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| Source: | Find a Tender Service (FTS) |
| Notice Type: | Award notice |
| Buyer: | Department for Education |
| Main Category: | Services |
| Procurement Method: | Direct award |
| Method Rationale: | The Department will be procuring two contracts to support the delivery of the early adopter scheme, a pilot designed to modernise the collection of children’s social care (CSC) data. The DfE relies on the justification at para. 2 (Prototypes & Development) of Schedule 5 to the Procurement Act 2023 for the direct award of these contracts. This pilot involves the testing of a newly developed DfE automated infrastructure to assess the suitability and scalability of automated data flows and timely data access for CSC. The suppliers will be required to develop bespoke technical solutions to connect to the newly developed DfE system and enable data transfers. The contracts will enable the connection between selected supplier systems and the DfE API, allowing data to flow between a small sample of local authorities to the private CSC dashboard. The outputs of contract delivery will support research into the feasibility of producing and supplying frequent CSC data at scale, while assessing data quality, technical viability, and burdens on both DfE and local authorities. The duration of the contracts will be up to 18 months, which includes the time needed for suppliers to connect to departmental infrastructure and a 12-month period for data ingestion, commencing October-December 2025. It is necessary for data ingestion to run over statutory collection cycles, as it will provide insights into how this technical solution compares to existing statutory returns. Conducting a full competition would have introduced disproportionate costs and delays, given the limited number of suppliers with the necessary data permissions and the need to ensure timely delivery of the pilot’s objectives. It would also potentially have wasted public funds in the event that the technical solution does not work as envisaged. The decision to award these contracts ensures the pilot progresses efficiently and provides the insights needed to inform decisions on future scalability. The suppliers selected for this pilot are able to provide the required solutions as they hold existing contracts with local authorities and have the necessary permissions to access CSC data, ensuring compatibility with the pilot's objectives and timelines. Suppliers selected demonstrated alignment with the pilot's objectives and timescales, providing solutions that represent proportional value for the scope and purpose of the pilot. Following the conclusion of the pilot, if the solution is proven viable and scalable, the Department will consider conducting a competitive procurement process for broader implementation. |
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Book a free consultation →| Tender Status: | Closed |
| Estimated Value (ex. VAT): | Not specified |
| Release Date: | 15 May 2025 |
| Application Deadline: | — |
| Contract Start Date: | — |
| Contract End Date: | — |
| Contract Duration: | NaN years |
| Procurement ID (OCID): | ocds-h6vhtk-0514da |
| Notice Reference: | 021883-2025 |
All 4 notices for this procurement, oldest first.
Children's Social Care Private Dashboard Early Adopters Scheme: Pilot CMS API
con_27600 - CSC Data Modernisation pilot
con_27600 - CSC Data Modernisation pilot
con_27599 - Children's Social Care Private Dashboard Early Adopters Scheme: Pilot CMS API
View Original Notice
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Awarded to (2 suppliers)
| Award value: | £297,500 |
| Award status: | Pending |
The Department is launching an early adopter pilot scheme as part of its work to modernise Children’s Social Care (CSC) data collections. The goal is to address longstanding inefficiencies in existing annual data collection processes by assessing the feasibility, scalability, and value of the department's newly developed application programming interface (API). The pilot will test automated data ingestion, working collaboratively with a sample of local authorities (LAs) and case management system (CMS) suppliers to allow for more timely data access, and analysis. Data will flow into a private access version of the CSC dashboard, facilitating measurement of children’s social care outcomes. Key objectives include: 1. Assessing the burden and cost implications for LAs and DfE when implementing more timely data flows. 2. Evaluating the accuracy of data extracted through the API. 3. Determining the scalability of the solution for potential implementation across all LAs. The Department have identified two CMS suppliers who will initially support the delivery of the early adopter scheme. This initiative supports the CSC reform agenda and the Keeping Children Safe Mission by addressing critical data gaps, enabling faster benchmarking of National Framework indicators, and improving access to timely, evidence-based insights.
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