---
title: "Soft Market Testing Exercise- Packages of Support for Children"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078e19"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078e19"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078e19.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078e19.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "Wirral Council"
published: "2026-10-22"
---

# Soft Market Testing Exercise- Packages of Support for Children

Buyer: Wirral Council  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078e19

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078e19.json)

## Summary

Wirral Council is planning to procure support packages for children receiving Children’s Social Care support. The services are expected to focus mainly on community-based short breaks and family support. This is health and social care work, delivered in the Wirral area. The process is at the planning stage and is intended to test the market before the council develops its procurement; it is not an invitation to tender.

The council is carrying out preliminary market engagement through a soft market-testing exercise, with an SMT questionnaire to be issued through The Chest. Responses are expected by 12 noon on 12 November 2026. The planned contract period is 1 May 2027 to 30 April 2031. The procurement is expected to be a services contract under the light-touch regime. The information sets out one planned package, but no procedure, estimated contract value, eligibility requirements or evaluation criteria are stated. Suppliers should treat the dates and scope as planning expectations rather than a bid deadline or settled tender terms.

This work is likely to suit providers experienced in delivering community-based short breaks and family support for children and families receiving social care support. Organisations with the ability to deliver support in community settings across the Wirral, and to meet the needs of children and families as part of Children’s Social Care, are the most directly relevant. The market-testing stage gives potential providers a chance to inform the council’s thinking about how these support packages could be designed and delivered. It may be relevant to established children’s social care providers, family-support organisations and voluntary or community providers with suitable delivery experience. No particular accreditation, staffing qualification or minimum capacity is described at this planning stage, so suppliers should assess their relevant service experience and delivery model as the plans develop.

## Notice

These packages will likely primarily deliver community-based short breaks and family support package for those receiving Children's Social Care support.

### Planning Information

SMT questionnaire to be issued via the Chest portal, closing date for responses is 12 Noon on Thursday 12th November 2026
https://procontract.due-north.com/register
Title- Soft Market Testing Exercise- Packages of Support for Children
Reference- DN833684
If you experience any technical difficulties registering or using The Chest, please contact support:
support@proactisservicedesk.com
Supplier Support | Proactis
Telephone: 0330 005 0352

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100079-2026 |
| 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 | 22 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 May 2027 - 1 May 2031 |
| 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

- 85000000 - Health and social work services

## Release History

- 22 Oct 2026 at 15:10 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100079-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100079-2026
  22nd October 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-078e19. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078e19.json.