Source: https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a13bbe-6a53-714d-bea0-0e6901aa2990/independent-foster-care-local-homes-for-local-children pending GB open procedure Suitable for SMEs # Independent Foster Care: Local Homes for Local Children [Milton Keynes City Council](https://tendernation.io/buyers/milton-keynes-city-council) Pays 99% within 30 days Estimated value £9,500,000 Published 9 Jul 2025 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 Milton Keynes City Council ('the Council') is keen to explore how we can best work with Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) to develop sufficient, good-quality local homes for children in our care. We are a growing city, experiencing rapid expansion of our population and an increase in the number of children looked after by the local authority. We want to look beyond the traditional 'framework' model of contracting to build closer relationships with fostering providers operating locally, guarantee sustainable commissioning and work in partnership to recruit and retain foster carers. We are particularly keen to engage with IFAs around the possibility of developing block or soft-block contracts for foster care placements to ensure the needs of our children can be met long-term. These are likely to be 'enhanced' placements, intended for children who could live in a foster home but who might otherwise enter residential care due if sufficient fostering placements are not available. We are keen to hear from providers on the questions given in the market engagement document. The responses to the questions will help the Council in developing the specification and the tender. Please respond to the questions within the attached document by latest 5pm on 25th July 2025 via In-Tend Correspondence section/market engagement stage. If there is sufficient interest in a scoping event to explore the proposal in more detail, this will be held w/c 11th August, please indicate in the attached document if you would like to receive an invitation. The Market Engagement document can be accessed on our e-tendering portal: [in-tendhost.co.uk/milton-keynes/aspx/Home](https://in-tendhost.co.uk/milton-keynes/aspx/Home) Read full description ## CPV classification Health and social work services Source Find a Tender (UK) · Notice ocds-h6vhtk-0557e5-2025-07-09T14:55:47+01:00 [View official notice](https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/ocds-h6vhtk-0557e5-2025-07-09T14:55:47+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. [Track tenders free](https://tendernation.io/register) [Buyer profile Milton Keynes City Council: past awards and live tenders](https://tendernation.io/buyers/milton-keynes-city-council) [Sector More Health and social work tenders](https://tendernation.io/sectors/health-social-work) ## More tenders like this [2026 - Aberdeen City - Integrated Children with Disabilities Services · Aberdeen City Council · 42 days left · 1 Dec 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a1592e-ec2f-73b8-a16d-0305bfde1756/2026-aberdeen-city-integrated-children-with-disabilities-services) [Medical practice services – Usługi medyczne obejmujące profilaktyczne badania lekarskie (wstępne, okresowe, kontrolne, dodatkowe, sanitarno-epidemiologiczne, badania diagnostyczne, laboratoryjne, konsultacje specjalistyczne) żołnierzy i pracowników jednostek i instytucji z rejonu odpowiedzialności 24 WOG w Giżycku z podziałem na 4 zadania w 2027r. · 24 Wojskowy Oddział Gospodarczy · 15 days left · 4 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-7d95-70ec-8f76-458d7aa7a9e6/poland-medical-practice-services-uslugi-medyczne-obejmujace-profilaktyczne-b) [Services provided by nurses – servizio ausiliariato · I.N.M.I. Lazzaro Spallanzani · 26 days left · 14 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-6516-7347-a350-180d3a55908e/italy-services-provided-by-nurses-servizio-ausiliariato) [Social services – Prestations d’insertion sociale et professionnelle par l’emploi de personnes rencontrant des difficultés d’accès ou de maintien dans l’emploi. · Mairie de Suresnes · 34 days left · 23 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-63f0-7244-b886-26f1f32ff13b/france-social-services-prestations-dinsertion-sociale-et-professionnelle-pa) [Welfare services for children and young people – Einrichtung, Organisation und Betrieb einer Ganztagsferienbetreuung · Landkreis Diepholz · 30 days left · 18 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-7b3c-72d6-bf80-e1ddde45aeec/germany-welfare-services-for-children-and-young-people-einrichtung-organisa) [Social work services with accommodation – PROVINCIA DI IMPERIA per conto di PREFETTURA DI IMPERIA -Gara europea a procedura aperta per la conclusione di un accordo quadro per affidamento dei servizi di gestione di centri di accoglienza costituiti da SINGOLE UNITA' ABITATIVE con capienza massima di 50 posti. · Prefettura di Imperia · 31 days left · 20 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-75de-70f5-9f0a-bdfc0ba520b7/italy-social-work-services-with-accommodation-provincia-di-imperia-per-conto)