---
title: "Pre paid card system for use with children and young people who are looked after and care leavers"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0691f4"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0691f4"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0691f4.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0691f4.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "SOMERSET COUNCIL"
published: "2026-05-06"
---

# Pre paid card system for use with children and young people who are looked after and care leavers

Buyer: SOMERSET COUNCIL  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0691f4

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0691f4)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0691f4.json)

## Summary

Somerset Council is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process for a pre paid card system aimed at children and young people who are looked after, as well as care leavers. This effort is classified under IT services, consulting, software development, Internet, and support, and has a regional focus in UKK23, United Kingdom. The council is engaging in a non-binding market engagement exercise which is scheduled to conclude on 25th May 2026 at 12:00 pm. The initiative aims to replace existing cash-based arrangements to enhance safeguarding, financial oversight, and operational efficiency. The pilot phase is projected to start on 1st September 2026 and end on 31st August 2027.

This market engagement offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in IT services and financial technology, particularly those capable of providing innovative pre paid card solutions for young people. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with expertise in systems that support budget management, fraud prevention, and GDPR compliance will find this a fitting opportunity. Companies with a track record in delivering similar services to governmental bodies will be well-positioned to contribute to the strategic aims of the council. By responding to this non-binding exercise, businesses can influence Somerset Council's procurement strategies and potentially win future contracts if the tender process proceeds. Businesses that can offer user-friendly, secure, and scalable solutions will stand out as ideal collaborators for the planned pilot phase.

## Notice

Somerset Council is undertaking soft market testing to inform the potential future procurement of a pre paid card system for use with children and young people who are looked after and care leavers. The Authority is exploring alternatives to current cash based arrangements, with the aim of improving safeguarding, financial oversight, operational efficiency, and outcomes for young people. A 12 month pilot is being considered to assess feasibility, usage, and value for money. This exercise is non binding, will not form part of any evaluation, and will be used solely to shape the Authority's commissioning and procurement approach. What is needed: The proposed solution would be used by: * Young people and care leavers (typically aged 16-25) * Social workers and leaving care professionals authorised to allocate and monitor funds The system would support: * One off and recurring payments * Day to day living expenses * Reduced reliance on cash payments

### Planning Information

This request for expressions of interest is issued solely for the purpose of conducting market engagement and does not constitute any commitment by the Authority to undertake any procurement exercise in the future. This exercise includes no element of supplier evaluation. No parties will be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to this by the deadline, there is no commitment of any kind involved on either side. This request does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services and the Authority is not bound by any proposal offered. 
If you are interested in this potential opportunity, then please express an interest by 25th May 2026 at 12:00pm by email to: stephen.barker@somerset.gov.uk and provide responses to the following questions:
Core Functionality
1. Please describe your pre paid card solution, including:
o Type of card provided
o Where and how the card can be used (in store, online, ATM access, etc.)
o Availability of contactless and chip and PIN functionality
2. Can cards be issued individually and replaced if lost or stolen?
o Please describe the process and timescales.
Controls and Safeguarding
1. What controls are available to the Authority, for example:
o Spending category or merchant controls
o Transaction limits
o Temporary suspension or cancellation
2. How does your system support safeguarding and fraud prevention?
3. How does your solution ensure compliance with GDPR and UK data protection requirements?
Practitioner Experience
1. Describe the system available to authorised staff, including:
• How funds are allocated or topped up
• Access to balances and transaction history
• User permission controls
2. What training and support do you provide to practitioners?
Young Person Experience
1. How do young people access and manage their account (e.g. app, online portal, statements)?
2. How does your solution support financial independence and confidence?
3. What accessibility features are available (e.g. simple language, support needs, digital inclusion)?
Implementation and Pilot Delivery
1. What would a typical implementation look like for a local authority pilot?
• Onboarding timescales
• Card rollout process
• Support arrangements
Commercial Model (Indicative)
1. Please outline your pricing model
2. Onboarding timescales 
• Support arrangements 
• Training/roll out delivery 
Experience and Case Studies
1. Please provide brief examples of:
• Similar services delivered
• Outcomes achieved
• Lessons learned from pilots or live implementations
Thank you

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041290-2026 |
| 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 |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 6 May 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 25 May 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2027 |
| 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 | SOMERSET COUNCIL |
| Locality | TAUNTON |
| Post town | Taunton |
| Postcode | TA1 4DY |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset |
| ITL 3 | TLK62 Somerset |
| Local authority | Somerset |
| Electoral ward | Bishop's Hull & Taunton West |
| Westminster constituency | Taunton and Wellington |
| Delivery location | TLK23 Somerset CC |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

## Release History

- 6 May 2026 at 07:49 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041290-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041290-2026
  6th May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.somerset.gov.uk/

## 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-0691f4. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0691f4.json.