Source: https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a13bd5-11f1-7216-aa0e-b1fdee845bce/fostering-recruitment-digital-solutions pending GB open procedure Suitable for SMEs # Fostering Recruitment Digital Solutions [Department for Education](https://tendernation.io/buyers/department-for-education) Estimated value Not stated Published 21 May 2026 Deadline Rolling deadline ## Who can bid - Buyer says suitable for SMEs The buyer ticked “suitable for SMEs” on the notice. Anyone can still bid. - Buyer says suitable for VCSEs The buyer ticked “suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises” on the notice. - Open procedure Anyone can submit a full tender; there is no shortlisting stage. [More contracts for small businesses and VCSEs](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/for-small-businesses) ## About this tender As announced in Renewing Fostering: homes for 10,000 more children, the Department for Education (DfE) is exploring how digital solutions can support the successful onboarding of prospective foster carers, to minimise drop-off points caused by delays in communication about progress and outcomes, and enable richer data on fostering recruitment through to approvals to support decision-making at a local and national level. To deliver on the ambitious plan, we have engaged with the market to seek the development of an end-to-end digital solution that can: - Provide clear expectations of a standardised recruitment process across data and operating expectations. - Enable the gathering of rich and consistent data on the Hub fostering recruitment process and pipeline, supporting effective data sharing between DfE, Hubs, local authorities and other relevant agencies, and helping to better target interventions and efforts where they are most needed. - Create platforms and infrastructure to allow prospective foster carers to make an application and manage it throughout the fostering application process, from initial enquiry to approval (this may include making contact with their fostering service, booking appointments and monitoring the progress of their application online). - Provide a solution to help Fostering Hubs and local authorities to manage prospective foster carers through the application process through real-time insights and by engaging relevant agencies to support the onboarding process. - Provide a simple and secure customer journey that allows for interoperability where necessary, enabling improved data sharing and portability of applications across fostering services, while also strengthening the overall digital and data capability across the system. Following the preliminary market engagement, DfE will be taking forward development of the end-to-end recruitment service in-house. This will enable us to define key requirements and expectations, while working closely with Regional Care Co-operatives, Fostering Hubs and Local Authorities to develop the necessary infrastructure. We do, however, intend to continue engaging with the sector as we develop key components of the service. At this stage, the precise scope, scale and timing of any future procurement activity remain under consideration. Read full description ## CPV classification IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support Welfare services for children and young people Source Find a Tender (UK) · Notice ocds-h6vhtk-06530c-2026-05-21T16:40:22+01:00 [View official notice](https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/ocds-h6vhtk-06530c-2026-05-21T16:40:22+01:00) Never miss a tender like this again Get AI summaries, deadline alerts and a bid pipeline for tenders matched to your business. Free to start. 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