Official UK procurement notice
London's VRU Boys, Young Men and Future Fathers Support Services
Authority: Mayor's Office For Policing And Crime (Central government)
What is being bought3 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionProject Background:
Research commissioned by the Greater London Authority on Understanding the Manosphere (2025) found that many boys and young men are navigating increasing uncertainty around identity, masculinity, purpose and belonging. Evidence suggests that social isolation, loneliness, limited access to trusted adults, and exposure to harmful online content can increase vulnerability to misogynistic and harmful online narratives. At the same time, research highlights that boys and young men are seeking guidance on issues such as relationships, identity, wellbeing and masculinity, often in online spaces that can expose them to harmful or misleading content.
Emerging evidence indicates that strengthening critical thinking, digital literacy and opportunities for open discussion and reflection can help young people to better understand, question and challenge harmful content and online influences. Research also demonstrates the importance of trusted relationships, positive male role models, supportive peer networks and meaningful offline spaces as protective factors that support healthy identity development, resilience, wellbeing and positive relationships. These opportunities can help boys and young men explore identity, belonging, relationships and different experiences and expressions of masculinity in safe and supportive environments.
This evidence sits within a broader context of concern about the impact of online misogyny and harmful online narratives on both boys and young men and on the safety and wellbeing of girls and young women. Research highlights increasing exposure to misogynistic content online, the role of algorithms in amplifying harmful narratives, and the importance of early intervention approaches that build critical thinking, digital literacy, emotional wellbeing and healthy relationship skills. Evidence also highlights the value of creating spaces where boys and young men can explore identity, belonging, relationships and masculinity, reflect on the influences shaping their views, and develop resilience to harmful online content and messaging
In response, the Mayor has launched a programme of activity to challenge harmful online narratives and support boys and young men to develop confidence, resilience and a strong sense of identity. In June 2026, the Mayor warned of the risk of a "lost generation of young men" if the growing influence of harmful online content is left unchecked, announcing a package of interventions to strengthen support for boys and young men at home, in schools and across communities. The Mayor's polling found that only 15% of Londoners believe boys and young men have access to enough positive role models, reinforcing the need for investment in trusted adults, mentoring and positive influences.
The VRU is leading the development of this programme of interventions. Through mentoring, workforce development, support for fathers and carers, and preventative work in education settings, the programme aims to strengthen critical thinking and digital literacy, increase access to positive male role models and trusted adults, support boys and young men to explore identity, belonging, relationships and masculinity, and reduce vulnerability to exploitation, violence and harmful online influences.
Scope of delivery
The programme will be structured into three complementary lots as summarised within this notice.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at:
www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London… ↗
To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
CPV: Personal development training services · Staff training services · Welfare services for children and young people · Youth education services
Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure
3 lots · all with a published value (£1,822,876 together) · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Intensive Mentoring for Care Experienced Young PeopleRenewalPublished value£987,658
Delivery Focus
The VRU is seeking market insight on the provision of intensive, relationship-based mentoring for boys and young men in care settings. The service is intended to strengthen protective factors through trusted adult relationships and sustained support, helping young people to develop confidence, resilience, identity, relationship skills and their understanding of different models of masculinity.
Target Cohort
The primary target group is boys and young men who are:
- Looked-after children;
- Care experienced;
- Living in residential care, foster care or semi-independent accommodation;
- Affected by violence, exploitation or social exclusion;
- Involved with, or at risk of involvement with, youth justice services and/or the probation service.
Indicative Service Requirements
The VRU is interested in delivery approaches that may include:
- Intensive one-to-one mentoring;
- Relationship-based support delivered through trusted adult relationships;
- Support to explore identity, belonging and self-esteem;
- Emotional wellbeing and resilience;
- Exploration of relationships, identity and different models of masculinity;
- Critical thinking and resilience to harmful online influences;
- Aspirations, life skills and preparation for adulthood and future fatherhood;
- Light-touch advocacy and support to navigate services and systems;
- Effective partnership working with social care, education, health, youth justice service, the probation service and other relevant statutory and multi-agency partners.
The service should complement, rather than duplicate statutory provision and maintain continuity of support wherever possible.
Lot #2Training for Fathers, Male carers and Relevant Male PractitionersRenewalPublished value£295,218
Delivery Focus
The VRU is seeking market insight on specialist training and capacity-building support for fathers, male carers, foster carers and residential care staff who play an important role in the lives of boys and young men. The aim is to strengthen the confidence, skills and capability of trusted adults to support boys and young men as they navigate identity, relationships, online influences and key life transitions.
Target Cohort
The service is expected to engage:
- Fathers and father figures;
- Male foster and kinship carers;
- Residential children's home staff;
- Semi-independent accommodation staff;
- Other adults with significant caring responsibilities for care-experienced boys and young men.
Indicative Service Requirements
The VRU is interested in approaches that may include:
- Structured learning and development programmes;
- Workshops, coaching and peer-learning models;
- Resources and practical tools to support ongoing learning;
- Support to facilitate conversations about identity, relationships and models of masculinity;
- Training on recognising and responding to harmful online influences and manosphere content;
- Critical thinking and digital literacy;
- Understanding the role of trusted adults and positive male influences;
- Embedding learning within everyday care practice and support planning.
