Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Kent County Council
County Hall
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
UK
Contact person: Alexander Forster
E-mail: Alexander.forster@kent.gov.uk
NUTS: UKJ
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.kent.gov.uk/
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
SESLIP DPS
Reference number: SC240046
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Kent County Council (KCC), on behalf of South East Sector Led Improvement Partnership (SESLIP), is looking to refresh the list of suitably qualified freelance consultants, who are available on an ad hoc basis to support and provide the below service. We are looking to produce a dynamic purchasing system (DPS) for this and are open to applications to join from suppliers that are interested.
SESLIP encourages and supports the political and professional leadership and management of local authority Children's Services, to demonstrate, develop and share good practice. Our programmes support the development of Children's Services as learning organisations, focusing on:
• Identifying key strands of enquiry
• Analysing and comparing operational data about the services
• using evidence to inform decisions, including evidence available from outside the region, where relevant
• Using peer challenge and peer review
• Building leadership capacity and capability
• Developing standards of practice through supportive endeavour
There is a Regional Improvement Plan which sets out the activities. Its aim is to identify ways in which local authorities in the South East can support each other to improve and look at how collective action can help address systemic issues within the region.
The DPS will be live from 11th September 2024 until the 10th September 2026, suppliers are able to join the DPS during this time period.
Suppliers will be required to complete and pass a Selection Questionnaire (SQ) in order to apply for the DPS. All suppliers that pass the SQ will be awarded a place on the DPS.
If this opportunity is of interest, please register on the Kent Business Portal . The reference for the opportunity is "SC240046 - SESLIP - DPS" where you will be able to register your interest and be granted access to the SQ and supporting guidance.
Please note: This opportunity was previously advertised but due to a change in our e-tendering Portal, this notice is being re-published.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKJ
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Kent County Council (KCC), on behalf of South East Sector Led Improvement Partnership (SESLIP), is looking to refresh the list of suitably qualified freelance consultants, who are available on an ad hoc basis to support and provide the below service. We are looking to produce a dynamic purchasing system (DPS) for this and are open to applications to join from suppliers that are interested.
SESLIP encourages and supports the political and professional leadership and management of local authority Children's Services, to demonstrate, develop and share good practice. Our programmes support the development of Children's Services as learning organisations, focusing on:
• Identifying key strands of enquiry
• Analysing and comparing operational data about the services
• using evidence to inform decisions, including evidence available from outside the region, where relevant
• Using peer challenge and peer review
• Building leadership capacity and capability
• Developing standards of practice through supportive endeavour
There is a Regional Improvement Plan which sets out the activities. Its aim is to identify ways in which local authorities in the South East can support each other to improve and look at how collective action can help address systemic issues within the region.
The DPS will be live from 11th September 2024 until the 10th September 2026, suppliers are able to join the DPS during this time period.
Suppliers will be required to complete and pass a Selection Questionnaire (SQ) in order to apply for the DPS. All suppliers that pass the SQ will be awarded a place on the DPS.
If this opportunity is of interest, please register on the Kent Business Portal . The reference for the opportunity is "SC240046 - SESLIP - DPS" where you will be able to register your interest and be granted access to the SQ and supporting guidance.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Selection Questionnaire
/ Weighting: Pass
Cost criterion: N/A
/ Weighting: 0
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
29/01/2026
End:
10/09/2026
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
Call offs awarded via the DPS may be extended at the Council's discretion.
The DPS itself does not have any extension options available.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Restricted procedure
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the setting up of a dynamic purchasing system
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
10/09/2026
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Kent County Council
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
28/01/2026