Planning

WCC Market Testing - Short Term Emergency Placements (STEPS) & Bail and Remand Intensive Care & Support (BRICS)

WARWICKSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

20 Jun 2025 at 15:36

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process, initiated by Warwickshire County Council, invites suppliers for the "WCC Market Testing - Short Term Emergency Placements (STEPS) & Bail and Remand Intensive Care & Support (BRICS)" project. It falls under the services industry category focused on community, social, and personal services, specifically designed to support the Youth Justice Service with emergency foster care placements. The main location for this procurement is the UKG region. With the process currently at the planning stage, interested parties are urged to participate in preliminary market engagement, responding to the market testing questionnaire by 7th July 2025. The council seeks services starting from 1st April 2026, continuing until 31st March 2031, highlighting its proactive approach in addressing youth care needs ahead of the 2026 contract commencement.

The tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialised in providing emergency foster care services and innovative solutions for youth care. Companies that can offer flexible, short-term care arrangements for children with complex needs or are at risk of remand will find this contract aligns well with their expertise. The estimated value offers substantial financial growth, with a total procurement budget of £250,193,750. Competitive bids that incorporate novel approaches, consistent with both the STEPS and BRICS models, stand a strong chance of success. Providers capable of enhancing stability in foster care placements or delivering alternative models existing in other regions are particularly encouraged to participate.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

WCC Market Testing - Short Term Emergency Placements (STEPS) & Bail and Remand Intensive Care & Support (BRICS)

Notice Description

The BRICS service is designed to provide the Warwickshire Youth Justice Service with beds to those children and young people on bail from the criminal courts who are unable to return home. These placements are not time limited; their duration depends on the court process. As the Warwickshire Youth Justice Service is reliant on the court's decisions, placements are often required by 12pm on the same day. The STEPS service provides emergency intensive foster care placements for up to 28 days. These are intended for young people ages 10 and above who require urgent care due to placement breakdowns or other emergency situations. The service allows for proper planning and identification of longer-term solutions. As an emergency service, placements are required at short notice, typically on the same day. After the placement ends, a carer is entitled to a two-day break before the next placement starts. WCC, like other authorities nationally, is experiencing challenges with placing young people with complex needs in stable foster placements. The STEPs model, which was adopted in 2020, has helped alleviate these challenges by providing a short-term intensive foster placement that gives the young person stability and positive outcomes. As with the STEPS service, the BRICS service has played a vital role in supporting children at risk of remand offering an alternative to custody. The current block contract comes to an end 31/03/2026 and WCC needs to consider options for the commencement of a new service from 01/04/2026. WCC would like to engage with providers to explore and work with providers that could offer short emergency foster care placements, children who are at risk of remand and those with complex needs outlined above. We also seek feedback from providers on what they know of other models in other parts of the country including any innovative approaches or services that encourage stability in foster care placements.

Planning Information

You can find the market testing information and documentation via CSW-Jets under Reference WCC - 22946. The Council would be grateful if you could complete sections 6 and 7 of the market testing questionnaire and respond by the 07/07/2025. You should submit your completed questionnaire via CWS-JETS. Contact Details: If you have any questions regarding this Market testing exercise, then please submit them by upload via CSW jets by 12 Noon on 27th June 2025.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-055139
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/034182-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£250,193,750 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Jun 20258 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
7 Jul 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
WARWICKSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@warwickshire.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
WARWICK
Postcode
CV34 4SA
Post Town
Coventry
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG1 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG13 Warwickshire CC
Delivery Location
TLG West Midlands (England)
Local Authority
Warwick
Electoral Ward
Warwick Saltisford
Westminster Constituency
Warwick and Leamington

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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