Providers should demonstrate how learning can lead to sustainable changes in practice and strengthen the support network around boys and young men.
Lot #3Supporting Boys and Young Men in Education SettingsRenewalPublished value£540,000
Delivery Focus
The VRU is seeking market insight on a preventative programme supporting boys and young men in education settings. The programme is intended to provide opportunities for young people to explore identity, belonging, relationships and different models of masculinity, whilst increasing resilience to harmful online influences and strengthening protective factors within education settings.
Target Cohort
The primary delivery settings are expected to include:
- Pupil Referral Units (PRUs)/Alternative Provision (AP) settings;
- Mainstream secondary schools linked to participating PRUs and APs;
- Boys and young men experiencing social isolation, educational disengagement, vulnerability to exploitation or exposure to harmful online narratives.
Indicative Service Requirements
The VRU is interested in delivery models that combine direct work with boys and young men alongside workforce development activity. Potential elements may include:
- Group-based interventions for boys and young men;
- Workshops exploring identity, belonging and models of masculinity;
- Emotional wellbeing and resilience activities;
- Relationships education and communication skills;
- Critical thinking and digital literacy;
- Exploration of online influences, online harms and harmful narratives;
- Preventative intervention within feeder mainstream schools;
- Workforce development, resources and capacity-building support for school staff.
The programme should build on existing safeguarding, RSHE, PSHE and pastoral systems and support schools to develop confidence in facilitating conversations around identity, relationships, masculinity and online influences.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published award criteria (1)
- Quality
No conditions of participation were published on the notice; check the tender documents.
- Turnover usually expected: about £283,938 – ~£949,921 per lot (twice each lot's annual value).
Turnover is an indicative market norm (≈2× annual value), not a published condition.
Competition analysis · published record, not a forecast of who will bid
How Mayor's Office For Policing And Crime buys Social work services (CPV 8531), and who usually turns up
Mayor's Office For Policing And Crime’s own published record, next to the published market for the same work. Frameworks and DPS are kept out: they attract a different number of bids. Whole-market view: Social work services (CPV 8531) →
How the contest usually goes
Winner shares use published awards; bid and price charts use contested lots.
i
How often small and medium firms win.
Share of awards where the winner’s size is known.
The counts under this question show how many awards have a known supplier size.
Small firms have won here. Neither number says whether you qualify; it describes who has been winning.
i
How often local firms win similar work.
Winners with a registered address in the delivery region, out of awards with a known address.
Here, local means registered in Greater London.
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners are registered in Greater London.
i
How long buyers here take to decide after bids close.
Middle value in days from the deadline to the first award notice, on competitions that published both dates.
Only decided tenders count, so slow ones still waiting are not in.
Half of these awards were announced within 66 days of the bid deadline.
i
How often work is awarded with no recorded rival.
Direct awards and tenders where every published lot count shows one bid.
Both shares are minimums: some awards have no bid count.
Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.
Direct awards or one recorded bid are common here. Check the route before spending time on a bid.
How many bids did past lots attract?
i
How many bids past lots received.
Each colour is a bid-count range. Only competed lots with a published count are included.
Past bids do not predict this tender.
1 bid33% / 28%
2–367% / 33%
4–60% / 16%
7+0% / 23%
How did awards compare with estimates?
i
Where winning prices landed against estimates.
Each colour shows awards below, close to or above the published estimate, one lot at a time.
Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.
Below estimate6% / 28%
Within ±2%89% / 60%
Above estimate6% / 12%
Assess each lot i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
Open a lot for its forecast, this buyer’s previous supplier and possible competitors, from published award history, not a bid list
Lot #1Intensive Mentoring for Care Experienced Young PeopleCPV 85311300Published estimate£988k
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid36%
2–340%
4–620%
7+3%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
Based on 54 comparable awards. Each lot reflects its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Middle 50%£988k
Estimate£988k
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
WaythroughLarge | £315m55 awards in 36m · last this month | 18 live · £180m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=19 |
Barnardo'sLarge | £167m83 awards in 36m · last this month | 31 live · £87m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=38 |
Family ActionLarge | £25m38 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 21 live · £22m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=12 |
| £13m13 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 5 live · £2.4m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=7 | |
| £28m9 awards in 36m · last 6 months ago | 4 live · £11m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=6 |
Lot #2Training for Fathers, Male carers and Relevant Male PractitionersCPV 85311300Published estimate£295k
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid39%
2–341%
4–617%
7+2%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
Based on 54 comparable awards. Each lot reflects its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Middle 50%£295k
Estimate£295k
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| £212m18 awards in 36m · last this month | 6 live · £191m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=6 | |
| £125m13 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 1 live · £9.7m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 2% below n=2 | |
| £352m11 awards in 36m · last 4 months ago | 1 live · £88k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| £42m15 awards in 36m · last 5 months ago | 6 live · £20m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=5 | |
| £809k4 awards in 36m · last 2 months ago | 2 live · £300k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=4 |
Lot #3Supporting Boys and Young Men in Education SettingsCPV 85311300Published estimate£540k
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid40%
2–337%
4–619%
7+4%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
Based on 54 comparable awards. Each lot reflects its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Middle 50%£540k
Estimate£540k
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
Barnardo'sLarge | £167m83 awards in 36m · last this month | 31 live · £87m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=38 |
| £352m11 awards in 36m · last 4 months ago | 1 live · £88k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| £48m27 awards in 36m · last 4 months ago | 5 live · £2.2m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=17 | |
| £42m15 awards in 36m · last 5 months ago | 6 live · £20m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=5 | |
| £28m9 awards in 36m · last 6 months ago | 4 live · £11m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=6 |
About this data
- Source. Official UK public procurement notices (Find a Tender), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. New notices arrive through the day; the figures are rebuilt nightly.
