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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme

Cumberland Council · Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 30 Sept 2026, 20:47.

Opportunity overview

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. A HAF pre market engagement survey to engage with providers was sent out via the Council's e-procurement portal (The Chest). Please use the survey to share your views and explain how different payment arrangements could affect your organisation. This feedback will be essential in helping us develop a fair and practical approach for future HAF commissioning. Responses to be submitted by 7th October 2026. As part of our ongoing work to develop and strengthen the delivery of Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme activities and Short Breaks for children and young people with disabilities across Cumberland, we are inviting organisations to attend an upcoming online information session. The way organisations apply for and access future opportunities is changing, and we want to ensure that both existing and prospective providers are supported through the transition. The session will provide practical guidance on registering and using the Council's procurement and commissioning systems, including the Central Digital Platform (CDP) and The Chest Procurement Portal. Whether you currently deliver HAF or Short Breaks activities or are interested in becoming a provider for the first time, we would strongly encourage you to attend. We are keen to engage with a wide range of organisations, including voluntary and community groups, charities, sports clubs, arts and leisure providers, and specialist organisations supporting children and young people with disabilities. For further details use the council's online procurement portal - The Chest - https://www.the-chest.org.uk.

Classification

  • CPV85000000 — Health and social work services

Lots

  • Lot 1Value not stated

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
ocds-h6vhtk-077a03
Main Procurement Category
services
Status
planning

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Special regime

lightTouch

Amendments

Entry 1
Description
Details of further engagement sessions are detailed below.
Id
092265-2026

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Has Renewal
Yes
Status
planning

Suitability

Sme
Yes
Vcse
Yes

Contract period

Starts
1 Apr 2027, 00:00
Ends
1 Apr 2029, 23:59
Max Extent Date
1 Apr 2031, 23:59

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
85000000
Description
Health and social work services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKD1
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Planning and budget

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Description
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. A HAF pre market engagement survey to engage with providers was sent out via the Council's e-procurement portal (The Chest). Please use the survey to share your views and explain how different payment arrangements could affect your organisation. This feedback will be essential in helping us develop a fair and practical approach for future HAF commissioning. Responses to be submitted by 7th October 2026. As part of our ongoing work to develop and strengthen the delivery of Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme activities and Short Breaks for children and young people with disabilities across Cumberland, we are inviting organisations to attend an upcoming online information session. The way organisations apply for and access future opportunities is changing, and we want to ensure that both existing and prospective providers are supported through the transition. The session will provide practical guidance on registering and using the Council's procurement and commissioning systems, including the Central Digital Platform (CDP) and The Chest Procurement Portal. Whether you currently deliver HAF or Short Breaks activities or are interested in becoming a provider for the first time, we would strongly encourage you to attend. We are keen to engage with a wide range of organisations, including voluntary and community groups, charities, sports clubs, arts and leisure providers, and specialist organisations supporting children and young people with disabilities. For further details use the council's online procurement portal - The Chest - https://www.the-chest.org.uk.
Due
8 Oct 2026, 23:59
Status
scheduled

Documents

Entry 1
Id
092265-2026
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Published
30 Sept 2026, 11:16
Format
text/html

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Name
Cumberland Council
Id
GB-PPON-PJGX-9191-DYLV

Identifier

Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PJGX-9191-DYLV

Address

Street Address
Cumbria House, 107-117 Botchergate
Locality
Carlisle
Postal Code
CA1 1RD
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKD12

Contact

Roles

buyer

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Id
publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment
Description
Public authority - sub-central government

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Carlisle · UKD12 · CA1 1RD · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKD1 · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

2 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

2 VERSIONS
  1. 090779-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
  2. 092265-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·