---
title: "Best Start Family Hubs Evaluation"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-cecef360-c326-4f42-b6cc-217c2114b0e9"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-cecef360-c326-4f42-b6cc-217c2114b0e9"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-cecef360-c326-4f42-b6cc-217c2114b0e9.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-cecef360-c326-4f42-b6cc-217c2114b0e9.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Department for Education"
published: "2026-09-09"
---

# Best Start Family Hubs Evaluation

Buyer: Department for Education  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-cecef360-c326-4f42-b6cc-217c2114b0e9

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-cecef360-c326-4f42-b6cc-217c2114b0e9)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-cecef360-c326-4f42-b6cc-217c2114b0e9.json)

## Summary

The Department for Education commissioned the Best Start Family Hubs Evaluation, a professional research and evaluation consultancy service. The work is intended to evaluate Best Start Family Hubs and falls within research, development and related consultancy services. Delivery covers the United Kingdom, with the stated geographic scope also including Europe, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, British Overseas Territories and the rest of the world. The requirement is therefore relevant to organisations able to undertake public-sector programme evaluation and associated research across a broad geographical area. The procurement is categorised as a service and is identified under CPV 73000000. The Department for Education is the buying organisation.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded. It used a selective call-off from a dynamic purchasing system. The submission deadline was 6 July 2026 at 23:59. The contract was awarded to Ecorys on 7 September 2026 for £4,762,158.30 including the stated GBP currency. The contract period runs from 7 September 2026 to 30 September 2029. The award is active. The procurement was identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises. The published information names the successful supplier and award value, but does not set out award criteria or a detailed evaluation weighting.

This award demonstrates substantial, multi-year demand from the Department for Education for specialist evaluation and research consultancy connected with Best Start Family Hubs. Competitors would need credible capability to design and deliver public-sector programme evaluations, gather and analyse evidence, and turn findings into clear, defensible reporting for a national government buyer. The requirement is relevant to both SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises, so smaller specialist research firms and mission-led organisations may be well placed where they can demonstrate the necessary technical expertise and delivery capacity. Experience working with public bodies, family services, community programmes or related social policy evaluations would strengthen a future competitor’s position.

## Notice

Best Start Family Hubs Evaluation

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/4f8fcdc6-531f-40bf-996d-0a907e37c6b0 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Dynamic |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a dynamic purchasing system |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 9 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 7 Sep 2026 |
| Contract period | 7 Sep 2026 - 30 Sep 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £4,762,158 |
| 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 | BIRMINGHAM |
| Postcode area | Birmingham |
| Postcode | B3 2HJ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands |
| ITL 3 | TLG31 Birmingham |
| Local authority | Birmingham |
| Electoral ward | Ladywood |
| Westminster constituency | Birmingham Ladywood |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Ecorys UK Limited |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 9 Sep 2026 at 15:37 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/4f8fcdc6-531f-40bf-996d-0a907e37c6b0

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/4f8fcdc6-531f-40bf-996d-0a907e37c6b0
  9th September 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/007d53d3-e3ec-4dcf-bffc-01de30c6d5b5
  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-cecef360-c326-4f42-b6cc-217c2114b0e9. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-cecef360-c326-4f42-b6cc-217c2114b0e9.json.