Official UK procurement notice
Open Light Touch Framework for the Provision of Short Breaks for Disabled Children and Young People in Devon
Authority: Devon County Council (Local council)
Re-procurement openOpen Light Touch Framework for Independent and Alternative Education Support for Children and Young People in Devon · bids close
What is being bought3 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionDevon County Council (DCC) will be setting up an Open Light Touch Framework for the provision of Short Breaks for Disabled Children and Young People in Devon.
This Framework will enable DCC to call-off and award individual packages and block contracts for placements to approved Framework Suppliers.
The framework will comprise the following Lots:
Lot 1: Targeted support and short breaks for children
from birth up to 13 years
Lot 2: Targeted support and short breaks for older
adolescents (ages 14 to 17 years)
Lot 3: Specialist provision and short breaks for
children from birth up to 17 years
CPV: Health and social work services · Other community, social and personal services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework · open framework scheme (admission reopens)
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Bids received
- 26 bids on the busiest of 3 lots · 31 suppliers appointed
- Framework period
- 5 yrs · up to 8 yrs from 3 Nov 2026
- Scheme runs until
- 2 Nov 2034
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
- There is no fee.
Published description of the framework
An 'open framework' is a scheme of successive frameworks awarded on substantially the same terms. New providers can Bid and be added each time the framework is reopened. The existing framework ends and a new framework begins after each reopening process. In compliance with Section 49 of the Act an Open Framework must re-open at least once during the first three (3) years and then at least once during the following five (5) year period.
Each time a Framework is reopened for Bids, this will be known as an Entry Point. The Framework Contracts entered into after each Entry Point will be known by the successive Framework number. e.g. the initial Framework linked to Entry Point 1 will be known as Framework One, the subsequent Framework linked to Entry Point 2 will be known as Framework Two and so on.
It is anticipated that there will be two (2) Entry Points in the first year (Entry Point 1 closing 26 August 2026 and then Entry Point 2 opening 9 November 2026, and one (1) Entry Point every other year for the duration of the Open Framework.
However, the Authority reserves the right to have more Entry Points at its discretion. A Tender Notice will be published on the Platform each time the Framework is re-opened.
Existing Providers who were previously appointed onto one or more Lot(s) of the Open Framework will automatically be appointed onto the subsequent Framework(s) and will not need to take any action in response to the re-opening of the Framework unless:-
they choose to submit a new Bid in response to an Entry Point, or
they request in writing that the Authority does not appoint them onto one or more Lot(s) of the new Framework following the re-opening of an Entry Point
Bidders who are successful in a bid will be appointed onto the Open Framework by entering into a Framework Agreement, with Devon County Council (DCC).
Placements and packages of work under any of the Lots will then be awarded via a further competition process or a call-off without competition. A full explanation of the processes can be found within the Framework Terms and Conditions.
Note that DCC cannot give any guarantee of business or of the actual value of any Contracts awarded under the Framework.
Usage and values of Contracts may be affected by the implementation of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). Further information on LGR can be found in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) document.
Bidders are required to complete a Provision and Price schedule for the Lot(s) they are bidding for. The prices submitted will not be evaluated, however they will be used at Call-off Contract stage where costs submitted cannot exceed those stated in the Provision and Price Schedule (taking into account any agreed fee increase as per the Fee and Inflationary Uplift Protocol). This Protocol can be viewed in Appendix 8 of the ITT document.
Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure
3 lots · all with a published value · same conditions of participation on every lot · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Targeted support and short breaks for children from birth up to 13 yearsAwardedRenewalPublished value£14,400,000
The source published no individual description for this lot.
- Economic & financial standing
The conditions of participation relating to the legal and financial capacity and technical ability are set out in the procurement documents, in the procurement specific questionnaire. The conditions of participation will be assessed in accordance with the assessment methodologies detailed in the procurement specific questionnaire.
- Technical & professional ability
The conditions of participation relating to the legal and financial capacity and technical ability are set out in the procurement documents, in the procurement specific questionnaire. The conditions of participation will be assessed in accordance with the assessment methodologies detailed in the procurement specific questionnaire.
Lot #2Targeted support and short breaks for older adolescents (ages 14-17)AwardedRenewalPublished value£9,600,000
The source published no individual description for this lot.
- Economic & financial standing
The conditions of participation relating to the legal and financial capacity and technical ability are set out in the procurement documents, in the procurement specific questionnaire. The conditions of participation will be assessed in accordance with the assessment methodologies detailed in the procurement specific questionnaire.
- Technical & professional ability
The conditions of participation relating to the legal and financial capacity and technical ability are set out in the procurement documents, in the procurement specific questionnaire. The conditions of participation will be assessed in accordance with the assessment methodologies detailed in the procurement specific questionnaire.
Lot #3Specialist provision and short breaks for children from birth up to 17 yearsAwardedRenewalPublished value£20,000,000
The source published no individual description for this lot.
