Northamptonshire Children's Trust: Provision of Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes for Children and Young People in our Care DPS (Reopening)

Notice summary

Submission address and any special instructions The Council is utilising an electronic tendering tool to manage this procurement process. All documents and communications issued by the Council Procurement Team can be accessed via the Council's e-Procurement portal, ProContract. The Council require any potential organisation to submit their interest via the Council's e-procurement portal, ProContract. The link is below: https://procontract.due-north.com/Login ProContract Reference ID: DN831815 The deadline for submission of bids is 12:00pm on Friday, 27 November 2026

Opportunity overview

Northamptonshire Children's Trust (hereafter referred to as the "Children's Trust") is re-opening their Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the supply of services in respect of this requirement. This specification covers providing Homes for Children and Young People in Our Care, Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes. The primary role of Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes is to provide homes to ensure children in our care have a place that is safe and suitable for their individual needs, where they are supported by people who care for them and about them to achieve their full potential, develop resilience, enjoy good health and wellbeing and develop into adulthood. The Children's Trust previously set up the DPS which commenced on 1st February 2024 with an initial term of 4 years and 2 months (i.e. to 31st March 2028), with an option to extend for up to an additional 3 years (until 31st March 2031). Services will be categorised by the following lots that are described further in the specification: Lot 1: Independent Fostering Agency placements for Children in Care - Category 1.1 - Standard - Category 1.2 - Enhanced - Category 1.3 - Complex Needs - Category 1.4 - Emergency - Category 1.5 - Transition to Family Care from Children's Homes - Category 1.6 - Parent and Child Lot 2: Children's Homes placements for Children in Care - Category 2.1 - Standard Homes - Category 2.2 - Specialist Homes - Category 2.3 - Complex Needs - Category 2.4 - Emergency Potential Providers can apply for one or more Lots and Categories. Please note: this contract originally started on 1st February 2024. The Light Touch Regime (LTR) applies to the Services under this DPS, as per Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

Lot Lot 1: Independent Fostering Arrangements — Lot 1: Independent Fostering Arrangements

The primary role of Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes is to provide homes to ensure children in our care have a place that is safe and suitable for their individual needs, where they are supported by people who care for them and about them to achieve their full potential, develop resilience, enjoy good health and wellbeing and develop into adulthood. The Children's Trust previously set up the DPS which commenced on 1st February 2024 with an initial term of 4 years and 2 months (i.e. to 31st March 2028), with an option to extend for up to an additional 3 years (until 31st March 2031). Services will be categorised by the following lots that are described further in the specification: Lot 1: Independent Fostering Agency placements for Children in Care - Category 1.1 - Standard - Category 1.2 - Enhanced - Category 1.3 - Complex Needs - Category 1.4 - Emergency - Category 1.5 - Transition to Family Care from Children's Homes - Category 1.6 - Parent and Child Potential Providers can apply for one or more Lots and Categories. Please note: this contract originally started on 1st February 2024. The Light Touch Regime (LTR) applies to the Services under this DPS, as per Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

Lot Lot 2 - Children's Homes — Lot 2 - Children's Homes

The primary role of Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes is to provide homes to ensure children in our care have a place that is safe and suitable for their individual needs, where they are supported by people who care for them and about them to achieve their full potential, develop resilience, enjoy good health and wellbeing and develop into adulthood. The Children's Trust previously set up the DPS which commenced on 1st February 2024 with an initial term of 4 years and 2 months (i.e. to 31st March 2028), with an option to extend for up to an additional 3 years (until 31st March 2031). Lot 2: Children's Homes placements for Children in Care - Category 2.1 - Standard Homes - Category 2.2 - Specialist Homes - Category 2.3 - Complex Needs - Category 2.4 - Emergency Potential Providers can apply for one or more Lots and Categories. Please note: this contract originally started on 1st February 2024. The Light Touch Regime (LTR) applies to the Services under this DPS, as per Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

Contracting authority

Northamptonshire Children's Trust 1 Angel Square, Northampton, NN11ED, UKF24, United Kingdom Contact: NNC Procurement Email: Procurement@northnorthants.gov.uk Website: https://nctrust.co.uk/

Procurement timetable and procedure

Legal basis: 32014L0024

Submission deadline: 27 November 2026 at 12:00 pm

Submission language: EN

CPV Classification

85000000 — Health and social work services

How to submit

The official Find a Tender notice directs suppliers to ProContract. The procurement documents, clarifications and response area are managed there.

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TenderLab qualification first

Before we write, we establish whether the opportunity fits.

We examine the published participation conditions, service scope, geography, regulatory position, available evidence, mobilisation demands and commercial exposure with your team. We only confirm a full tender-writing engagement when the available information supports a responsible view that the provider meets the tender requirements.

If Northamptonshire Children's Trust: Provision of Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes for Children and Young People in our Care DPS (Reopening) is a credible fit, we can map the scored requirements, gather operational evidence and build the response around the buyer documents. The qualification check and any writing support do not guarantee an award; the contracting authority makes the final decision.