--- title: "Management of the Adoption Support Fund (ASF)" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-d7e4545a-41f6-44b6-9788-91c683dbd27a" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-d7e4545a-41f6-44b6-9788-91c683dbd27a" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-d7e4545a-41f6-44b6-9788-91c683dbd27a.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-d7e4545a-41f6-44b6-9788-91c683dbd27a.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION" published: "2017-11-02" --- # Management of the Adoption Support Fund (ASF) Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-d7e4545a-41f6-44b6-9788-91c683dbd27a [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-d7e4545a-41f6-44b6-9788-91c683dbd27a) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-d7e4545a-41f6-44b6-9788-91c683dbd27a.json) ## Summary The Department for Education is planning a procurement process for the management of the Adoption Support Fund (ASF), which aims to enhance support services for adoptive families in England. This tender is currently at the planning stage and is set to conclude on 23 February 2018. The successful contractor will be expected to deliver services from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2020, with the potential for a two-year extension depending on future funding decisions. The estimated contract value is up to £2 million per year, reflecting the significant need for therapeutic interventions in this sector, which encompasses social work and related services. This tender presents a prime opportunity for businesses that specialise in social services, especially those with experience in therapeutic support, digital platform management, and local authority collaboration. Companies that can demonstrate expertise in managing high-volume applications and providing efficient customer service will be particularly well-suited to compete. Engaging in this contract could facilitate growth by enabling firms to directly contribute to improving outcomes for children and families, thus strengthening their market position within the social care industry. ## Notice The Bidder event is scheduled for 1.30pm on 9 November 2017 finishing at approximately 3.30pm. The event will be taking place in the Booth Room, The Abbey Community Centre & Association, 34 Great Smith St, London, SW1P 3BU. Please confirm your attendance by responding to Vas Patel at vas.patel@education.gov.uk." ITT 30239 is now running on the DfE e-Tendering portal which can be accessed at https://education.bravosolution.co.uk Many adopted children have experienced early abuse, neglect and trauma and consequently have complex needs. A significant proportion of adoptive parents report challenges in parenting adopted children. The ASF was introduced to improve outcomes for young people and families through improving the quality of adoption support assessments; speeding up access to therapeutic services for adoptive children and improving the quality and availability of services across the country. The Adoption Support Fund (ASF) funds local authorities to provide therapeutic interventions to support adoptive and eligible special guardianship families. The ASF was rolled out across England in May 2015 following a successful prototype. As at the end of August 2017, the ASF had provided over PS55m towards to supporting 19,000 families across all local authority areas, with an average of 200 applications to the Fund totalling on average PS500k per week. The current contract to deliver the ASF expires at the end of March 2018. We wish to procure a delivery partner to manage the ASF for two years (from 1 April 2018-31 March 2020), with the option to extend for a further two years subject to decisions about the future of the Fund beyond 2020 (subject to Spending Review decisions). The delivery partner's role will be to: - set up and manage a digital platform to process up to 10,000 applications per year; - provide ongoing helpline support and other relevant guidance on making applications to the Fund to local authorities; - assess and approve up to 10,000 applications a year according to published scope and criteria; - manage payments to local authorities; - respond to complaints; - develop and implement ideas to make best use of the learning from the take up of ASF to date; - provide detailed management information to the Department on a weekly, monthly and annual basis; - provide targeted support to local authorities and regional adoption agencies on a range of policy areas including developing the provider market and piloting the regionalisation of the ASF; - work effectively with any contractor appointed to carry out the evaluation of the implementation of the Fund; and - ensure there is a smooth transition or closure at the end of the contract. Additional information: We hope to appoint in time to enable a period of transition planning between January and March 2018. START AND END DATES OF THE CONTRACT: 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2020 with the possibility of a further two years subject to Spending Review decisions about the future of the Fund beyond 2020. ESTIMATED VALUE: up to PS2m each year for two financial years (2018-20) ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/aefa3818-e025-4d14-94bf-834efbae891f | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 2 Nov 2017 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 23 Feb 2018 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION | | Locality | COVENTRY | | Post town | Coventry | | Postcode | CV1 2WT | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) | | ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands | | ITL 3 | TLG33 Coventry | | Local authority | Coventry | | Electoral ward | St Michael's | | Westminster constituency | Coventry South | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85300000 - Social work and related services ## Release History - 2 Nov 2017 at 16:03 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/aefa3818-e025-4d14-94bf-834efbae891f - 2 Nov 2017 at 15:40 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/aefa3818-e025-4d14-94bf-834efbae891f ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/aefa3818-e025-4d14-94bf-834efbae891f 2nd November 2017 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/94c757bf-99a2-47a4-a268-2e5aba975c70 Description and further information ## Notice URLs - https://education.bravosolution.co.uk ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. 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