How to win: Short Breaks Services for Disabled Children and Young People and their Families

About this contract

The London Borough of Croydon is procuring Short Breaks and Family Support Services for disabled children and young people (0-19, up to 25 with SEND) and their families to provide inclusive activities, targeted support, and respite care. Services will include activity-based short breaks (after-school, weekends, holidays), specialist provision for complex needs, and community/outreach support, delivered in accessible settings by trained staff. The contract will be structured into multiple lots (geographical and specialist) to encourage market participation. Contracts are expected to run for approximately 4 years with extension options, commencing April 2027, with individual lot values below £1m and delivery through a mixed economy of providers working collaboratively with Family Hubs and partners.

How to win contracts like this

• ✓Answer against the marking scheme, not the question text — London Borough of Croydon scores each response, so map your evidence to the published criteria and weightings.
• ✓At £564,000, expect quality and social value to carry a large share of the score — price alone rarely wins services work.
• ✓Show recent, comparable delivery: name similar services contracts you've delivered for public bodies, with measurable outcomes.
• ✓Start early: deadlines are tight and a strong bid takes iteration.

BidWriter drafts your responses from your company profile, scores them against the marking scheme, and tracks your whole pipeline. Free to start — no card needed.

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