Portsmouth City Council - Term Service Contracts for Targeted Short Breaks and Specialist Playschemes 2026

Overview

Following receipt of tenders on Friday 1st May 2026 the Council has concluded the assessment process and issued assessment summaries to the successful and unsuccessful suppliers as required under Section 50 of the Procurement Act 23 (the 'Act'). Issuing of this Award Notice will now instigate the mandatory standstill period which will not be less than eight-working days (the Standstill Period), inline with section 51 of the Act. The Council reserves the right to amend (extend)the Standstill Period if needed; if this right is exercised, the Contract Award Notice will be updated and affected suppliers will be notified accordingly. After the Standstill Period has expired, and provided no legal challenge has been made by the end of the Standstill Period or any agreed extension, the Council intends to enter into contracts with the Successful Supplier. Following this, the Council also intends to publish a Contract Details Notice. Description of the Contract The Council is appointing Providers to provide Targeted Short Breaks and Specialist Holiday Playschemes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and additional needs within Portsmouth, at an estimated annual value of approximately £517,000 collectively per annum, which is to be split accordingly between three separate lots and services. Each contract will be let for an initial 3-year term, with the option to extend by up to a further 2 years in increments to be agreed. 1.3. The scope of the services will include statutory duties and functions which meet Local Authority responsibilities in providing accessible Short Breaks provisions, which will support the needs of disabled children and young people, as well as their families, ensuring that the Council can offer a range of services within this field, during the day, inclusive of schools holidays, weekends, and after school, to meet the requirements of the applicable residents within Portsmouth boundaries. This is a re-procurement of an existing service. As defined in the Portsmouth Local Offer, Short breaks is a term that covers activities and opportunities for children with disabilities. There are a range of reliable local activities commissioned through Portsmouth City Council that enable young people and their families to have access to and enjoy the same opportunities as others in life, whilst also allowing carers a break from their caring responsibilities. These proposed commissioned services will deliver provisions that will support the Council with fulfilling its short break duties. The Short Breaks Regulations have been produced to supplement the methods in which Local Authorities must perform these duties, and the key regulations read as follows: Local Authorities must: • Give children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), the chance to have time away from their families, make new friends and have fun. • Have regard to the needs of those carers who would be unable to provide care, unless breaks from caring were given to them. • Have regard to the needs of carers who would be able to provide care for their disabled child more effectively if breaks from caring were given to them, to allow them to: • Undertake education training or any regular leisure activity. • Rest and unwind. • Spend time to meet the needs of other children in the family more effectively. • Carry out day to day tasks which they must perform to run their household effectively. The Children and Families Act 2014 created a requirement for all public services to prepare SEND Children and Young People for Adulthood, in the following areas, • Employment • Independent Living • Friends Relationships & Community • Good Health Scope and Specifications The services are to be provided for children and young people with SEND, and/or additional or complex health needs (support needs and provisions will differ, dependent on the service), who live within the city of Portsmouth from age 5 and up to their 1