Scope
Description
The Adoption Support Fund (ASF) was launched in 2015 and expanded to include Special Guardianship in 2016, becoming the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) in 2023.
The ASGSF aims to support adoptive and special guardianship order children to receive the therapeutic services they have been assessed as needing. This is so they can recover from their early childhood experiences, ultimately to improve their short- and long-term outcomes.
We are seeking a Delivery Partner (DP) to liaise with Local Authorities (LAs) and Regional Adoption Agencies (RAAs) to deliver the ASGSF service. All applications come through a portal and the DP will have to process and approve these applications as per the terms and conditions of the contract and the current scope and eligibility for the ASGSF.
The DP is responsible for:
Fund Management, Management Reporting and Data Requests, Managing Digital Solutions, and payment of grant funding for approved applications to LA/RAAs.
Grant funding
The DP will administer grant funding on behalf of the DfE. After applications are approved, service providers will invoice the relevant LA or RAA once the service starts. The LA/RAA will in turn invoice the DP. To cover the costs, a profiled amount will be transferred to the DP in advance based on a pre-agreed grant funding agreement between the DfE and DP.
Please note, all information in this notice will be subject to ministerial agreement and internal approval.
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027
- Possible extension to 31 March 2029
- 3 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
Engagement
Engagement deadline
23 September 2025
Engagement process description
The purpose of this preliminary market engagement notice is to inform the market of the progress towards the procurement for a delivery partner for the continuation of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund. It is not being used as a call for competition.
Market engagement will consist of a virtual event via MS Teams. We aim for the MS Teams event to take place 23 September 2025 from 3pm to 4:15pm. If you are interested, please contact emilie.wilkinson@education.gov.uk to arrange an invitation to the event. We will circulate any Q&As raised during the event with all suppliers who registered an interest in attending in due course.
Please note, at this time it is our intention to award this contract via the DPS RM6322 Fund Administration and Disbursement Services (FAADS).
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
31 October 2025
Contracting authority
Department for Education
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDZG-3487-DPVD
Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street
London
SW1P3BT
United Kingdom
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - central government