Soft Market Testing - Specialist child exploitation support service

Nottinghamshire County Council is currently in the planning stage of a public procurement process concerning a contract titled "Soft Market Testing - Specialist child exploitation support service". This initiative is aimed at expanding current provisions and establishing enhanced support for children affected by criminal and sexual exploitation within Nottingham and surrounding areas, referenced as regions UKF15 and UKF16. The procurement falls under the services category in the social work domain (CPV: 85300000) and is designed to be above the financial threshold, thus adhering to the light touch regime.

Interested parties are encouraged to participate in a soft market testing exercise, concluding with submissions due by 29th January 2026. The entire contracting period is projected to run from 1st September 2026 to 31st August 2029. For more details and further participation, interested organisations can reach out via the provided contact point at Nottinghamshire County Council.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in social work and child welfare services to contribute to the enhancement of support systems for vulnerable children. The Council is specifically looking to increase funding by one-third for its already commissioned specialist service, enabling greater collaboration with both statutory and non-statutory bodies such as the youth justice service and other related projects. The procurement process is well-suited to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) owing to its suitability criteria.

Businesses with expertise in providing inclusive, supporting, and aspirational services for young people, especially those at risk of exploitation, are highly encouraged to engage with this market engagement opportunity to share insights that will shape future commissioning strategies.