Official UK procurement notice
Best Start Family Hubs · UK public procurement notice
Authority: Worcestershire County Council (Local council)
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThe national Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies programme sets a refreshed direction for family and health support from April 2026 to March 2029. It builds on the learning from Sure Start, Family Hubs and Start for Life, with a clear expectation that local areas bring together health, education, early years, parenting and community support so that families can access help earlier, more easily and in places they already know and trust.
The programme places strong emphasis on early identification, prevention and reducing inequalities, particularly during pregnancy and the early years when the foundations for lifelong health, learning and development are laid. Best Start Family Hubs should provide a welcoming and inclusive front door for families, supported by a wider network of linked local services and outreach locations, so that families can receive the right support at the right time and are not left to navigate services on their own.
The updated national guidance describes Best Start Family Hubs as a key part of the Government’s wider Best Start in Life strategy, supporting the ambition for more children to achieve a good level of development by age five. The model remains universal and open to families from conception to age 19, or up to 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities, while prioritising support for families with babies and young children.
Locally, Worcestershire already has an established Family Hubs offer across the county. This procurement will support the expansion and strengthening of the current model so that it aligns with the additional national expectations for Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies, including improved access, outreach, partnership working and support for families during pregnancy and the early years.
Full details of the requirement can be found in Appendix 1a - Service Specification_Lot 1 and Appendix 1b - Service Specification_Lot 2.
This procurement is split into two Lots:
Lot 1 covers the districts of Bromsgrove, Redditch, Wyre Forest, as well as Great Witley and Tenbury Wells.
Lot 2 covers the districts of Worcester City, Wychavon and Malvern Hills (excluding Great Witley and Tenbury Wells)
CPV: Miscellaneous health services · Other community, social and personal services · Welfare services for children and young people
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · all with a published value (£14,400,000 together) · same conditions of participation on every lot · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Covers the districts of Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wyre Forest (including Great Witley…RenewalPublished value£7,142,400
Covers the districts of Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wyre Forest (including Great Witley and Tenbury Wells).
- Economic & financial standing
Financial accounts, Insurance, GDPR, Supply Chain Payment Terms.
- Technical & professional ability
Relevant experience (scored), IT Security Assessment, Data Protect, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Safeguarding, Health & Safety, Tackling Modern Slavery, Occupational Standards (see ITT document in tender pack).
Lot #2Covers the districts of Worcester City, Wychavon and Malvern Hills (excluding Great…RenewalPublished value£7,257,600
Covers the districts of Worcester City, Wychavon and Malvern Hills (excluding Great Witley and Tenbury Wells).
- Economic & financial standing
Financial accounts, Insurance, GDPR, Supply Chain Payment Terms.
- Technical & professional ability
Relevant experience (scored), IT Security Assessment, Data Protect, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Safeguarding, Health & Safety, Tackling Modern Slavery, Occupational Standards (see ITT document in tender pack).
