Source: https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a13c62-a8ae-7306-92d9-7698ba16a686/independent-fostering-agencies

pending GB open procedure Suitable for SMEs

# Independent fostering agencies

[Southampton City Council](https://tendernation.io/buyers/southampton-city-council)

Estimated value

£50,000,000 to £100,000,000

Published

13 Aug 2020

Deadline

Rolling deadline

## Who can bid

- Buyer says suitable for SMEs

    The buyer ticked “suitable for SMEs” on the notice. Anyone can still bid.
- 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

On 1 April 2017, following publication of the above contract notice and a competitive tendering exercise, Southampton City Council entered into multiple framework agreements for the provision of fostering services to it and other consortium members over a four-year term. The framework agreements provided for the reopening of competition each year of the term so that providers who were not a party to a framework agreement for the services pursuant to the original procurement were able to gain access to the arrangements and those providers who were already parties to a framework agreement could re-submit tenders, thereby effectively allowing for the consortium's requirements to be subjected to open, competitive procurement each year. The current end date of these framework agreements is 31st March 2021 and the consortium has considered the planning and resources required to undertake the planning for a new framework.

Consortium members have experienced unprecedented challenge and pressure on resources due to COVID-19 and the resources that would normally be available within the consortium for use in planning and implementing a new framework have been diverted towards pandemic-related emergency planning and response.

Bearing this in mind, the consortium has decided to proceed with its previous approach and once again open up to the market the opportunity to provide fostering services on the existing terms. It is proposed that the consortium will do this in accordance with the draft timetable below so that the procurement is complete ahead of April 2021. Service providers who are already parties to a framework agreement for the provision of fostering services will be offered the opportunity to extend their current frameworks by a year, so that they

expire 31 March 2022, and if they agree they will be invited to either submit amended tenders for the one year extension period or confirm that their tenders submitted pursuant to the original contract notice remain valid. Fostering service providers who are not currently parties to a framework agreement will be invited to submit tenders, via a notice on Contracts Finder [gov.uk/contracts-finder](https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder), and these will be evaluated on the same terms as were those of existing providers. Successful new tenderers will be awarded framework agreements of one year duration also expiring on 31 March 2022.

The above approach will ensure that the requirements of the consortium continue to remain subject to open, competitive tendering for a further year and consequently that all potential providers have a fair and equal opportunity to deliver the requirements of the consortium. It will also give the consortium the chance to review its requirements over a longer term and prepare for the tendering of a longer term arrangement to be put in place on 1 April 2022. The proposed timetable is as follows but may be subject to change.

Read full description

## CPV classification

Welfare services for children and young people

Source

Contracts Finder (UK)

[View official notice](https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/ef8d2d32-3dc0-439f-ba10-1bd5f4ac4a7d)

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 Southampton City Council: past awards and live tenders](https://tendernation.io/buyers/southampton-city-council) [Sector More Health and social work tenders](https://tendernation.io/sectors/health-social-work)

## More tenders like this

[COV - Coventry Advice Services Grant 2027 · Coventry City Council · 31 days left · 19 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a154e4-5d51-728e-9c2e-b0d3c880bc14/cov-coventry-advice-services-grant-2027) [Gastroenterologist services – Tähystystutkimukset (colonoskopia ja gastroskopia) SOITE · Sansia Oy · 28 days left · 16 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a15183-0b15-7339-9939-1b14de6c3eb3/finland-gastroenterologist-services-tahystystutkimukset-colonoskopia-ja-gas) [Social services – Garantie d'activité départementale · Departement de L'aude - CD11 · 22 days left · 10 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a15183-21a4-7316-9f81-3a2021a97638/france-social-services-garantie-dactivite-departementale) [Health and social work services – DOA.2610.3.2026. Świadczenie usług opiekuńczych na rzecz mieszkanców Legnicy · Gmina Legnica · 14 days left · 2 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a15183-6631-72be-8950-1447bd5131bd/poland-health-and-social-work-services-doa261032026-swiadczenie-uslug-op) [Ambulance services – Contratación de servicios de transporte sanitario terrestre mediante ambulancias Clase A Tipo B y Tipo C para las zonas de La Gomera, El Hierro, La Palma, Fuerteventura y Lanzarote. · Gerencia de Gestión de Servicios para la Salud y Seguridad en Canarias, S.A. · 30 days left · 18 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a15183-ced3-712b-ad8d-dc313d6b63e4/spain-ambulance-services-contratacion-de-servicios-de-transporte-sanitario-t) [Social work services with accommodation – servizio DI gestione DI DUE comunità alloggio DI BASE PER persone CON patologia psichiatrica seguite DAL DSM dell’azienda ULSS 8 berica · Azienda ULSS n. 8 Berica · 39 days left · 27 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a15183-94d4-735d-bc39-2d8b65976651/italy-social-work-services-with-accommodation-servizio-di-gestione-di-due-co)