- Two views, kept apart. The authority’s own track record and the wider market for the same kind of work sit side by side and are never mixed. Where the local picture is too thin, a figure widens to a broader market and says which one it used.
- Forecasts are labelled. The price forecast and its range, possible competitors and the earlier-work matches are our estimates from past awards: not published facts, not win chances and not price advice. Official notices do not say who is bidding.
- Every figure shows what it rests on. Not every notice publishes a bid count, a value or a delivery region, so each figure carries the number of records behind it, and one built on few records is marked as such. The on a figure explains it; the counting rules are in the methodology. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Open for tender
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 31 Jul 2026, 16:35 BST
- Last source update
- 24 Sept 2026, 09:04 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 31 Dec 2026
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-090389- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d93cFind a Tender
How to participate & submission route
Official notice Submit via Delta eSourcing- Requests to participate (first stage)
- —
- Tender submission deadline
- 29 Oct 2026, 13:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 9 Oct 2026, 13:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
31 Jul 2026 → 1 Feb 2027 · 7 dates- Planning notice published82 days ago31 Jul 2026, 16:35 BST
- Market engagement63 days ago19 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
Market Engagement Questionnaires
The VRU would welcome responses from organisations with experience delivering services relevant to one or more of the proposed lots.
Separate questionnaires have been developed to reflect the distinct service requirements:
Lot 1 & 2 Questionnaire: forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx ↗
Lot 3 Questionnaire: forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx ↗
Deadline for questionnaire responses:
3pm, Thursday 13 August 2026.
Questionnaire responses will be used to inform the development of the commissioning approach, including service design, intended outcomes and performance measures, delivery models, workforce requirements, partnership arrangements, and indicative costs and affordability.
Responses will be treated as commercially confidential and used solely for market engagement purposes. This is not a call for competition and responses will not be assessed as part of any future procurement process.
Supplier Information Sessions (online)
The VRU intends to hold separate information sessions, via MS Teams. This approach should make it easier for bidders to attend the lot they are interested in, without needing to sit through a relatively long session covering all lots on Wednesday 19th August 2026:
Session 1 (12:30 - 13:30) - Future Fathers Programme (Lots 1 and 2) - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/vru-information-se… ↗
Intensive Mentoring in Care Settings
Training for Fathers and Care Providers
Session 2 (14:00 – 14:45) - Supporting Boys and Young Men in Education Settings (Lot 3) - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/vru-information-se… ↗
PRU/AP Delivery
Mainstream School Prevention Activity
Staff Capacity Building
The sessions will provide an overview of the proposed services, anticipated commissioning approach, indicative timelines and opportunities for organisations to ask questions.
Organisations wishing to attend should register using the Eventbrite links above no later than Monday 17th August 2026 by 5pm
Indicative Procurement Timeline / Dates (Subject to change)
Deadline for market engagement questionnaire, 13 Aug 2026
Market Engagement, Information Session, 19 Aug 2026
Publish ITT, Late Aug / Early Sep
Contract commencement, Mid Jan 2027
Market Engagement Disclaimer
This notice is issued solely for the purpose of conducting pre-procurement market engagement. It does not constitute a call for competition, invitation to tender, or commitment by MOPAC or the VRU to undertake any procurement exercise. Any future procurement will be subject to separate advertisement and procurement documentation.
- Tender notice published28 days ago24 Sept 2026, 09:04 BST
- Clarification questions by12 days ago9 Oct 2026, 13:00 BST
- Today21 Oct 2026
- Submission deadlinein 8 days29 Oct 2026, 13:00 GMT
- Award decision expected byin 71 days31 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 102 days1 Feb 2027
Notice history
6 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 31 Jul 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published31 Jul 2026, 16:35 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published24 Sept 2026, 09:04 BSTUK4
- Published value updated24 Sept 2026, 09:04 BST
- Status changed to active24 Sept 2026, 09:04 BST
- Procurement method changed24 Sept 2026, 09:04 BST
- Deadline published: 29 Oct 2026, 13:00 GMT24 Sept 2026, 09:04 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Nothing awarded yet- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender