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Northamptonshire Children's Trust Pre-Market Engagement Event for the Reopening of the Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes DPS

Northamptonshire Children's Trust · Local authority

In brief

Northamptonshire Children's Trust 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 £36,000,000 excluding VAT.

It is split into 2 lots, so a supplier can bid for part of the work.

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 58 bids per contract for this buyer (from 5 awards in the last 12 months).

Dynamic purchasing system

Suppliers join a list the buyer can call on. You can usually apply at any time while it is open, and work is awarded later through smaller competitions between members.

What the notice says

Northamptonshire Children's Trust (hereafter referred to as the "Children's Trust") is re-opening the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes. Northamptonshire Children's Trust (NCT) would like to invite Residential Children's Home Providers and Independent Fostering Agencies who are not currently part of the framework to attend the forthcoming Pre-Market Engagement Event. As part of the preparations to re-open the Children's Services Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), we are keen to engage with providers, share our future plans, and gain valuable insight from the market. Event Details: Date: Friday 23 October Time: 2:00pm to 3:00pm Venue:…Read the full description
Northamptonshire Children's Trust (hereafter referred to as the "Children's Trust") is re-opening the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes. Northamptonshire Children's Trust (NCT) would like to invite Residential Children's Home Providers and Independent Fostering Agencies who are not currently part of the framework to attend the forthcoming Pre-Market Engagement Event. As part of the preparations to re-open the Children's Services Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), we are keen to engage with providers, share our future plans, and gain valuable insight from the market. Event Details: Date: Friday 23 October Time: 2:00pm to 3:00pm Venue: Microsoft Teams The session will include: - An overview of the DPS re-opening process. - Future commissioning intentions. - Opportunities for providers to ask questions and provide feedback. - Information on how organisations can participate in future procurement opportunities. To reserve your place, please complete the registration form below: https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/ioNHCy6kBCYGYBwHZfm0sxUIIV?domain=forms.cloud.microsoft Following registration, a Teams meeting link will be sent directly to the email address provided. We encourage any provider interested in future opportunities to attend and look forward to hearing your views 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.

How to bid

  1. Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
  2. Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.

Lots

LotTradeValue
Lot 1: Independent Fostering Arrangements
What this lot covers

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

Social and domiciliary care, Healthcare services—
Lot 2 - Children's Homes
What this lot covers

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.

Social and domiciliary care, Healthcare services—

Timeline

  1. Prior information notice · notice 097398-2026

Last time this was bought

Northamptonshire Children's Trust Language Support Services

Awarded
16 October 2025
Value
Not stated, or split across lots
Contract ends
30 September 2027

Matched on Northamptonshire Children's Trust, the type of work and the title; it may be a related contract rather than the same one. Check the notice to be sure.

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From notice 097398-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 15 October 2026. We last checked for changes on 15 October 2026.