Independent Review Mechanism (IRM)_ Market Engagement Event

Department for Education
London
1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029

Operation of the statutory Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) providing review routes for prospective and existing foster parents, adopters, and adult adoptees. Cases are assessed by independent panels of experienced children's social care professionals across England, covering approval statuses and access to records.

Open the official notice

Closed· 15 October 2026

Estimated value: £800k; Buyer estimate
Published: 25 September 2026
Deadline: 15 October 2026; Closed
Contract length: 24 months; Ends 31 March 2029

What the contract covers

Market engagement

Provision of statutory independent review services for fostering and adoption decisions, managing panels of social care professionals.

Provide an independent review route for prospective and existing foster parents, adopters, and adult adoptees

Terms and requirements

Contract type: Market engagement
Initial term: 24 months
Extensions: 12 months
Longest it can run: 36 months
Contract dates: 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029
Certifications asked for: None stated
Lots: 1
Suitable for SMEs: Yes
Suitable for charities and social enterprises: Yes
Category: Services
CPV codes: 85000000, 85300000

Services in this tender

Independent complaint investigations, review panels and Regulation 44 visitsMain service£100k typicalIndependent Review Mechanism for fostering and adoption decisions

Lifecycle

Published
25 September 2026
Deadline for bidsClosed
15 October 2026
Contract awardedUsually published within a few months
Contract starts
1 April 2027

The buyer

Department for Education

Type: Locked
Contracts, 24 months: Locked
Recorded value: Locked
Typical contract: Locked

Buys most

Contact details

Name: Locked
Email: Locked
Address: Locked

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Cite this tender

Link: https://bidskim.com/tender/3871090/independent-review-mechanism-irm-market-engagement-event
Buyer reference: Not published
Open contracting ID: ocds-h6vhtk-077a23
Last checked: 5 November 2026

Department for Education. Independent Review Mechanism (IRM)_ Market Engagement Event. Tender, 25 September 2026. BidSkim, https://bidskim.com/tender/3871090/independent-review-mechanism-irm-market-engagement-event (accessed 5 November 2026).