---
title: "Soft Market Testing Exercise- Short-term Emergency Placements"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06ecc8"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06ecc8"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ecc8.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ecc8.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "Wirral Council"
published: "2026-08-26"
---

# Soft Market Testing Exercise- Short-term Emergency Placements

Buyer: Wirral Council  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06ecc8

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## Summary

Wirral Council is exploring services to provide short-term emergency accommodation for children and young people presenting in crisis, particularly those who might otherwise remain in hospital or be placed in another unsuitable setting. The requirement concerns welfare services for children and young people, including accommodation and associated support appropriate to emergency placements. Delivery is in Wirral, within the wider Merseyside area. The council is seeking views from providers on viable ways to meet this need, rather than purchasing a defined package of accommodation at this stage. Relevant organisations may include specialist emergency placement providers, children’s residential care providers, supported accommodation operators and other organisations able to respond safely and quickly to urgent placements for vulnerable young people.

The procurement is at the planning stage and is currently a soft market testing and engagement exercise, not an invitation to tender. Wirral Council expects to use the responses to understand viable delivery options before developing a future procurement. Interested providers are expected to complete and upload the soft market testing exercise through The Chest by 23 September 2026, with the council’s stated time being 12 noon. The planned contract period is from 1 June 2027 to 31 May 2032. The service is being considered under the light-touch regime. One service lot is identified, covering the planned emergency placement requirement. No tender submission, contract value or award decision is established at this stage.

This exercise is relevant to organisations already providing emergency accommodation, children’s residential care, supported accommodation or welfare services for children and young people. It will suit providers with the operational capacity to accept crisis referrals, provide safe and appropriate placements, and work with public services when a child or young person cannot remain in hospital or another unsuitable setting. Providers with experience supporting vulnerable young people, managing urgent placements and maintaining safeguarding, staffing and accommodation standards will be well placed to contribute. The immediate commercial value is the chance to explain viable delivery models and help shape the council’s future requirement. Providers should prepare clear information about their accommodation offer, response arrangements, service capabilities and relevant experience before the later procurement stage.

## Notice

Wirral Council is undertaking a soft market testing and engagement exercise to explore viable options for the provision of short-term, emergency accommodation for APOC children and young people presenting in crisis, particularly where they would otherwise remain in hospital or other inappropriate settings.

### Planning Information

Soft Market Testing document to be completed by interested providers and uploaded via the Chest portal before 12 Noon on Wednesday 23rd September 2026. 
Soft Market Testing Exercise- Short-term Emergency Placements
DN827438
https://procontract.due-north.com/register
If you experience any technical difficulties registering or using The Chest, please contact support:
Email: procontractsuppliers@proactis.com
Telephone: 0330 005 0352

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081391-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 26 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 23 Sep 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Jun 2027 - 31 May 2032 |
| 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 | Wirral Council |
| Locality | WALLASEY |
| Postcode area | Chester |
| Postcode | CH44 8ED |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD7 Merseyside |
| ITL 3 | TLD74 Wirral |
| Local authority | Wirral |
| Electoral ward | Seacombe |
| Westminster constituency | Wallasey |
| Delivery location | TLD74 Wirral |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

## Release History

- 26 Aug 2026 at 14:44 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081391-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081391-2026
  26th August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://procontract.due-north.com/register
- 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-06ecc8. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ecc8.json.