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 sub-criteria (5)
- Quality criterion 1 (Lot 0): 25%
- Quality criterion 2 (Lot 0): 25%
- Quality criterion 3 (Lot 0): 20%
- Quality criterion 4 (Lot 0): 20%
- Quality criterion 5 (Lot 0): 10%
Published award criteria (5)
- Quality criterion 1 (Lot 0): Expansion of parenting and HLE interventions in line with national Best Start expectations. We are seeking a provider that can maximise the reach and impact of parenting support and home learning environment interventions, ensuring more families can access timely, evidence-based support in line with Best Start in Life and Family Hub expectations. Please describe how you will expand the delivery and uptake of parenting and home learning environment interventions to reach a greater number and wider range of families, in line with national Best Start Family Hub guidance. Your answer must include: • How you will increase awareness and access to parenting and home learning support. • How you will reach families who are less likely to engage with services. • How you will utilise a range of delivery methods, partners and settings to maximise reach. • How you will ensure interventions are evidence-based, proportionate to need, and monitored for impact. • How your approach will result in improved access, reduction in inequalities, increased engagement, and improve parenting/HLE outcomes • How you will meet and adhere to national requirements, standards and guidance (Word count: 1,500 words)
- Quality criterion 2 (Lot 0): Outreach and Network Sites Delivery must ensure Best Start Family Hub services are accessible within local communities and reach families who may be less likely to access support through core Best Start Family Hub buildings. Please describe how you will develop and deliver a Best Start Family Hub model that extends beyond the core hub sites and into local communities across the contract area. Your answer must include: • A practical delivery model for outreach, network sites and access. • How you will develop and maintain a network of Best Start Family Hub Network sites. • A clear proposed model showing how core hubs, outreach, network sites and partner venues will operate together. • How you will use outreach and community-based delivery to engage families who do not access Family Hub buildings, across the 0–19 age range and with a particular focus on families with children aged 0–5. • How you will provide effective family navigation by maintaining up-to-date knowledge of local services, building strong links with service providers and VCSE organisations, and enabling families to access the right support through clear in-person and digital routes. • How you will ensure families experience a smooth and coordinated transition between services for children aged 0–5 and the wider 0–19 offer. • How you will work with local partners and trusted community organisations to increase reach and accessibility. (Word count: 1,500 words)
- Quality criterion 3 (Lot 0): Community needs and insight Communities are at the heart of Public Health and the delivery of Best Start Family Hubs (BSFH). Therefore, understanding local communities and using data, insight, and family voice are fundamental to effective BSFH delivery Providers must demonstrate a strong understanding of the communities within the geographical area they are delivering services. How will you develop and maintain a detailed understanding of the local communities within the area, including local strengths, needs, assets, demographics and inequalities. Your answer must include: • Gathering and use of local data, insight and intelligence. • Demonstration of understanding of community strengths, needs and inequalities in local BSFH communities. • How you will deliver effective engagement with families, communities and local partners. • Approaches used to gather family voice and lived experience. Use of this community insight to shape and improve delivery. • How insight will be translated into service planning and continuous improvement, with examples of how this will be monitored, reviewed and improved • How you will ensure inclusive access and engagement for vulnerable families, rural communities, families with SEND, and those experiencing digital exclusion. (Word count: 1,300 words)
- Quality criterion 4 (Lot 0): Innovation, added value and quality assurance Providers must demonstrate organisational standards and suitably qualified staff as a key quality assurance measure. We also recognise that providers may be able to bring additional resources, expertise, partnerships and opportunities that enhance Best Start Family Hub delivery and improve outcomes for children, young people and families. Please describe the innovation, quality assurance and added value your organisation would bring to the delivery of this contract. Your answer must include: • How you will implement and maintain quality assurance arrangements, including clear performance indicators and processes for monitoring and improvement. • How you will recruit, deploy and retain a suitably qualified workforce to manage and deliver services across BSFH and outreach locations, including arrangements to support staff wellbeing. • How you will draw on the expertise, services and resources within your organisation’s core service offer, alongside the knowledge and expertise available through the wider Best Start network and community services, to strengthen and add value to BSFH delivery. • Access to additional funding, grants or in-kind resources that would enhance contract delivery. • How your involvement in national, regional or sector-wide networks and partnerships will add value to local delivery. • How you will identify, test and embed innovation and best practice, including learning from other areas and services. • How you will assess and address workforce development, training and skills needs to support high-quality delivery. (Word count: 1,300 words)
- Quality criterion 5 (Lot 0): Demonstration of Social Value Worcestershire County Council is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of Worcestershire residents in addition to supporting our local economy and environment. The Council's social value ambitions are set out in the Social Value Toolkit (appendix 1) this outlines the types of deliverables that can be offered to support your social impact as part of your bid. Describe how your organisation will deliver Social Value throughout the term of this contract. Your response should explain your organisation’s social value commitments and how you will generate additional benefits for Worcestershire beyond the delivery of the Best Start Family Hubs. As a minimum, your response should: *Clearly set out your proposed social value offer and the added value it will deliver to Worcestershire communities. *Explain what social value activities will be delivered, how they will be delivered, and when they will take place throughout the contract period, including measurable targets and outcomes where appropriate. *Demonstrate how your organisation will: • Support and strengthen the local economy. • Protect, improve and enhance the environment. • Promote and support local communities and the voluntary, community and faith sector. (Word count: 500 words)
- Economic & financial standing
Financial accounts, Insurance, GDPR, Supply Chain Payment Terms.