- Economic & financial standing
The conditions of participation relating to the legal and financial capacity and technical ability are set out in the procurement documents, in the procurement specific questionnaire. The conditions of participation will be assessed in accordance with the assessment methodologies detailed in the procurement specific questionnaire.
- Technical & professional ability
The conditions of participation relating to the legal and financial capacity and technical ability are set out in the procurement documents, in the procurement specific questionnaire. The conditions of participation will be assessed in accordance with the assessment methodologies detailed in the procurement specific questionnaire.
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
- Economic & financial standing
The conditions of participation relating to the legal and financial capacity and technical ability are set out in the procurement documents, in the procurement specific questionnaire. The conditions of participation will be assessed in accordance with the assessment methodologies detailed in the procurement specific questionnaire.
- Technical & professional ability
The conditions of participation relating to the legal and financial capacity and technical ability are set out in the procurement documents, in the procurement specific questionnaire. The conditions of participation will be assessed in accordance with the assessment methodologies detailed in the procurement specific questionnaire.
- “Open Light Touch Framework for the Provision of Short Breaks for…” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
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
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Open framework scheme
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 27 Jun 2025, 14:30 BST
- Last source update
- 21 Oct 2026, 10:51 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 20 Oct 2026
- Authority reference
CP2632-25- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-068203- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-055545Find a Tender- Contract terms summary
The terms and conditions for payments can be found within the competition documents pack.
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 26 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 19 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
- call-off levy · There is no fee.
Suppliers can access the business opportunity via Supplying the South West Procurement portal at www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk ↗.
Register your expression of interest to the advert and then automatic access will be provided to the competition documentation, terms and conditions and any supporting information. This information can be downloaded for completion.
Your submission can be started on the same system/page where you downloaded the documentation, where you can then upload your completed competition documentation.
The authority does not accept submission from any other method.
Timeline
27 Jun 2025 → 3 Nov 2026 · 11 dates- Planning notice published27 Jun 2025, 14:30 BST
- Market engagement143 days ago3 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
The new Devon Local Area Short Break strategy 2026-2030 sets out a clear vision for an inclusive, high quality graduated short break offer that promotes independence, life skills, and community involvement.
This strategy has been developed with input from children and young people, parent carers and community partners, and builds on statutory responsibilities and co-production principles. Key changes will include a strengthened community offer, expanding universal and universal-plus activities, and the creation of a commissioned framework of providers for targeted and specialist short breaks.
Devon County Council would now like to invite providers to an information event at which the latest details of our framework commissioning intentions, planned process and expected timeframes will be shared.
This event will be held online via Microsoft Teams on 3rd June 2026 from 11:00 to 12:00. If you would like to attend the event please email [email protected] and a Teams invitation will be sent to you.
- Next notice expected116 days ago30 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published96 days ago20 Jul 2026, 12:37 BST
- Clarification questions by66 days ago19 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends59 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown26 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
- Award decision expected by4 days ago20 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
- Assessment summaries sent4 days ago21 Oct 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published3 days ago21 Oct 2026, 10:51 BST
- Today24 Oct 2026
- Standstill endsin 6 days30 Oct 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 9 days3 Nov 2026
Notice history
15 events · 8 releases on Find a Tender · since 27 Jun 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published27 Jun 2025, 14:30 BSTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published27 Jun 2025, 14:37 BSTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published8 Aug 2025, 10:28 BSTUK2
- Pipeline notice published16 Dec 2025, 10:16 GMTUK1
- Status changed to planned16 Dec 2025, 10:16 GMT
- Preliminary market engagement notice published19 May 2026, 15:23 BSTUK2
- Published value published: £44,000,00019 May 2026, 15:23 BST
- Tender notice published20 Jul 2026, 12:37 BSTUK4
- Status changed to active20 Jul 2026, 12:37 BST
- Procurement method changed20 Jul 2026, 12:37 BST
- Deadline published: 26 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST20 Jul 2026, 12:37 BST
- Tender notice published28 Jul 2026, 13:04 BSTUK4
- Contract award notice published21 Oct 2026, 10:51 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete21 Oct 2026, 10:51 BST
- Contract signature expected3 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
Published amendments (2)
The deadline date of engagement has been changed to correspond with the date of the last of our preliminary market engagement events. The anticipated date of issue of the Tender Notice has been changed.
Notice amended to remove reference to registering for the bidder event on 28th July 2026, as this has now been held.
