Official UK procurement notice
Provider List for Break Time & Short Breaks (including intensive therapeutic and short breaks service (ITSBS) for SEND children and young people)
Authority: Lancashire County Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionLancashire County Council is preparing to recommission its Break Time & Short Breaks services for children and young people aged 0-18 with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), with a new framework planned to commence on 5 April 2027.
As part of this process, the Council is undertaking market engagement to:
- Understand provider capacity, capability, and interest
- Gather feedback on the current service model
- Explore opportunities to strengthen inclusion, accessibility, and flexibility
- Inform the final commissioning approach and tender design
This notice invites existing and potential providers of Short Breaks and Break Time (group based SEND activities) to participate
CPV: Health and social work services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Framework period
- 8 yrs from 5 Apr 2027
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedWhat 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).
- “Provider List for Break Time & Short Breaks (including intensive…” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.
Pipeline intelligence · planning stage: how this market runs before the tender is published
How Lancashire County Council buys Health and social work services (CPV 85), and who usually turns up
Lancashire County Council’s published record next to the market for the same work. Compared with other frameworks and DPS only. Whole-market view: Health and social work services (CPV 85) →
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. 562 known-size awards sit across 52 procurements, so one procurement can dominate this percentage.
i
How often local firms win similar work.
Winners with a registered address in the delivery region, out of awards with a known address.
Local means the winner is registered in the region where that award was delivered. The market figure counts awards delivered in North West England.
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners were registered in the region where that award was delivered. 684 known-location awards sit across 52 procurements, so one procurement can dominate this percentage.
i
How long buyers here take to decide after bids close.
Middle value in days from the bid deadline to the award date, on competitions that published both.
Only decided tenders count, so slow ones still waiting are not in.
Half of these awards have an award date within 51 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.
The market share is a minimum: some awards have no bid count.
Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.
Awards are recorded, but published direct routes and bid counts do not establish this buyer’s share.
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 bid24% / 4%
2–341% / 11%
4–625% / 18%
7+10% / 68%
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.
On a framework or DPS, prices are agreed when work is called off.
Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.
Not comparable on a framework or DPS: the price is set later, on each call-off.
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 #1CPV 85Published estimate£70m
This lot lists more than one class in CPV 85. The comparison uses that group.
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. The bar shows 84 past lots.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid4%
2–311%
4–618%
7+68%
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.
No comparable awards for this lot yet.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
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.
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.
Candidate suppliers for this notice have not been worked out yet, so this is not a verdict that nobody fits.
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.
What this replaces i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
52% title match.
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.
52% title match.
A past supplier may not bid again.
The prior contract this notice most likely re-tenders · matched by title and category (52% title match), the holder is not guaranteed to re-bid
Provider list for Break Time, Home Care and Short Breaks Services for children and young people with disabilities — held by IT'S SLIME FOR FUN and MY LIFE - MY CHOICE LTD (+1 more); no contract end date published.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Planned procurement
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- 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
- 16 Mar 2026, 10:28 GMT
- Last source update
- 1 May 2026, 08:56 BST
- Authority reference
NM/CYP/CAPH/LCC/26/1514- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-040249- Latest notice
- Preliminary market engagement notice (UK2)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-066ab3Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- —
Timeline
16 Mar 2026 → 5 Apr 2027 · 5 dates- Planning notice published222 days ago16 Mar 2026, 10:28 GMT
- Market engagement177 days ago30 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
Background
Short Breaks and Break Time provide essential support for children and young people with SEND by offering quality group based activities, building independence, social skills and confidence, and giving families a much needed break from caring.
Feedback from families, children, practitioners and providers has highlighted variable availability across the county, increasing levels of need, demand for more local and accessible provision, the importance of 1:1 and personal care capacity, and the need for consistent information across providers. Providers have also expressed interest in clearer commissioning expectations, improved communication, and shared development opportunities.
The Council is reviewing the current delivery approach, including the Break Time model, and wishes to test potential enhancements with the market ahead of formal tendering.
Objectives
The preliminary market engagement aims to:
- Understand the Current and Potential Provider Market
- Assess provider capacity, capability, and areas of specialism.
- Identify geographical gaps, staffing challenges, and delivery constraints.
- Gather Insight to Inform the Service Model
- Collect feedback on the strengths and limitations of the current Break Time and Short Breaks offer.
- Test emerging commissioning ideas, including approaches to inclusion, accessibility, flexible delivery, and support for children with higher or complex needs.
- Support the Development of a Clear and Achievable Specification
- Ensure the future framework reflects realistic provider operating conditions.
- Explore innovation, partnership opportunities, and models that enhance local access and consistency.
- Strengthen Provider Engagement and Transparency
- Provide clarity on anticipated timescales, expectations, and the future tender process.
- Build open communication channels and support new providers to enter the market.
- Help Shape a Fair, Competitive, and Well Informed Procurement Process
- Ensure providers are well prepared for the upcoming tender.
- Use market insight to design a commissioning approach that is deliverable, sustainable, and responsive to family needs.
The Council is actively reaching out to both current and potential providers of Short Breaks and Break Time services to:
- Understand market capacity and capability
- Gauge interest levels
- Explore potential improvements to service delivery
- Test elements of the future commissioning approach
This is being done before the specification and tender documents are finalised.
These activities form the core of the preliminary engagement:
A. Online Webinar
An introductory session delivered via Microsoft Teams where the Council:
- Presents the current service model
- Shares emerging commissioning intentions
- Provides a Q&A opportunity for providers
B. In Person Provider Engagement Event
A deeper engagement session including:
- Overview of the existing offer
- Discussion of inclusion, accessibility, and staffing models
- Consideration of innovative and flexible delivery options
- Provider workshops to gather detailed feedback
C. Provider Feedback Questionnaire
A structured survey to collect further detail on:
- Activity types
- Staffing and capacity
- Geographical reach
- Ability to support children with complex needs
- Barriers to delivering Short Breaks
- Provider recommendations for improvement
Who Should Attend?
This engagement is open to:
- Current Short Breaks / Break Time providers
- Academies delivering or interested in delivering SEND activities
- Community, voluntary and social enterprise organisations
- Specialist SEND providers
- Organisations with experience in play, youth work, outdoor education, creative arts, sports, life skills, or therapeutic activities
- Providers able to offer 1:1, personal care, medical needs support, or sensory friendly environments
Both new and potential providers are welcome.
Invitation for Providers to Register Interest
The Council is inviting organisations to register for:
- The in person event
- The online webinar
- Updates and future communications
This ensures a broad provider base is informed and able to contribute.
HOW TO REGISTER
Providers who wish to register should do so using one or both links below:-
BREAK TIME
forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx ↗
CHILDRENS SHORT BREAKS - DOMICILLIARY/HOMECARE PROVIDER
forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx ↗
Or please see the link below to the engagement notice on Lancashire County Councils website:-
www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and… ↗
QUESTIONS
For questions relating to this notice or the engagement events, please contact:
- Latest notice published176 days ago1 May 2026, 08:56 BST
- Tender notice expected110 days ago6 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
- Today24 Oct 2026
- Contract startsin 162 days5 Apr 2027, 00:00 BST
Notice history
2 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 16 Mar 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published16 Mar 2026, 10:28 GMTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published1 May 2026, 08:56 BSTUK2
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Pipeline notice- 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
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender