Award

AT1299 - Provision for Children looked after

LUTON COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

03 Apr 2025 at 14:00

Tender

23 Jan 2025 at 18:30

Tender

16 Jan 2025 at 14:26

Summary of the contracting process

Luton Council, along with Central Bedfordshire Council, Bedford Borough Council, and Hertfordshire County Council (the Partnership Authorities), has completed the procurement process for the provision of independent fostering placements in Bedfordshire under a Pan Bedfordshire contract arrangement. The contract, titled "AT1299 - Provision for Children looked after," falls under the Social work and related services category (CPV code: 85300000), and covers the entire region of England. This procurement was carried out using an open procedure, and the total contract value is £118,000,000. The tender stage concluded on 17 February 2025, and the contract period spans from 1 April 2025 to 1 April 2035.

This tender creates vast opportunities for businesses specialising in social work and fostering services to establish and expand their operations within the Bedfordshire region. SMEs and VCSEs (Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises) are particularly well-suited to compete given the procurement's suitability criteria. The wide-reaching collaboration amongst multiple local authorities demonstrates a significant demand for these services, offering long-term business growth and stability for potential suppliers. Multiple suppliers have been awarded, including notable entities like Active Care Solutions Limited, Alliance Foster Care, and The National Fostering Agency Ltd, providing a competitive yet lucrative market for fostering service providers.

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Notice Title

AT1299 - Provision for Children looked after

Notice Description

Independent Fostering placements in Bedfordshire are currently commissioned through an Accredited Provider List (APL) under a Pan Bedfordshire contract arrangement with Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire councils. Luton Council will be leading on the procurement on behalf of the 4 Local Authority Partners, Central Bedfordshire Council, Bedford Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council (the Partnership Authorities).

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-7445ba73-19af-4b2c-9156-bc70b3b4ee87
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/bca13c46-f2fd-4f00-9b4f-fb44ecf2d08b
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85300000 - Social work and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£118,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£118,000,000 £100M-£1B
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Apr 202510 months ago
Submission Deadline
17 Feb 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
30 Mar 202511 months ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2025 - 1 Apr 2035 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
LUTON COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LUTON
Postcode
LU1 2BQ
Post Town
Luton
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH21 Luton
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)

Local Authority
Luton
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Luton South and South Bedfordshire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
18
Supplier Names

ACTIVE CARE SOLUTIONS

ALLIANCE FOSTER CARE

ANCHOR FOSTERCARE

BEAMS FOSTER CARE AND FAMILY SERVICES

BRIGHTER FUTURES FOSTER CARE

CHILDREN FIRST FOSTERING AGENCY

COMPASS COMMUNITY

FOSTER CARE ASSOCIATES

FOSTERING OPTIONS

FOSTERING PEOPLE

FOSTERING SOLUTIONS

FOSTERPLUS

INFINITY FOSTER CARE

ORANGE GROVE FOSTERCARE

OUTSET FOSTERING AGENCY

PRIDE FOSTERING SERVICE

THE ADOLESCENT AND CHILDREN'S TRUST

THE NATIONAL FOSTERING AGENCY

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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