Planning

Independent Foster Care: Local Homes for Local Children

MILTON KEYNES CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

09 Jul 2025 at 13:55

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

09 Jul 2025 at 13:51

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

02 Jul 2025 at 15:47

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Milton Keynes City Council is currently in the planning stage for a procurement process titled "Independent Foster Care: Local Homes for Local Children," under the services category, specifically health and social work services. The initiative aims to collaborate with Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) to develop quality local homes for children in care. Located in Milton Keynes, the focus is on creating sustainable commissioning by developing block or soft-block contracts. A market engagement is scheduled, with responses to be submitted by 5pm on 25th July 2025. The contract period is planned from 2nd November 2026 to 1st November 2031, with a gross value of £9.5 million.

This tender presents significant opportunities for independent fostering agencies, particularly those capable of offering or expanding placements suitable for children who might otherwise need residential care. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to participate. The collaboration seeks to establish long-term partnerships with local providers, fostering competitive advantage through sustainable and innovative service solutions. The tender process promises engagement that could significantly influence service provision and foster business growth in the social care sector.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Independent Foster Care: Local Homes for Local Children

Notice Description

Milton Keynes City Council ('the Council') is keen to explore how we can best work with Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) to develop sufficient, good-quality local homes for children in our care. We are a growing city, experiencing rapid expansion of our population and an increase in the number of children looked after by the local authority. We want to look beyond the traditional 'framework' model of contracting to build closer relationships with fostering providers operating locally, guarantee sustainable commissioning and work in partnership to recruit and retain foster carers. We are particularly keen to engage with IFAs around the possibility of developing block or soft-block contracts for foster care placements to ensure the needs of our children can be met long-term. These are likely to be 'enhanced' placements, intended for children who could live in a foster home but who might otherwise enter residential care due if sufficient fostering placements are not available. We are keen to hear from providers on the questions given in the market engagement document. The responses to the questions will help the Council in developing the specification and the tender. Please respond to the questions within the attached document by latest 5pm on 25th July 2025 via In-Tend Correspondence section/market engagement stage. If there is sufficient interest in a scoping event to explore the proposal in more detail, this will be held w/c 11th August, please indicate in the attached document if you would like to receive an invitation. The Market Engagement document can be accessed on our e-tendering portal: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/milton-keynes/aspx/Home

Planning Information

Milton Keynes City Council ('the Council') is keen to explore how we can best work with Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) to develop sufficient, good-quality local homes for children in our care. We are a growing city, experiencing rapid expansion of our population and an increase in the number of children looked after by the local authority. We want to look beyond the traditional 'framework' model of contracting to build closer relationships with fostering providers operating locally, guarantee sustainable commissioning and work in partnership to recruit and retain foster carers. We are particularly keen to engage with IFAs around the possibility of developing block or soft-block contracts for foster care placements to ensure the needs of our children can be met long-term. These are likely to be 'enhanced' placements, intended for children who could live in a foster home but who might otherwise enter residential care due if sufficient fostering placements are not available. We are keen to hear from providers on the questions given in the market engagement document. The responses to the questions will help the Council in developing the specification and the tender. Please respond to the questions within the attached document by latest 5pm on 25th July 2025 via In-Tend Correspondence section/market engagement stage. If there is sufficient interest in a scoping event to explore the proposal in more detail, this will be held w/c 11th August, please indicate in the attached document if you would like to receive an invitation. The Market Engagement document can be accessed on our e-tendering portal: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/milton-keynes/aspx/Home

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0557e5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038650-2025
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
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£9,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Jul 20257 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
19 Nov 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Nov 2026 - 1 Nov 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MILTON KEYNES CITY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Procurement Team
Contact Email
corporateprocurement@milton-keynes.gov.uk
Contact Phone
01908691691

Buyer Location

Locality
MILTON KEYNES
Postcode
MK9 3EJ
Post Town
Milton Keynes
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ12 Milton Keynes
Delivery Location
TLJ12 Milton Keynes
Local Authority
Milton Keynes
Electoral Ward
Central Milton Keynes
Westminster Constituency
Milton Keynes Central

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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