- Technical & professional ability
Relevant experience (scored), IT Security Assessment, Data Protect, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Safeguarding, Health & Safety, Tackling Modern Slavery, Occupational Standards (see ITT document in tender pack).
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
- Closed
- 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
- 21 Oct 2025, 08:19 BST
- Last source update
- 12 Aug 2026, 15:52 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 2 Dec 2026
- Authority reference
HEA25173- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-076925- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d050Find a Tender- Contract terms summary
Purchase order, paid quarterly in arrears, 30 days payment terms.
- Risks
Loss of any Family Hub buildings
Due to ongoing reviews and system pressures it is possible there may be changes in hub buildings and usage as the contract progresses. To mitigate we will ensure any changes to hub buildings are considered carefully to identify and mitigate against any impact to service users.
Disruption in service delivery within hubs in the event of a provider change
Sufficient time has been allowed to enable planning to ensure any required provider transitions are completed with minimal disruption to families accessing services.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
Changes arising from LGR may affect governance, commissioning responsibilities and the distribution of funding. Dependent on future local arrangements, there may be implications for service delivery and accountability.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 28 Sept 2026, 16:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 15 Sept 2026, 16:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
21 Oct 2025 → 1 Apr 2027 · 8 dates- Planning notice published371 days ago21 Oct 2025, 08:19 BST
- Market engagement136 days ago12 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
*This notice is for market awareness, engagement and request for information only*
Worcestershire County Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement (PME) to gain an understanding of the potential level of market interest and to gain further insight to inform the planned procurement of the Family Hubs provision.
The Family Hub contracted offer will provide Worcestershire’s locality based provision for support and early intervention for families. Family Hubs act as “one-stop shops” where families can access a wide range of support, services and information together under one roof. The commissioned Family Hub model will also continue to support the provision of locality networks to enhance partnership working between community based support and information for families.
Worcestershire County Council would like to invite interested organisations to provide feedback on the proposed service via an MS Forms survey (click link or copy this into your browser);
forms.cloud.microsoft/e/vLWV4M8S16 ↗
Your views and feedback will not be used for any part of the tender process and will only be used for the development of the service.
Please note that this Notice was previously published on 15/05/26 however the links in the earlier notices did not work.
If you are not already registered with in-tend, you will need to register your organisation to view and apply for any opportunities in Worcestershire. To complete your registration go to www.in-tendhost.co.uk/worcestershire/aspx/… ↗
- Next notice expected77 days ago10 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published75 days ago12 Aug 2026, 15:52 BST
- Clarification questions by41 days ago15 Sept 2026, 16:00 BST
- Submission deadline28 days ago28 Sept 2026, 16:00 BST
- Today26 Oct 2026
- Award decision expected byin 37 days2 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 156 days1 Apr 2027, 00:00 BST
Notice history
9 events · 5 releases on Find a Tender · since 21 Oct 2025- Pipeline notice published21 Oct 2025, 08:19 BSTUK1
- Preliminary market engagement notice published15 May 2026, 08:36 BSTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published15 May 2026, 09:36 BSTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published18 May 2026, 10:39 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published12 Aug 2026, 15:52 BSTUK4
- Published value updated to £14,400,00012 Aug 2026, 15:52 BSTwas £0
- Status changed to active12 Aug 2026, 15:52 BST
- Procurement method changed12 Aug 2026, 15:52 BST
- Deadline published: 28 Sept 2026, 16:00 BST12 Aug 2026, 15:52 BST
Routine re-releases (5)
- 2026-05: 1 release · 15 May 2026
- 2025-10: 1 release · 21 Oct 2025
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (5)
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
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement 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