Routine re-releases (8)
- 2026-05: 1 release · 19 May 2026
- 2025-12: 1 release · 16 Dec 2025
- 2025-08: 1 release · 8 Aug 2025
- 2025-06: 2 releases · 27 Jun 2025, 27 Jun 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecastBid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Targeted support and short breaks for children from birth up to 13 years | 23final-stage tenders | 19 | 7 | — |
| 2 · Targeted support and short breaks for older adolescents (ages 14-17) | 26final-stage tenders | 22 | 7 | — |
| 3 · Specialist provision and short breaks for children from birth up to 17 years | 22final-stage tenders | 20 | 5 | — |
Who bid
- did not winAGILE WORKFORCE SERVICES LIMITEDSME · Greater London · all lots
- wonAPPLE TREE FARM SERVICES CICVCSE · South West England · all lots
- did not winBRIGHT STEPS DEVON CICVCSE · South West England · 1, 2
- did not winCDD HEALTHCARE STAFFING LTD · South West England · all lots
- wonCOMMUNITY EQUALITY DISABILITY ACTIONVCSE · South West England · all lots
- wonESTEEM TEAM CICVCSE · South West England · all lots
- did not winEXETER CITY COMMUNITY TRUSTSMEVCSE · South West England · all lots
- did not winFIELD STUDIES COUNCILVCSE · West Midlands · 1, 2
- did not winIDENTITY QUALITY CARE LTD · East of England · all lots
- wonIMPRESSION SERVICES LTDSME · East Midlands · 1, 3
- did not winINVOLVE CARE SOLUTIONS LIMITED · South West England · all lots
- did not winMYCARE4U HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS LTDSME · West Midlands · all lots
- wonNETWORK HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS LIMITED · West Midlands · all lots
- did not winNEXTGEN YOUNG PEOPLE'S SERVICES LTD · South West England · all lots
- did not winPGL TRAVEL LIMITEDSME · West Midlands · 1, 2
- did not winPLYMOUTH ARGYLE FOOTBALL IN THE COMMUNITY TRUSTSME · South West England · 1, 2
- did not winPOLES APART AP LTDSME · South West England · all lots
- wonREQUEST SERVICES LIMITED · South East England · all lots
- did not winSOUTH WEST INTERVENTION SERVICES LIMITED · North West England · 1, 2
- did not winSPORT WORKS LIMITEDSME · North West England · 1, 2
- did not winSWIFT CARE SERVICES LTDSMEVCSE · South West England · all lots
- wonTHE OUTDOORS GROUP LTD · South West England · 1, 2
- wonTUBERS ACADEMY LTD · South West England · all lots
- wonALPHA CARE SW LTD · South West England · 2
- did not winBEE COMPASSIONATE COMPLEX CARE LTD · South West England · 2, 3
- did not winCREATIVE CURIOSITIES SW CIC · South West England · 2
- did not winEVEREST RECRUITMENT AND SERVICES LTDSME · North West England · 2, 3
- did not winACCESS COMMUNICATION SERVICES LTD · South West England · 3
- wonAEON NURSING LTD · Greater London · 3
- did not winCARIAD CARE LTD · South West England · 3
- wonORCHARD SATURDAY CLUB · South West England · 3
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
31 commercial parties on the notice- ACCESS COMMUNICATION SERVICES LTDFramework contractor
- AEON NURSING LTDFramework contractor
- AGILE WORKFORCE SERVICES LIMITEDFramework contractor
- ALPHA CARE SW LTDFramework contractor
- APPLE TREE FARM SERVICES CICFramework contractor
- BEE COMPASSIONATE COMPLEX CARE LTDFramework contractor
- BRIGHT STEPS DEVON CICFramework contractor
- CARIAD CARE LTDFramework contractor
- CDD HEALTHCARE STAFFING LTDFramework contractor
- COMMUNITY EQUALITY DISABILITY ACTIONFramework contractor
Show 21 more suppliers
- CREATIVE CURIOSITIES SW CICFramework contractor
- ESTEEM TEAM CICFramework contractor
- EVEREST RECRUITMENT AND SERVICES LTDFramework contractor
- EXETER CITY COMMUNITY TRUSTFramework contractor
- FIELD STUDIES COUNCILFramework contractor
- IDENTITY QUALITY CARE LTDFramework contractor
- IMPRESSION SERVICES LTDFramework contractor
- INVOLVE CARE SOLUTIONS LIMITEDFramework contractor
- MYCARE4U HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS LTDFramework contractor
- NETWORK HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS LIMITEDFramework contractor
- NEXTGEN YOUNG PEOPLE'S SERVICES LTDFramework contractor
- ORCHARD SATURDAY CLUBFramework contractor
- PGL TRAVEL LIMITEDFramework contractor
- PLYMOUTH ARGYLE FOOTBALL IN THE COMMUNITY TRUSTFramework contractor
- POLES APART AP LTDFramework contractor
- REQUEST SERVICES LIMITEDFramework contractor
- SOUTH WEST INTERVENTION SERVICES LIMITEDFramework contractor
- SPORT WORKS LIMITEDFramework contractor
- SWIFT CARE SERVICES LTDFramework contractor
- THE OUTDOORS GROUP LTDFramework contractor
- TUBERS ACADEMY LTDFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (10)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Show 2 more notices
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender