Scope
Description
LB Waltham Forest is commissioning an Open Framework for family support service to provide support and interventions to children and families in their own homes or other designated settings. Family Support Workers will help build relationships, increase wellbeing, improve outcomes, provide practical help and deliver interventions to increase parenting skills and more generally bridge the gap of support between families and statutory services. They are a flexible resource that the council can deploy to support children and families.
The service will provide bespoke intervention support packages, using a flexible whole family approach that focuses on turning lives around and creating positive outcomes for Children in Need, Children in Care, Children with a Disability and Children subject to a Child Protection Plan.
Commercial tool
Establishes an open framework
Total value (estimated)
- £4,000,000 excluding VAT
- £4,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028
- Possible extension to 31 March 2030
- 4 years
Description of possible extension:
The duration of the contract will be for an initial period from the 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2028. The Authority reserves the right to extend the contract for a further 24 months from 1st April 2028 to 31st March 2030.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Contract locations
- UKI53 - Redbridge and Waltham Forest
Framework
Open framework scheme end date (estimated)
31 March 2030
Maximum number of suppliers
Unlimited
Maximum percentage fee charged to suppliers
0%
Further information about fees
n/a
Framework operation description
The Open Framework Agreement will be operational for a period of 4 years from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2030. Providers will be able to apply to join, or add new services to, the Open Framework Agreement any time during the period. Although the Open Framework Agreement will remain open to applications, this will only be carried out once towards the end of the initial two year period, any new submissions will then be viewed and assessed for entry.
There will be no limit to the number of providers who can join the Open Framework Agreement throughout its duration, however it must be recognised that there are no guaranteed levels of business.
Award method when using the framework
Either with or without competition
Contracting authorities that may use the framework
Establishing party only
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
as per draft Framework T&C's within Tender pack
Technical ability conditions of participation
as per Specification document within Tender pack
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
12 February 2026, 5:00pm
Tender submission deadline
23 February 2026, 12:00am
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
16 March 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price Criteria | The Authority has set a fixed rate for children and families supported outreach services. Providers are welcome to submit bids below the maximum capped rate should they choose. |
Price | 50.00% |
| Quality Criteria | Staffing - 7.5% Service Delivery Model - 12.5% Safeguarding & Quality Assurance -10% Monitoring & Reporting - 5% Equalities & Climate - 5% |
Quality | 40.00% |
| Social Value | Social Value Portal to be used to evaluate responses |
Quality | 10.00% |
Other information
Payment terms
as per the Framework T&C's within the tender pack
Description of risks to contract performance
as per the Specification document within the tender pack
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Contracting authority
London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PPJN-6757-NZZZ
Waltham Forest Town Hall
London
E17 4JF
United Kingdom
Contact name: Joe Creasey
Telephone: +44 2084964825
Email: joe.creasey@walthamforest.gov.uk
Website: http://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/
Region: UKI53 - Redbridge and Waltham Forest
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government