Procurement

Market Engagement Event - Delivery partner for partnerships supporting early years-school transitions

Department for Education

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-066333

Description

This is a notice seeking early engagement from interested parties in relation to the Department for Education procurement of a Delivery Partner to support effective delivery of partnerships that strengthen children's transitions from pre-reception early years settings into school.

The partnerships will focus particularly on support for those children with SEND and from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Delivery Partner will play a central role in helping partnerships plan and implement their approaches, promote collaboration and good practice, and support continuous improvement across the programme.

The Delivery Partner will also help ensure delivery aligns with priorities, maintains strong governance standards and contributes to sustainable outcomes for children beyond the funding period.

Please note that all references to procedure, value and term length are purely illustrative and subject to change.

Please note that this notice is for early market engagement and exploratory purposes and is not a call for competition.

The Department reserves the right not to enter any formal processes or agreements.

Accordingly, the authority will not be liable for any bid cost, expenditure, work, or effort incurred by a provider in acting based on this notice.

The DfE is keen to maximise opportunities to participate in procurement for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs).

Consideration will also be given to consortia and collaborative bids from all forms of organisations.

Notices

UK4: Tender notice

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-058587
Published: 22 June 2026, 3:00pm

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UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-020961
Published: 9 March 2026, 2:39pm