e4f1-492a-889f-2986f3f04680" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2ec924f4-e4f1-492a-889f-2986f3f04680.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2ec924f4-e4f1-492a-889f-2986f3f04680.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION" published: "2023-08-03" --- # Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) for Fostering and Adoption 2024-2027 services Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-2ec924f4-e4f1-492a-889f-2986f3f04680 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-2ec924f4-e4f1-492a-889f-2986f3f04680) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2ec924f4-e4f1-492a-889f-2986f3f04680.json) ## Summary The Department for Education is looking to appoint a contractor to provide the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) for Fostering and Adoption services from 2024 to 2027. The procurement process is in the Open procedure stage and the deadline for tender submission is set for 14th September 2023. The contract period will start on 1st April 2024 and run for 24 months initially, with an optional extension of 12 months. The total contract value is £730,428 and the procurement falls under the main category of services. This tender presents an opportunity for businesses in the legal, education, and health services sectors to compete for providing essential statutory support in the fields of fostering and adoption. SMEs and VCSEs are eligible to apply, and the competition is open to potential suppliers across various regions of the United Kingdom. The Department for Education is the contracting authority overseeing this process via their e-procurement portal, Jaggaer, providing guidance and support to interested parties during the competitive bidding process. ## Notice The Department for Education is seeking to appoint a contractor to provide the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) for Fostering and Adoption 2024 -2027 services. The Independent Review Mechanism provides an essential statutory service to prospective and existing foster parents, adopters and adult adoptees. The main function of the IRM is to offer an objective and independent route for applicants to request a review of decisions made by fostering and adoption services about their approval status and access to their records. The service offered by the IRM is unique within the sector and enables applicants to have their case heard by an independent panel of children's social care experts. The service is provided for in regulations and represents an important means of support, and a form of advocacy, for applicants. The contract will be signed in January 2024 (Contract Signature date) and will allow for a 3-month mobilsation/transition period ending on 31 March 2024. The contract will become effective (Contract Effective date) on 1 April 2024. The initial contract term will be 24 months (01/04/24 - 31/03/26) and include an option to extend it for the additional period of 12 months until 31/03/2027. The optional extension period is not guaranteed and will be at the absolute discretion of The Department. Any extension will be subject to the Departments approval process, availability of budget and current performance of the supplier. Additional information: This open tender competition is being run via the DfE's e-procurement portal, Jaggaer. Links to the site and related guidance can be found via the following link: Jaggaer Tender Reference - ITT_2209 - Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/380158b4-f4a6-4cea-a049-650e775b4153 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (above threshold) | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 3 Aug 2023 | | Submission deadline | 14 Sep 2023 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Mar 2024 - 31 Mar 2026 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £730,428 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | South West London | | Postcode | SW1P 3BT | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London | | Local authority | Westminster | | Electoral ward | St James's | | Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster | | Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security - 80 - Education and training services - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 79100000 - Legal services - 80000000 - Education and training services - 85000000 - Health and social work services ## Release History - 3 Aug 2023 at 14:04 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/380158b4-f4a6-4cea-a049-650e775b4153 - 31 Jul 2023 at 13:36 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/380158b4-f4a6-4cea-a049-650e775b4153 - 31 Jul 2023 at 13:27 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/380158b4-f4a6-4cea-a049-650e775b4153 - 31 Jul 2023 at 13:25 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/380158b4-f4a6-4cea-a049-650e775b4153 - 31 Jul 2023 at 12:30 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/380158b4-f4a6-4cea-a049-650e775b4153 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/380158b4-f4a6-4cea-a049-650e775b4153 3rd August 2023 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education/about/procurement#jaggaer-the-dfe-etendering-portal Jaggaer e-procurement portal ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-2ec924f4-e4f1-492a-889f-2986f3f04680. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2ec924f4-e4f1-492a-889f-2986f3f04680.json.