Tender: Independent Evaluation of the Better Security, Better Care Programme for Adult Social Care in England

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Digital Care Hub is seeking a supplier for an independent, mixed-method evaluation of the Better Security, Better Care (BSBC) programme, funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, which supports about 28,000 CQC-registered adult social care locations in England to improve cyber security, data protection and information governance including DSPT compliance. The supplier will assess programme governance and delivery, stakeholder engagement and partner effectiveness, reach, changes in awareness and behaviour, adoption of good practice, DSPT outcomes, organisational resilience, wider benefits, cost effectiveness, return on investment and social and economic value, and will provide lessons, evidence-based recommendations and ongoing insight to support continuous improvement. Key deliverables include an evaluation framework and inception report within three months, ongoing data collection and stakeholder engagement with monthly progress meetings, an interim report by September 2027, a final evaluation report and dissemination-ready outputs by October 2028, with close-down and dissemination support continuing to March 2029; the proposed contract runs from October 2026 to March 2029 with a maximum budget of £125,000 inclusive of VAT. Bidders must demonstrate strong experience in programme and economic evaluation, publicly funded programmes, mixed-method research, stakeholder engagement and report writing, and knowledge of adult social care, health and care systems, cyber security, digital transformation or information governance; tender submissions and clarification question deadlines are 18 October 2026 and 14 October 2026 respectively, and responses must include methodology, data plans, timetable, examples, pricing and social value among other specified requirements.