Find a TenderClosedTender notice
Published 5 Oct 2026, 16:44 BST

Official UK procurement notice

East Midlands Children’s Improvement Adviser (CIA) with notice

Official notice

Authority: Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government (IDeA) (Public body)

ServicesBelow threshold - open competitionBelow thresholdLight touch regimeReserved: K02000001SME suitable
Published estimate£42,000£50,400 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 19 Oct 2026
Contract term 5 moends 31 Mar 2027 · up to 31 Mar 2028 with extensions · starts 2 Nov 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The LGA delivers a programme of children’s services leadership support to councils and corporate and political leaders. To support delivery of the LGA’s programme of children’s services leadership support to councils and corporate or political leaders through provision of associate support to councils, specifically (but not exclusively) in children’s social care and SEND.

Bidders must have had recent experience as a statutory Director of Children’s Services

The East Midlands regional Children’s Improvement Adviser will be required to:

Work closely with the LGA children’s improvement advisors who focus on SEND and corporate leadership to ensure a coherent offer of support.

Build a wider understanding of the LGAs improvement support to ensure a coherent and co-ordinated offer to councils.

Develop strong relationships with councils and corporate and political leaders in a region to build a clear understanding of need in children’s services, to support leadership, identify innovative solutions, broker improvement strategies, and ensure they are delivered.

Build a direct relationship with the regional improvement and innovation alliances (RIIAs) in terms of strategic planning, intervention and resources, and to provide support and challenge to the delivery of regional plans.

Provide constructive challenge to local and regional approaches and priorities.

Identify and support councils at risk of failure.

Work with the LGA’s children’s improvement team to commission additional capacity and expertise to improve services for children.

Ensure best practice and learning is shared.

(Greater detail of the Services are set out in attached draft contract in Appendix 2).

Contract dates:

The date for commencement of the Services is: November 2026

The date for completion of the Services is: 31 March 2027, with the option to review and extend for an additional 1 year

Price payable:

This Purchaser will pay a daily rate of £700 excluding VAT, which is fixed. Reasonable travel and accommodation expenses will also be paid in line with LGA policies. Up to 60 days per year (pro rata) will be allocated up to the completion date of 31 March 2027. This represents a maximum annual contract value of £42,000 (exclusive of VAT), pro rata.

To apply:

To submit a bid please find link below to the LGA procurement platform, you will need to register an account first (see bottom link 'Register'). With any navigational or uploading issues please contact the platform's help team Email: support@panacea-software.com

Telephone: 0207 976 0116.

CPV: Administrative social services · Research and development consultancy services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1Renewal 5 moSMEPublished value£42,000
Contract period: 2 Nov 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 (5 mo) · up to 31 Mar 2028 with extensionsValue: £42,000 exc. VAT · £50,400 inc. VAT
Delivery: East MidlandsEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: Contract may be extended at Purchaser's discretion for up to 1 year

What it takes to win
i

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 more
How bids were scored

Lot awarding rule: Quality questions: Capability, relevant skills and experience Regional relationships Working in a political environment Approach to delivery

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Below threshold - open competition
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Closed
Procurement threshold
Below threshold
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
5 Oct 2026, 16:44 BST
Last source update
5 Oct 2026, 16:47 BST
Authority reference
CIA EM 2026
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-093993
Latest notice
Tender notice (UK4)
Classification (CPV)
Administrative social servicesResearch and development consultancy services
Delivery area
East Midlands (UKF)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-07811e Find a Tender
Contract terms
Reserved participation area
K02000001

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: Panacea
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowed
Access & registration note: Free
Submission deadline
19 Oct 2026, 17:00 BST
Clarification deadline
15 Oct 2026, 17:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

5 Oct 2026 → 2 Nov 2026 · 4 dates
  1. Tender notice published23 days ago
    5 Oct 2026, 16:44 BST
  2. Clarification questions by13 days ago
    15 Oct 2026, 17:00 BST
  3. Submission deadline9 days ago
    19 Oct 2026, 17:00 BST
  4. Today
    29 Oct 2026
  5. Contract startsin 3 days
    2 Nov 2026

Notice history

2 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 5 Oct 2026
  1. Tender notice published
    5 Oct 2026, 16:44 BST
    UK4
  2. Tender notice published
    5 Oct 2026, 16:47 BST
    UK4
Published amendments (1)

short description of award criteria added

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government (IDeA)

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-COH: 03675577 18 smith square, london, London, sw1p 3hzContact name, email, phone

Official documents & specifications (2)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender