Children's Short Breaks Closed Framework

Opportunity overview

Bedford Borough Council is seeking providers to deliver Children's Short Breaks Services through a Closed Framework Agreement. The Framework is divided into eight Lots: Lot 1: Community Short Breaks – Complex Care Lot 2: Community Short Breaks – Autism Lot 3: Community Short Breaks – EHCP / Special School Lot 4: Community Short Breaks – General SEND Lot 5: Community Short Breaks – SEND Gaming Youth Club Lot 6: Holiday Activity Short Breaks – Learning Disabilities and SEND (EHCP) Lot 7: Holiday Activity Short Breaks – Complex Physical and Health Needs Lot 8: Holiday Activity Short Breaks – Autism. The services will provide a range of community-based and holiday activities designed to promote inclusion, wellbeing, independence and positive outcomes for children and young people with SEND, while providing short break opportunities for families and carers.

Lot 1 — Complex Care

Monthly groups for pre-school, pre-teen and youth age ranges.

Estimated lot value including VAT: null

Award criterion: Quality: 95%

Award criterion: Social Value: 5%

Suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises.

Contract starts: 31 March 2027

Initial contract ends: 31 March 2030

Maximum term ends: 31 March 2032

Lot 2 — Autism

Ages 12 to 17 years; two youth groups, each meeting fortnightly in term time.

Estimated lot value including VAT: null

Award criterion: Quality: 95%

Award criterion: Social Value: 5%

Suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises.

Contract starts: 31 March 2027

Initial contract ends: 31 March 2030

Maximum term ends: 31 March 2032

Lot 3 — EHCP and Special School

ages 8 to 17 years, a weekly group for 42 weeks a year

Estimated lot value including VAT: null

Award criterion: Quality: 95%

Award criterion: Social Value: 5%

Suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises.

Contract starts: 31 March 2027

Initial contract ends: 31 March 2030

Maximum term ends: 31 March 2032

Lot 4 — General SEND

ages 5 to 17 years; a pre-teen group meeting twice a fortnight and a youth group meeting fortnightly, in term time

Estimated lot value including VAT: null

Award criterion: Quality: 95%

Award criterion: Social Value: 5%

Suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises.

Contract starts: 31 March 2027

Initial contract ends: 31 March 2030

Maximum term ends: 31 March 2032

Lot 5 — SEND Gaming Youth Club

ages 12 to 17 years; a weekly group in term time, plus a community meet-up or event each half term

Estimated lot value including VAT: null

Award criterion: Quality: 95%

Award criterion: Social Value: 5%

Suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises.

Contract starts: 31 March 2027

Initial contract ends: 31 March 2030

Maximum term ends: 31 March 2032

Lot 6 — Holiday Activities – Learning Disabilities and SEND (EHCP)

Reception to age 17 years; CYP with severe learning disabilities, autism or other SEND which requires them to have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The majority of these CYP will attend a specialist educational setting. The EHCP should be evidenced by their parents or carers.

Estimated lot value including VAT: null

Award criterion: Quality: 95%

Award criterion: Social Value: 5%

Suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises.

Contract starts: 31 March 2027

Initial contract ends: 31 March 2029

Maximum term ends: 31 March 2031

Lot 7 — Holiday Activities – Complex Physical and Health Needs

reception to age 17; CYP with complex physical disabilities and/or complex health needs, including cerebral palsy, profound and multiple learning difficulties, and medical needs such as enteral (tube) feeding, epilepsy requiring rescue medication or oxygen. Evidence may include a letter from a health professional, an EHCP or confirmation of attendance at a special school.

Estimated lot value including VAT: null

Award criterion: Quality: 95%

Award criterion: Social Value: 5%

Suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises.

Contract starts: 31 March 2027

Initial contract ends: 31 March 2029

Maximum term ends: 31 March 2031

Lot 8 — Holiday Activities – Autism

reception to age 17; CYP who have a diagnosis of autism or are undergoing assessment for autism, including those with high support needs. Where the Supplier also runs provision for CYP from other areas, the places funded under this contract must be for CYP who live in Bedford Borough.

Estimated lot value including VAT: null

Award criterion: Quality: 95%

Award criterion: Social Value: 5%

Suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises.

Contract starts: 31 March 2027

Initial contract ends: 31 March 2029

Maximum term ends: 31 March 2031

Contracting authority

Bedford Borough Council Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford, MK42 9AP, UKH24, United Kingdom Email: Commercial.Hub@bedford.gov.uk

Procurement timetable and procedure

Procedure: Open procedure

Special regime: Light Touch Regime

Submission deadline: 30 November 2026 at 01:00 pm

Award decision expected by: 21 December 2026 at 11:59 pm

Electronic submissions: allowed

Submission language: EN

CPV Classification

85300000 — Social work and related services; 85311300 — Welfare services for children and young people; 85312100 — Daycare services

How to submit

The official Find a Tender notice directs suppliers to In-Tend. The procurement documents, clarifications and response area are managed there.

Open In-Tend ↗

TenderLab qualification first

Before we write, we establish whether the opportunity fits.

We examine the published participation conditions, service scope, geography, regulatory position, available evidence, mobilisation demands and commercial exposure with your team. We only confirm a full tender-writing engagement when the available information supports a responsible view that the provider meets the tender requirements.

If Children's Short Breaks Closed Framework is a credible fit, we can map the scored requirements, gather operational evidence and build the response around the buyer documents. The qualification check and any writing support do not guarantee an award; the contracting authority makes the final decision.