Skip to main content

We've saved some files called cookies on your device. These cookies are:

  • essential for the site to work
  • to help improve our website by collecting and reporting information on how you use it

We would also like to save some cookies to help tailor communications.

BETA
You're viewing an updated version of this service - your feedback will help us to improve it.

Contract Notice

Mapping and Discovery for a National Care Academy Model in Wales

  • First published: 31 July 2026
  • Last modified: 31 July 2026
  • Version: N/A
  • Record interest

     

  • This file may not be fully accessible.

  •  

Information icon

Documents for this notice are only available to suppliers who have noted interest.

To access the documents, please click the "Note Interest" button above to add this notice to your Current Notices.

Contents

Summary

OCID:
ocds-kuma6s-168509
Published by:
Social Care Wales
Authority ID:
AA0289
Publication date:
31 July 2026
Deadline date:
28 August 2026
Notice type:
Contract Notice
Has documents:
Yes
Has SPD:
No
Has Carbon Reduction Plan:
No

Abstract

Social Care Wales, sponsored by the National Office for Care and Support and working in partnership with Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru (ADSS Cymru), is leading the discovery, design and development of a National Care Academy for the social care sector in Wales. The National Care Academy will: - Provide a national framework and virtual infrastructure. - Support locally delivered academy models. - Be delivered collaboratively by Social Care Wales, the National Office for Care and Support, ADSS Cymru, local authorities, and sector partners. - Not operate as a standalone training provider. This commission represents the next phase of the programme, focusing on discovery and evidence gathering to inform the future development of the National Care Academy and a shared national vision for its delivery. The aims and objectives include to develop a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape of pre-employment support, training, learning and development available to social workers and the regulated social care workforce in Wales and identify the evidence, opportunities and considerations that should inform the future National Care Academy model. For the purposes of this commission, regulated social care workers are those registered with Social Care Wales, including but not limited to social workers, care home workers, domiciliary care workers, residential childcare workers, adult care staff and nurses in social care. The supplier will: - Establish a national picture of pre-employment support, training, learning and development available to social workers and the regulated social care workforce across Wales. - Map qualification provision aligned to the Social Care Wales Qualifications Framework. - Identify variation in provision, approach and accessibility at local, regional and employer level. - Review existing care academy models and equivalent approaches operating across Wales. - Capture learning from existing academies and comparable UK and international initiatives. - Provide evidence-based recommendations to inform the next phase of National Care Academy development and the creation of a shared national vision. Please see the Invitation to Tender for further details.

Full notice text

CONTRACT NOTICE – NATIONAL

SERVICES

1 Authority Details

1.1

Authority Name and Address


Social Care Wales

South Gate House, Wood Street,

Cardiff

CF10 1EW

UK

Procurement Team

+44 3003033444

procurement@socialcare.wales

http://www.socialcare.wales
http://www.sell2wales.gov.wales
http://www.sell2wales.gov.wales

1.2

Address from which documentation may be obtained

As in 1.1

1.3

Completed documents must be returned to:

As in 1.1

2 Contract Details

2.1

Title

Mapping and Discovery for a National Care Academy Model in Wales

2.2

Description of the goods or services required

Social Care Wales, sponsored by the National Office for Care and Support and working in partnership with Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru (ADSS Cymru), is leading the discovery, design and development of a National Care Academy for the social care sector in Wales.

The National Care Academy will:

- Provide a national framework and virtual infrastructure.

- Support locally delivered academy models.

- Be delivered collaboratively by Social Care Wales, the National Office for Care and Support, ADSS Cymru, local authorities, and sector partners.

- Not operate as a standalone training provider.

This commission represents the next phase of the programme, focusing on discovery and evidence gathering to inform the future development of the National Care Academy and a shared national vision for its delivery.

The aims and objectives include to develop a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape of pre-employment support, training, learning and development available to social workers and the regulated social care workforce in Wales and identify the evidence, opportunities and considerations that should inform the future National Care Academy model.

For the purposes of this commission, regulated social care workers are those registered with Social Care Wales, including but not limited to social workers, care home workers, domiciliary care workers, residential childcare workers, adult care staff and nurses in social care.

The supplier will:

- Establish a national picture of pre-employment support, training, learning and development available to social workers and the regulated social care workforce across Wales.

- Map qualification provision aligned to the Social Care Wales Qualifications Framework.

- Identify variation in provision, approach and accessibility at local, regional and employer level.

- Review existing care academy models and equivalent approaches operating across Wales.

- Capture learning from existing academies and comparable UK and international initiatives.

- Provide evidence-based recommendations to inform the next phase of National Care Academy development and the creation of a shared national vision.

Please see the Invitation to Tender for further details.

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=168509.

The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.

Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.

