--- title: "Provision of Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) for Fostering and Adoption 2024-2027" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-84fa145b-aa20-4e51-9751-82f944b18bd1" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-84fa145b-aa20-4e51-9751-82f944b18bd1" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-84fa145b-aa20-4e51-9751-82f944b18bd1.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-84fa145b-aa20-4e51-9751-82f944b18bd1.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION" published: "2023-12-05" --- # Provision of Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) for Fostering and Adoption 2024-2027 Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-b5fd17-84fa145b-aa20-4e51-9751-82f944b18bd1 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-84fa145b-aa20-4e51-9751-82f944b18bd1) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-84fa145b-aa20-4e51-9751-82f944b18bd1.json) ## Summary The Department for Education has awarded a contract for the provision of the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) for Fostering and Adoption services covering the period 2024-2027. The contract, valued at £730,000 GBP, has been classified under legal services. The initial contract term will be 24 months from 1 April 2024, with an option to extend for an additional 12 months. The tender was an open procedure, and the tender period ended on 14th September 2023. The buying organisation, Department for Education, is located in Sheffield, England. This procurement opportunity offers a chance for businesses in the legal services sector, particularly those experienced in social care or advocacy, to participate and potentially secure a lucrative contract with the Department for Education. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSE) could find this contract particularly suitable due to the nature of the services being procured. Businesses interested in bidding should take note of the key dates and deadlines mentioned and should align their proposals with the unique needs of the Independent Review Mechanism for Fostering and Adoption. ## Notice The Department for Education has appointed a contractor for the provision of 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 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. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f0e83e82-f839-4c82-9e16-05d2d6cd2f77 | | Notice type | Award Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (above threshold) | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Large | | All stages | Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 5 Dec 2023 | | Submission deadline | 14 Sep 2023 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 22 Nov 2023 | | Contract period | 31 Mar 2024 - 31 Mar 2026 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £730,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | £729,804 | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION | | Locality | SHEFFIELD | | Post town | Sheffield | | Postcode | S1 2JF | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber | | ITL 2 | TLE3 South Yorkshire | | ITL 3 | TLE32 Sheffield | | Local authority | Sheffield | | Electoral ward | City | | Westminster constituency | Sheffield Central | | 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) | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | CORAM CHILDREN'S LEGAL CENTRE (CCLC | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 79100000 - Legal services ## Release History - 5 Dec 2023 at 12:54 - AwardUpdate - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f0e83e82-f839-4c82-9e16-05d2d6cd2f77 - 4 Dec 2023 at 20:42 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f0e83e82-f839-4c82-9e16-05d2d6cd2f77 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f0e83e82-f839-4c82-9e16-05d2d6cd2f77 5th December 2023 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/10c34a79-544c-48a3-8225-f1b130dd5711 n/a - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/95bb288a-17d3-4402-8798-02d70c4f0691 n/a ## 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-b5fd17-84fa145b-aa20-4e51-9751-82f944b18bd1. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-84fa145b-aa20-4e51-9751-82f944b18bd1.json.