--- title: "Short Breaks Commissioning" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-055545" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-055545" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055545.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055545.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL" published: "2026-05-19" --- # Short Breaks Commissioning Buyer: DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-055545 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-055545) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055545.json) ## Summary Devon County Council is in the planning stage for a public procurement process titled "Short Breaks Commissioning," aimed at enhancing support services for disabled children and young people in Devon. This initiative falls under the health and social work services category and involves a framework agreement worth £44,000,000. Set to begin on 4 January 2027 and continue until 3 January 2032, with potential extension to 2035, the procurement seeks to strengthen community offerings, expand access to universal activities, and establish specialist short breaks. Key activities include an online information event scheduled for 3 June 2026. Interested parties can contact the council to participate and further understand the framework commissioning intentions and timelines involved. This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses specialising in community, social, personal, and health services. Particularly suited to SMEs and VCSEs, the process emphasises the inclusion of enablers’ support and group activities like youth clubs and holiday clubs. Businesses with experience in delivering holistic, community-focused services or those capable of offering innovative solutions for short breaks and facilitating personal growth for children and young people are encouraged to engage. The tender represents a substantial opportunity for collaboration and service development, helping providers align with Devon’s strategic vision for short breaks while promoting independence and community involvement among the service users. ## Notice Our aim is to improve our local Short Breaks offer for disabled children and young people in Devon. Disabled children and young people have the right to be supported at home and in their local communities, to have opportunities to meet and make friends, feel confident, and to thrive with a good family life. Short breaks help to do this by giving an opportunity for children and young people to meet new people, take part in activities, enjoy positive learning opportunities and have different experiences whilst giving their families a break from their caring responsibilities. Short breaks can last a few hours, a whole day, evening, overnight or for a whole weekend, or during the school holidays. They can take place at home, in the community or in a residential setting. Childcare settings can sometimes be used as venues for short break activities. They can include support to access activities such as sports, music, crafts, drama or community groups; this might be through support from workers often called 'enablers'. This could be for a limited time to help a child join in with an activity until they can attend independently, or ongoing depending on their individual needs. ### Planning Information The new Devon Local Area Short Break strategy 2026-2030 sets out a clear vision for an inclusive, high quality graduated short break offer that promotes independence, life skills, and community involvement. This strategy has been developed with input from children and young people, parent carers and community partners, and builds on statutory responsibilities and co-production principles. Key changes will include a strengthened community offer, expanding universal and universal-plus activities, and the creation of a commissioned framework of providers for targeted and specialist short breaks. Devon County Council would now like to invite providers to an information event at which the latest details of our framework commissioning intentions, planned process and expected timeframes will be shared. This event will be held online via Microsoft Teams on 3rd June 2026 from 11:00 to 12:00. If you would like to attend the event please email childrenscommissioningsecure-mailbox@devon.gov.uk and a Teams invitation will be sent to you. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045830-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 19 May 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 30 Jun 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 4 Jan 2027 - 3 Jan 2032 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £44,000,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL | | Locality | EXETER | | Post town | Exeter | | Postcode | EX2 4QD | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK4 Devon | | ITL 3 | TLK43 Devon CC | | Local authority | Exeter | | Electoral ward | Newtown and St Leonard's | | Westminster constituency | Exeter | | Delivery location | TLK4 Devon, TLK43 Devon CC | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services - 98 - Other community, social and personal services ### Codes - 85000000 - Health and social work services - 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services ## Release History - 19 May 2026 at 14:23 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045830-2026 - 16 Dec 2025 at 10:16 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083180-2025 - 8 Aug 2025 at 09:28 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047164-2025 - 27 Jun 2025 at 13:37 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035835-2025 - 27 Jun 2025 at 13:30 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035832-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045830-2026 19th May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083180-2025 16th December 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047164-2025 8th August 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035835-2025 27th June 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035832-2025 27th June 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://www.devon.gov.uk - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-055545. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055545.json.