Open tenderClosing in 2 weeks

Holiday and Food (HAF) Provider Engagement - Pre Market Engagement

Details

Buyer: Cumberland Council
Topic: Health and social work services
Published: 24 September 2026
Submission: 7 October 2026in 2 weeks
Source: uk:procontracts

Tender description

Holiday and Food (HAF) Provider Engagement: Future Payment Options Cumberland Council is exploring a new approach to commissioning HAF activities from Summer 2027 onwards. The application process for Easter 2027 will remain unchanged and will follow the current arrangements. To help providers prepare for future changes, we will be holding two information sessions. The first stage of the new application process is likely to open in November 2026. Invitations to these sessions will be sent separately with meetings scheduled for the 8th October and 3rd November. We strongly encourage all providers to attend so that you can understand the proposed process, ask questions, and provide feedback. As part of this work, we would like your views on how HAF activities should be funded in the future. Please complete the short survey (link below) by 7 October 2026. The survey includes an option to provide feedback through a telephone discussion. If you choose this option, you can select either a morning or afternoon appointment. Calls will last approximately 20 minutes and will take place between 24 September and 7 October 2026. A member of the team will make up to three attempts to contact you. If you complete the survey questions in full, a follow-up call will not usually be required. Please see attached letter which has the link. Keywords: HAF Activities, Holiday Activities, Food Programme, Children

Timeline

Completed: Tender published24 September 2026
Current notice
Next: Submission date7 October 2026in 2 weeks

About the buyer

Cumberland Council is a local authority buying goods, works and services for Cumbria, guided by its own Contract Procedure Rules. Tenders are advertised through the Find a Tender Service on GOV.UK. Suppliers can also register on The Chest, the council's electronic procurement portal, free of charge. A dedicated Procurement Team sits within Business Transformation and Change. Framework agreements sit alongside open competitions among its procurement procedures. Every tender also weighs social value against council priorities. Contracts follow the Procurement Act 2023 and the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. A weekly business newsletter and supplier events keep suppliers informed too.

UK local government drives £140bn in annual procurement, led by social protection (£66.6bn) and education (£57.1bn).

Over the past 5 years, most of Cumberland Council's contract awards have been in construction work, education and training and architectural and engineering services.