Coming up· published 10 Dec 2025
Soft Market Testing - Reg 44 Inspections
St Helens Council · Trafford, North West
St Helens Council is planning Soft Market Testing - Reg 44 Inspections. It is a contract for other health and social care in Trafford.
Source: Find a Tender, published 11 Dec 2025. Details are refreshed every 30 minutes.
Key dates
2025
Pipeline notice published
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice · 15:33
View notice2025
Tender notice expected
Date given in the buyer's earlier notice
2026
Contract starts
Next
2029
Contract ends
3 years after it starts
About this tender
In brief
St Helens Council is planning Soft Market Testing - Reg 44 Inspections. It is a contract for other health and social care in Trafford. The buyer has published an early notice. It gives providers time to prepare before the tender opens. The estimated value is £17,700. The contract runs from 31 March 2026 to 31 March 2029. It lasts 3 years.
The buyer marks it as suitable for SMEs and VCSEs. Find a Tender published it on 11 December 2025. The notice number is 082131-2025. The OCDS ID is ocds-h6vhtk-05f422.
Summary of the contracting process
St Helens Council is currently in the planning stage for a procurement process titled "Soft Market Testing - Reg 44 Inspections." This process falls under the services industry, specifically health and social work services, and is aimed at sourcing an Independent Regulation 44 Visitor Service.
Located in St Helens, United Kingdom (UKD71), the council seeks to expand its Regulation 44 inspections from two to five children's homes, with a potential sixth home anticipated. Key procurement dates include a soft market testing deadline set for 23rd December 2025. The procurement is part of a light-touch regime and the contract period is expected to run from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2029.
Star Procurement is supporting as the procuring entity, and the main contact email for potential providers is procurement@star-procurement.gov.uk. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), are encouraged to participate, given the suitability criteria laid out.
With a contract value of £17,700, this tender offers a chance for businesses to engage with a governmental body and potentially expand service offerings to meet increasing demands within the region.
The notice in full
St Helens Council is undertaking soft market testing ahead of a forthcoming procurement for an Independent Regulation 44 Visitor Service. The Council currently commissions Regulation 44 inspections for two of its children's homes. However, due to recent service expansion, Regulation 44 inspections are now required for five children's homes, with a potential sixth home expected to open in the near future.
Further expansion of provision is also possible during the lifetime of the contract.
Lots: no lot details came through with this notice. The official notice and the tender pack have the full breakdown.
Key facts
Contract
- Service
- Other health and social care
- Procurement type
- Standard
- Category
- Services
- Contract period
- 31 Mar 2026 to 31 Mar 2029 (3 years)
- Suitable for
- Small and medium sized businesses (SMEs); Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs)
Procedure
- Notice type
- UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
- Current stage
- Planning
- Stages so far
- Planning
- Published on
- Find a Tender Service
Not stated in the notice: procurement method, awardee scale.
Values
- Tender value
- £17,700
Not stated in the notice: lots value, awards value, contracts value.
Status
- Tender
- Planning
- Lots
- Planning
Not stated in the notice: awards, contracts.
References
- Find a Tender notice
- 082131-2025
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-05f422
- CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
- CPV division
- 85 - Health and social work services
Location
- Local authority
- Trafford
- Town
- Warrington
- Postcode
- WA10 1HP
- Electoral ward
- Sale Central
- Constituency
- Wythenshawe and Sale East
- Delivery area
- Merseyside
- Region
- North West
- Sub-region
- Greater Manchester South West
- Area
- Greater Manchester
- Country
- England
Buyer
Contracting authority
- Organisation
- St Helens Council
- Category
- Services
- Address
- St Helens, WA10 1HP · North West · England
Not stated in the notice: contact, phone.
Documents and links
Questions about Soft Market Testing - Reg 44 Inspections
When will the Soft Market Testing - Reg 44 Inspections tender open?
St Helens Council has not yet given a date for the tender notice. An early notice is the time to answer any market engagement questions and gather the evidence a bid will need.
How much is the Soft Market Testing - Reg 44 Inspections contract worth?
The estimated value is £17,700. The contract runs from 31 March 2026 to 31 March 2029 (3 years).
Who is the buyer for Soft Market Testing - Reg 44 Inspections?
St Helens Council, based in Trafford, North West.
How do I bid for Soft Market Testing - Reg 44 Inspections?
Register on the buyer's portal named in the notice, download the tender pack and check every condition of participation before you start writing. The buyer has marked it as suitable for SMEs and VCSEs. Care Sync Experts writes and reviews care tender bids from £1,500 + VAT.
Want help winning this tender?
We write and review care tender bids: quality answers, case studies and social value, checked against how the buyer scores before you submit.
What to do next
- Read the early notice in full.
- Answer any market engagement questions.
- Gather your evidence and case studies now.
- Check your policies are up to date.
- Watch for the tender notice.
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