Children's Short Breaks Closed Framework

What the buyer is asking for

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.

How this is scored

Published by the buyer. A winning response is written to these weightings, not to the question.

• 95%qualityQuality
• 5%qualitySocial Value

8 lots

You can usually bid for one lot without bidding for all of them.

• Complex Care

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

• Autism

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

• EHCP and Special School

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

• General SEND

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

• 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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

How contested is this?

Buyers publish how many bids they received. Across 244 comparable procurements we can tell you the typical field size, how often one of these goes uncontested, and whether the buyer awards on price or on quality.

Timeline

3 published dates · Europe/London

1. Tender notice published4 days ago

   2 Nov 2026, 11:30 GMT
2. Submission deadlinein 24 days

   30 Nov 2026, 13:00 GMT
3. Award decision expected byin 45 days

   21 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT

Commercial outcome and contract awards

Nothing awarded yet

Notice history

2 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender

1. Pipeline or early engagement notice9 Oct 2026, 17:07 BST095840-2026
2. Tender notice2 Nov 2026, 11:30 GMT103645-2026

Documents

• Tender notice on Find a Tender