2.3

Notice Coding and Classification

73000000 Research and development services and related consultancy services
73110000 Research services
73200000 Research and development consultancy services
73210000 Research consultancy services
79300000 Market and economic research; polling and statistics
79310000 Market research services
79315000 Social research services
79419000 Evaluation consultancy services
1000 WALES
1010 West Wales and The Valleys
1011 Isle of Anglesey
1012 Gwynedd
1013 Conwy and Denbighshire
1014 South West Wales (Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion)
1015 Central Valleys (Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf)
1016 Gwent Valleys (Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly)
1017 Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot
1018 Swansea
1020 East Wales
1021 Monmouthshire and Newport
1022 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
1023 Flintshire and Wrexham
1024 Powys

2.4

Total quantity or scope of tender

There is a budget of £65,000 (inclusive of any applicable VAT) agreed for this tender.

The contract will run initially from 1 October 2026 – 31 January 2027.

3 Conditions for Participation

3.1

Minimum standards and qualification required

Please see the pre-qualification questionnaire for further details of participation.

Suppliers must hold a valid Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation at time of submission and duration of the contract.

4 Administrative Information

4.1

Type of Procedure

Single stage

4.2

Reference number attributed to the notice by the contracting authority

N/a

4.3

Time Limits

Time-limit for receipt of completed tenders
    28-08-2026  Time  12:00

Estimated award date
 28-09-2026

4.5

Language or languages in which tenders or requests to participate can be drawn up

EN  CY 

4.6

Tender Submission Postbox

The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx

5 Other Information

5.1

Additional Information

(WA Ref:168509)

The buyer considers that this contract is suitable for consortia bidding.

5.2

Additional Documentation

ITT a Manyleb - Mapio a Datblygu ar gyfer Model Academi Gofal Genedlaethol
Atodiad 1 - Holiadur Cyn-gymhwyso (PQQ)
Atodiad 2 - Dogfen Ymateb Ansawdd (1)
Atodiad 3 - Dogfen Ymateb Ariannol (1)
Atodiad 4 - Canllaw ein llais Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru (1)
Atodiad 5 - Canllawiau brand Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru (1)
Atodiad 6 - Ffurflen Tendro
Atodiad 7 - Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru Cynnig Gweithlu Gofal Cymdeithasol
Atodiad 9 - Recriwtio a Dilyniant ArWAP
Combined ITT and Specification - Mapping and Discovery for a National Care Academy Model
Appendix 1 - Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)
Appendix 2 – Technical Quality Response Document (5)
Appendix 3 – Financial and Pricing Response Document (2)
Appendix 4 – Social Care Wales’s tone of voice guidelines (2)
Appendix 5 – Social Care Wales’s branding guidelines (2)
Appendix 6 - Form of Tender (1)
Appendix 7 - Social Care Wales, Social Care Workforce Offer
Appendix 8 - ADSS Cymru Dom Care Feasibility Report
Appendix 9 - ArWAP Recruitment and Progression

5.3

Publication date of this notice

 31-07-2026

Coding

Commodity categories

ID Title Parent category
79419000 Evaluation consultancy services Business and management consultancy services
79300000 Market and economic research; polling and statistics Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
79310000 Market research services Market and economic research; polling and statistics
73200000 Research and development consultancy services Research and development services and related consultancy services
73000000 Research and development services and related consultancy services Research and Development
73210000 Research consultancy services Research and development consultancy services
73110000 Research services Research and experimental development services
79315000 Social research services Market research services

Delivery locations

ID Description
1017 Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot
1022 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
1015 Central Valleys (Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf)
1013 Conwy and Denbighshire
1020 East Wales
1023 Flintshire and Wrexham
1016 Gwent Valleys (Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly)
1012 Gwynedd
1011 Isle of Anglesey
1021 Monmouthshire and Newport
1024 Powys
1014 South West Wales (Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion)
1018 Swansea
1000 WALES
1010 West Wales and The Valleys

Alert region restrictions

The buyer has restricted the alert for this notice to suppliers based in the following regions.

ID Description
There are no alert restrictions for this notice.

About the buyer

Main contact:
procurement@socialcare.wales
Admin contact:
N/a
Technical contact:
N/a
Other contact:
N/a

Further information

Date Details
No further information has been uploaded.

Postbox

The awarding buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Tender Submission Postbox facility.

Submit your tender response electronically in a secure environment.

To create an electronic response please click the "Add to my interest list" button at the top of the page.

For more information on the Postbox Facility please refer to the user guide:

Q&A

Ask the buyer any questions you may have relating to this notice. To ask the buyer a question or questions please click the "View Questions and Answers" button.

Additional documents

The following additional documents have been attached to this notice. To obtain these documents please select the individual file names below.

Current documents

Documents are restricted until you note interest in this notice. The documents will become publicly available after the response deadline has passed.

There are no documents attached to this document

Replaced documents

There are no previous versions of these documents.


0800 222 9004

Lines are open 8:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Rydym yn croesawu galwadau'n Gymraeg.

We welcome calls in Welsh.