---
title: "Preliminary Market Engagement 2026 - Provision of Specialist Learning Disability Vocational Training Services through Social Enterprise within the NHSCT [6393091]"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0588ea"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0588ea"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0588ea.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0588ea.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "NORTHERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST (NHSCT)"
published: "2026-02-17"
---

# Preliminary Market Engagement 2026 - Provision of Specialist Learning Disability Vocational Training Services through Social Enterprise within the NHSCT [6393091]

Buyer: NORTHERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST (NHSCT)  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0588ea

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## Summary

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT), identified as a public authority under sub-central government, is spearheading the procurement process for specialist learning disability vocational training services through social enterprise within Northern Ireland. The preliminary market engagement is managed by the Procurement and Logistics Service (PaLS), noting its Centre of Procurement Expertise role, in collaboration with the Business Services Organisation. This initiative is positioned within the 'Health and social work services' industry category, with service delivery set to commence on 1st September 2026 for a duration of three years, extendable up to a maximum of 31st August 2031. Upcoming deadlines include the submission of cost breakdowns through eTendersNI by 6th March 2026, 15:00.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses, particularly SMEs and VCSEs, seeking to expand within the health and social care services sector, given the suitability criteria outlined. Businesses with expertise in social enterprise facilities, tailored towards adults with learning disabilities in the NHSCT, are encouraged to participate. This procurement exercise recognises the importance of social value, adhering to recent Northern Ireland Procurement Policy Notes, and is backed by the latest UK Procurement Act, offering an excellent platform for suppliers aligned with such frameworks. Engaging in this tender will enable businesses to access a stable contract with renewal options, fostering sustainable growth within an essential community service context.

## Notice

The Procurement and Logistics Service (PaLS) on behalf of the Northern Health & Social Care Trust (NHSCT) wish to carry out a preliminary market engagement with interested providers. This market engagement is intended to inform the market that the NHSCT are proposing to tender for the provision of Learning Disability Vocational Training Services through Social Enterprise facilities to Adults with a Learning Disability within the NHSCT (Adults being 18+ years of age). The NHSCT have published this second preliminary market engagement (CfT Reference no: 6393091) for this tender to inform the market of this advanced draft of the specification and we are also inviting potential tenderers to consider the cost for this service based on the stated available budgets outlined in Section 3.17 of the CP13 Vocational Services - 2026 Market Engagement Briefing Paper. Therefore, as part of this engagement we are asking potential providers to complete and return 'Appendix C - Breakdown of Costs' with a proposed cost breakdown for how they would deliver this service based on the available budget. We are seeking this cost breakdown for information purposes while allowing potential suppliers to assess the affordability of the service before we publish the tender. Please note that the annual cost of this service must be inclusive of all costs associated with this service. Please refer to the 'CP13 Vocational Services - 2026 Market Engagement Briefing Paper' and associated appendices for further information - all documents associated with this market engagement are available in CfT document section under CfT Reference No: 6393091

### Planning Information

Please ensure you are registered with eTendersNI under Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) Code '85000000 Health and social work services'. 
Your proposed cost breakdown for delivery of this service in response to this Pre-Tender Market Engagement Paper must be completed in 'Appendix C – Breakdown of Costs’ and submitted as an attachment via the eTendersNI secure messaging area of the Resource ID/CfT Number: 6393091. The deadline for submission is Friday 6th March 2026 at 15:00. 
Any interest shown in the pre-tender market engagement does not constitute a commitment to participate in a procurement exercise. Failure to show interest does not restrict providers from participating in any future procurement exercise.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014476-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| 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 | 17 Feb 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 6 Mar 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2029 |
| 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 | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NORTHERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST (NHSCT) |
| Additional buyers | BUSINESS SERVICES ORGANISATION |
| Locality | ANTRIM |
| Post town | Northern Ireland |
| Postcode | BT41 2RL |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland |
| ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland |
| ITL 3 | TLN07 Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon |
| Local authority | Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon |
| Electoral ward | Cathedral |
| Westminster constituency | Newry and Armagh |
| Delivery location | TLN Northern Ireland |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85000000 - Health and social work services

## Release History

- 17 Feb 2026 at 16:00 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014476-2026
- 15 Aug 2025 at 12:17 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/049131-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014476-2026
  17th February 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/049131-2025
  15th August 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://etendersni.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-0588ea. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0588ea.json.