Northamptonshire Children's Trust: Provision of Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes for Children and Young People in our Care DPS (Reopening)
- Buyer
- Northamptonshire Children's Trust
- Value
- £252,000,000
- Closes
- 27 November 2026
- Where
- Northampton, the East Midlands
- Type
- Dynamic purchasing system (open to join)
In plain English
Northamptonshire Children's Trust is reopening an approved supplier list (called a Dynamic Purchasing System, meaning providers join a list and can then be called on for work over time) for placements for children in its care. The placements are foster care through independent fostering agencies and places in children's homes, with a total estimated value of £252 million across the life of the list.
What the buyer wants
• Provide foster placements through independent fostering agencies, in categories from standard to complex needs, emergency, transition from children's homes to family care, and parent and child placements. • Provide children's home placements, in categories from standard and specialist homes to complex needs and emergency placements. • Provide safe, suitable homes where children and young people are supported to reach their potential, develop resilience, stay healthy and prepare for adulthood.
Lots
- Lot 1: Independent Fostering Arrangements
- Lot 2 - Children's Homes
Requirements
What could rule a small business out (our reading of the notice, written with AI): The notice does not set out any financial thresholds or certifications, but the £252 million estimated value and the requirement to provide safe homes for children with complex and emergency needs suggest that providers without an established fostering or residential care operation would most likely be ruled out.
Always check the tender documents.
How to bid
This is a Dynamic Purchasing System: an open list of approved suppliers. You can apply to join at any time while it runs, and once accepted you can bid for the individual contracts the buyer runs through it.
Where to apply
Bids go through ProContract. Make a free account there, then search for this tender's title.
Questions about this tender? Email the buyer at Procurement@northnorthants.gov.uk.
How dynamic purchasing systems work
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