Child Poverty Strategic Partnerships

Introduction
• This information note, along with the accompanying details, is being publicly shared via Find a Tender Service, making it accessible to all organisations in the market.
• The purpose of this market engagement is to identify one or more partners who can work with the Department to help improve health outcomes for children living in poverty in England.
• DHSC is specifically looking at collaborating on a “value in kind” basis with potential partners to deliver on the aims of the Child Poverty Strategy (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696646bc99fbdc498faecd98/child-poverty-strategy.pdf), published in December 2025.
There is no dedicated funding available for a strategic partnership in this space. This is not a public procurement exercise, nor a paid partnership or sponsorship opportunity and as such it will not lead to the award of a “public contract” as defined in the Procurement Act 2023. While Find a Tender Service would ordinarily be used in connection with a public procurement exercise, this is not the case here as it is being used to have a wide reach to the market.
• The questionnaire will close for responses at 23:59 on Monday 3rd August 2026. Responses after this time will not be accepted.
• DHSC will progress up to ten proposals that satisfy the criteria set out on page 3 of this notice. The final number of proposals selected will be based on the scoring methodology described herein, with those achieving the highest scores invited to enter negotiations.
• Participation in this process does not create any obligation on either party to enter into a formal partnership or agreement.
• DHSC recognises that organisations may wish to combine complementary skills, resources or experience by forming a consortium. We encourage strategic partnership proposals from consortia where they strengthen capability, capacity or coverage. Organisations submitting a consortium proposal must nominate a lead organisation to submit the proposal and act...