FOSTERLINE CONTRACT for England

Please note: Because the DfE has issued a revised evaluation template, (Annex F of the ITT) the deadline for bidders to respond has been extended by two additional working days to 31st March 2016.

Deliver Fosterline, a national helpline to support fostering in England.

To support the recruitment of foster carers it is intended that Fosterline should:

Fosterline is an impartial source of up to date and accurate information and advice for prospective and existing foster carers on issues such as how to become a foster carer, allegations of abuse, benefits, training, breakdown of placements, matters relating to the legal position of carers and any other issues about fostering that users raise.

Additional information: Procurement of this service will be by competition and service delivery contracts will be awarded for up to two years 01 May 2016- 30 April 2018. The Department reserves the right, subject to the satisfactory performance of the successful contractor, budget availability and policy intent, to extend the contract for further periods of one (1) month or multiples thereof up to a maximum of twenty four (24) months.

Questions relating to this tender, the specifications and the guidance should be sent to Fosterlinetender.enquiries@education.gsi.gov.uk. The deadline for final questions is 17:00 on 21 March 2016. Any questions received after that time and date will not be answered. Replies to questions will be posted on Contracts Finder.

A supplier event will be held by telephone on 21 March 2016 at 12.00 noon until 13.00pm to answer outstanding questions about the tender process. At any time during that time telephone UK Freefone number 0800 917 1956 and, when instructed, input the participant passcode 53696655 then #.