Published date: 25 January 2023

This notice was replaced on 15 June 2023

This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:

Future opportunity (published 15 June 2023)

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Contract summary

Industry

  • Health and social work services - 85000000

Location of contract

North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West

Value of contract

£800,000

Procurement reference

tender_349054/1171442

Published date

25 January 2023

Closing date

14 February 2023

Closing time

12am

Contract start date

1 April 2024

Contract end date

31 March 2027

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (above threshold)

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

This procedure can be used for procurements above the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

This PIN is for market engagement only. It does not signify the commencement of any procurement process and does not constitute any commitment by the Department for Education. If the Department for Education decides to commence any procurement process as contemplated by this notice, a separate notice will be published at the relevant time. The requirements and values set out below may be subject to change.

The Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) provides an essential statutory service to prospective and existing foster parents, adopters, and adult adoptees. The main function of the IRM is to offer an objective and independent route for applicants to request a review of decisions made by fostering and adoption services about their approval status and access to their records. The service offered by the IRM is unique within the sector and enables applicants to have their case heard by an independent panel of children's social care experts.

We will be holding an initial market engagement session to talk about the service requirements and seek feedback from the sector on 15th February at 11-11:45 am.
Following this initial market engagement session we will be offering 30-minute 1-2-1 meetings w/c 20th February.
A question and answer log will be circulated after all sessions have taken place via the commercial Jaggaer system.
To confirm your attendance please email Rose.Howell@education.gov.uk.

More information

Additional text

Estimated Contract Value: £800,000 for the total contract period including the optional extension (2 years +1 year optional extension)

Information about lots: n/a

Place of performance: England

Description of the procurement:

The IRM is provided for in regulations and as a result, some elements of its delivery are prescribed in legislation. The service was introduced in 2005 through secondary legislation, under Sections 9 and 12 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 . The purpose was to offer prospective adopters an opportunity to have decisions (Qualifying Determinations) reviewed by an independent panel if they had not been approved to adopt by their local authority or agency and were unhappy with the decision. The Independent Review of Determinations (Adoption and Fostering) Regulations 2009 expanded the original remit to provide a similar service to prospective and existing foster parents who are deemed ineligible to foster, or who face changes to their approvals; and to adult adoptees wishing to review historic decisions made about accessing their birth records.

Further information about the IRM can be found here: Independent Review Mechanism - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

About the buyer

Contact name

Rose Howell

Address

St Pauls Place
Sheffield
S1 2FJ
England

Email

rose.howell@education.gov.uk