Upcoming
Countywide Discharge to Assess - bed based residential/nursing services
Suffolk County Council · Local authority
In brief
Suffolk County Council has announced plans to buy care and healthcare work. This is an early notice: there is nothing to bid on yet, but it tells you a tender may follow.
The estimated value is £2,400,000 excluding VAT.
The contract runs for 3 years, up to 5 years with extensions, starting 8 August 2026.
The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.
Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.
Can I win this?
Competition
Usually high: a median of 28 bids per contract for this buyer (from 45 awards in the last 12 months).
What the notice says
Suffolk County Council wish to undertake Market Engagement to explore the provision of bed-based residential and nursing services to provide timely discharge for adults from hospital as part of the Discharge to Assess model. This discharge route is for adults who are likely to need a further period of assessment for a short period of time with a focus on therapeutic and reablement input. This will move life changing care decisions outside of the acute hospital environment, allowing time for adults and their families to make informed decisions and reach long term plans. Providers would be expected to support adults to achieve their goals using an asset-based approach, which leads to an…Read the full description
Suffolk County Council wish to undertake Market Engagement to explore the provision of bed-based residential and nursing services to provide timely discharge for adults from hospital as part of the Discharge to Assess model. This discharge route is for adults who are likely to need a further period of assessment for a short period of time with a focus on therapeutic and reablement input. This will move life changing care decisions outside of the acute hospital environment, allowing time for adults and their families to make informed decisions and reach long term plans. Providers would be expected to support adults to achieve their goals using an asset-based approach, which leads to an increase of independence and self-care. There should be an integrated response with both health and social care assessments providing a holistic approach during the assessment period
This model is about partnerships between individuals and organisations to ensure that services are person centred, promote faster recovery from illness, prevent unnecessary acute hospital admission, support timely discharge, and maximise independent living.
Lot 1 - The service provision for The Ipswich & East Locality is for nursing and residential placements with a minimum of 30 beds in one location and be no further than 15 miles/no longer than 30 minutes from Ipswich Hospital Acute Trust.
Lot 2 - The service provision for the West Locality is for care home nursing and residential placements of a maximum of 15 beds located across the West Area to maximin coverage. Up to a maximum of 5 providers covering 4 areas.
How to bid
- Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
- Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
- Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.
Timeline
- Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 002088-2026
About the buyer
Suffolk County CouncilLast 12 months
Procurements
82Awards
41Suppliers it has used most for care
- Access Independent Ltd1 contract
- Athena Care Homes (UK) Limited1 contract
- Best Practice Network Limited1 contract
- CF Support Services Limited1 contract
- Intuitive Thinking Skills Ltd1 contract
Similar open tenders
All open care tenders- £12.7mestimated
- £44.1mestimated
- £1.3mestimated
- £119mestimated
- £13.5mframework ceiling
From notice 002088-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 12 January 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.