Scope
Reference
C386724
Description
The Department of Health and Social Care ('The Authority') is seeking information on your views regarding the new core Local Authority Public Health Peer Review and External Support and Improvement Offer that is due to go live during the 2026/27 financial year.
The aim of the RFI is to explore your views on a proposed future public health support and improvement offer. Responses will help to shape the specification for potential competitive tender and build a tailored support and improvement offer that maximises impact.
This government is committed to reset the relationship between central and local government - providing long-term financial certainty and supporting them to deliver on key priorities. As part of this, we committed to consolidating over £4 billion of public health funding into the local government Public Health Grant (PH Grant) from 2026/27 and set out clear public health priorities as part of the upcoming Local Government Outcomes Framework. This support offer should include the following:
Peer reviews: Deliver 90 public health peer reviews over three years to help LAs identify challenges, tackle issues, and highlight good practice in fulfilling statutory duties and reforms.
Improvement plans and Targeted support: Support LAs in developing improvement plans and provide tailored assistance based on peer review findings.
Universal offer: Provide self-improvement resources including guidance, toolkits, training, and opportunities for collaboration across LAs and Directors of Public Health (DsPH).
Responsive call-off support: Maintain a call-off facility to address urgent or priority public health issues in collaboration with DHSC policy teams and DHSC regional public health teams.
The supplier should work collaboratively with the Authority to ensure the offer is appropriately prioritised, and not duplicative of other improvement activities. This should include working closely with the Authority's regional public health teams to share intelligence and insight, identify LA improvement priorities and avoid duplication. The contract will be awarded for three years up to April 2029, with a provision to extend the contract for a further two years. Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) are eligible to apply for this RFI, if they have the relevant experience.
Interested parties are requested to respond to the engagement exercise, no later than 15:00, Wednesday 24th September 2025 and submitted via the Atamis e-sourcing portal. All the interested suppliers should register at: health.atamis.co.uk to apply for the opportunity. For any Atamis queries, email to: support-health@atamis.co.uk or via Helpdesk Phone: 0800 9956035.
If there is sufficient interest, we will be hosting a webinar for potential suppliers on Tuesday, 30th September, from 15:30 to 16:30. This will be an opportunity to ask questions and provide verbal feedback. To register and help us confirm the event, please email Yoshi.panwar@dhsc.gov.uk by 15:00, Wednesday 24th September 2025.
Total value (estimated)
- £7,860,000 excluding VAT
- £9,432,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029
- Possible extension to 1 April 2029
- 3 years, 1 day
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85321000 - Administrative social services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Engagement
Engagement deadline
24 September 2025
Engagement process description
If there is sufficient interest, we will be hosting a webinar for potential suppliers on Tuesday, 30th September, from 15:30 to 16:30. This will be an opportunity to ask questions and provide verbal feedback. To register and help us confirm the event, please email Yoshi.panwar@dhsc.gov.uk by 15:00, Wednesday 24th September 2025.
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
19 November 2025
Procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Contracting authority
Department of Health & Social Care
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PMQG-9965-CHZR
39 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0EU
United Kingdom
Contact name: gauri jain
Email: gauri.jain@dhsc.gov.uk
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - central government