---
title: "project_7478 - The Fosterline Service 2023"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-038d24"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-038d24"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-038d24.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-038d24.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION"
published: "2025-10-20"
---

# project_7478 - The Fosterline Service 2023

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-038d24

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-038d24.json)

## Summary

The Department for Education is overseeing the procurement process for the "Fosterline Service 2023," focusing on providing call centre and technical support services. This service, aimed at supporting current and prospective foster carers, has been active since 2006 and is expected to run until 30th June 2026 following a compliant extension. The procurement method employed is an open procedure, ensuring transparency and accessibility for a diverse range of suppliers. Key dates included an initial submission deadline on 29th March 2023, with the contract awarded in July 2023 to The Fostering Network. The project is located in the United Kingdom, with the primary industry category being services, specifically under the CPV classification for call centre and technical support services.

This tender presents significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in call centre management, technical support, and services related to foster care. Organisations with experience in offering advice and support services, particularly those geared towards family and social care sectors, would be well-suited to engage in this contract. SMEs and larger corporate entities with expertise in service delivery to vulnerable groups could leverage this opportunity to expand their portfolios. The Department for Education seeks to improve service delivery, making it essential for interested businesses to demonstrate capability in managing large-scale, technically complex, and socially impactful services.

## Notice

PCR Compliant extension to the Fosterline Service awarded 2023

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The Fosterline Service is a free, independent national advice service that offers support for both current and prospective foster carers. It has been in place since 2006, funded by the Department of Education. During that time, the Department also increased the scope of Fosterline from responding to ad hoc enquiries to offering individualised ongoing services for current or prospective foster carers requiring help with ongoing issues or detailed tax and benefits advice. The services aim to support foster families to stay together during times of crisis, reducing placement breakdown, and avoiding costs associated with this. The current service is widely used, with over 108,000 contacts (through the helpline service, 1-2-1s, web-chats, emails, website visits etc )in the year 2021-22.

Renewal: This service contract has an option for a 1 year extension from the period of 1/10/25-30/9/26.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066559-2025 |
| Notice type | Planning Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 20 Oct 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 29 Mar 2023 |
| Future notice date | 1 Mar 2022 |
| Award date | 10 Jul 2023 |
| Contract period | 30 Sep 2023 - 30 Sep 2025 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £352,016 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £704,026 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## 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 | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | THE FOSTERING NETWORK |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 72253000 - Helpdesk and support services
- 79512000 - Call centre

## Release History

- 20 Oct 2025 at 08:07 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066559-2025
- 12 Jul 2023 at 13:17 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019967-2023
- 16 Mar 2023 at 10:22 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007640-2023
- 1 Mar 2023 at 15:41 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006041-2023
- 13 Dec 2022 at 16:21 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035275-2022

## Notice URLs

- https://education.app.jaggaer.com/
- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education

## 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-h6vhtk-038d24. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-038d24.json.