Scope
Description
The aim of the service will be to offer a specialist short break service to children and young people aged from 6 - 18 years old who have moderate to severe learning disabilities and additional complex needs including challenging behaviour, Epilepsy, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, physical disabilities, communication difficulties and complex health needs such as gastrostomies.
Whilst individual need will differ the objective of the service will be to:
Enable children and young people to access social and leisure opportunities.
Support children and young people to develop their life skills and independence as well as developing personal safety skills and managing self-care.
Enable family carers to take a break from their caring role.
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2028
- 3 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85300000 - Social work and related services
Contract locations
- UKC21 - Northumberland
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
1 August 2025
Tender submission deadline
15 August 2025, 11:59pm
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
31 August 2025
Other information
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Reduced tendering period
Yes
Light touch contract - no minimum
Documents
Associated tender documents
Soft Market Testing Short Breaks.docx
As there is a lack of sufficiency within Northumberland, we would like to seek views from the market to help us to overcome some of the challenges that we are facing. These include:
Levels of assessed need for services (demand) is outstripping supply.
A limited number of providers operating within Northumberland and the wider area who can offer a service to children.
Providers experiencing recruitment and retention difficulties.
The ability to support complexity of presenting need safely and appropriately
Meeting the needs of children across a wider geographical footprint.
The information provided will help us to identify whether a procurement exercise would attract sufficient interest in the provision of Overnight Short Break Services for Disabled Children and if so, what this model would look like.
We would welcome your views in response to the questions shown no later than Wednesday 30th July.
Thank you for taking the time to respond to this questionnaire
Contracting authority
Northumberland County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PJJX-1133-JRGV
County Hall
Morpeth
NE61 2EF
United Kingdom
Email: CCPS@northumberland.gov.uk
Website: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk
Region: UKC21 - Northumberland
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government