Planning

Keeping children close - Residential partnership to deliver homes for children and young people in Somerset

SOMERSET COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

10 Jul 2025 at 07:54

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Somerset Council is currently in the planning stage for a tender titled "Keeping children close - Residential partnership to deliver homes for children and young people in Somerset." This tender falls under the health and social work services category and aims to establish a network of residential homes in the UKK23 region of the United Kingdom. The council organised a market engagement workshop on 29th May 2025 to discuss their vision and requirements, with further opportunities for one-on-one discussions available until 31st August 2025. This initiative offers a chance for providers to collaborate and support the council's objectives and plans, with contracts expected to commence on 1st April 2026 and last until 31st March 2031, with possible renewals extending to 2036.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses involved in providing residential care services for children and young people. By fostering long-term partnerships, Somerset Council offers a steady income stream that allows businesses to better plan financially and operationally. The focus on creating stable, efficient, and child-focused care services presents avenues for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to leverage their expertise and contribute to better outcomes for children in care. Providers who are adept at communicating and collaborating with other service providers can benefit from improved occupancy rates and service efficiency, securing a mutually beneficial arrangement that enhances business growth and stability.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Start Free Trial Book a Demo
All Features Pricing

Notice Information

Notice Title

Keeping children close - Residential partnership to deliver homes for children and young people in Somerset

Notice Description

Somerset Council require a range of residential homes to meet the needs of our children and young people in care. By working closely together, the council and residential home providers can create a more efficient, stable, and child-focused care system through mutually beneficial contracting arrangements. Our aims are to: o Ensure availability: Guarantee that a certain number of beds are always available for Somerset children in Somerset homes. o Stabilise costs: Provide predictable funding for both the commissioner and provider, which can lead to better financial planning and resource allocation. o Improve outcomes: Foster a collaborative relationship focused on the best interests of the children. o Reduce the need for spot purchasing, which can be more expensive and less predictable. o Better plan for future needs and ensures a stable supply of homes for children in Somerset o Offer providers a steady income stream, allowing for better financial and operational planning. o Work closely with providers to maximise occupancy rates which can ultimately improve service quality and efficiency and encourage provider to provider relationships o Improve communication: Establish strong communication channels to address issues promptly, address any early concerns about the stability of the placement and adapt to changing needs. o Share the risk - involve both parties in decisions about placements, care plans, and service improvements. This workshop with residential providers is the opportunity to discuss mutually beneficial arrangements so we can secure and support our smaller providers. We value your expertise and look forward to learning and sharing best practices together.

Planning Information

An engagement event was held on 29.05.2025 which was a workshop session to discuss the authorities requirements and vision for the service with interested providers. However, there is also the ongoing opportunity for providers to have an individual discussion with commissioners in order to discuss the requirements or make contact with the council to receive the information from the workshop (PowerPoint presentation). If you would like further information or would like to arrange a time for a discussion with commissioners, please contact stephen.barker@somerset.gov.uk

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-055c7c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038787-2025
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
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Jul 20257 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
31 Aug 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
SOMERSET COUNCIL
Contact Name
Steve Barker
Contact Email
commercialandprocurement@somerset.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
TAUNTON
Postcode
TA1 4DY
Post Town
Taunton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK62 Somerset
Delivery Location
TLK23 Somerset CC
Local Authority
Somerset
Electoral Ward
Bishop's Hull & Taunton West
Westminster Constituency
Taunton and Wellington

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-055c7c-2025-07-10T08:54:47+01:00",
    "date": "2025-07-10T08:54:47+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-055c7c",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PPGC-1434-MQPJ",
            "name": "Somerset Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PPGC-1434-MQPJ"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "County Hall, The Crescent",
                "locality": "Taunton",
                "postalCode": "TA1 4DY",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKK23"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Steve Barker",
                "email": "commercialandprocurement@somerset.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.somerset.gov.uk",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PPGC-1434-MQPJ",
        "name": "Somerset Council"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "An engagement event was held on 29.05.2025 which was a workshop session to discuss the authorities requirements and vision for the service with interested providers. However, there is also the ongoing opportunity for providers to have an individual discussion with commissioners in order to discuss the requirements or make contact with the council to receive the information from the workshop (PowerPoint presentation). If you would like further information or would like to arrange a time for a discussion with commissioners, please contact stephen.barker@somerset.gov.uk",
                "dueDate": "2025-08-31T23:59:59+01:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "038787-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038787-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-07-10T08:54:47+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-055c7c",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Keeping children close - Residential partnership to deliver homes for children and young people in Somerset",
        "description": "Somerset Council require a range of residential homes to meet the needs of our children and young people in care. By working closely together, the council and residential home providers can create a more efficient, stable, and child-focused care system through mutually beneficial contracting arrangements. Our aims are to: o Ensure availability: Guarantee that a certain number of beds are always available for Somerset children in Somerset homes. o Stabilise costs: Provide predictable funding for both the commissioner and provider, which can lead to better financial planning and resource allocation. o Improve outcomes: Foster a collaborative relationship focused on the best interests of the children. o Reduce the need for spot purchasing, which can be more expensive and less predictable. o Better plan for future needs and ensures a stable supply of homes for children in Somerset o Offer providers a steady income stream, allowing for better financial and operational planning. o Work closely with providers to maximise occupancy rates which can ultimately improve service quality and efficiency and encourage provider to provider relationships o Improve communication: Establish strong communication channels to address issues promptly, address any early concerns about the stability of the placement and adapt to changing needs. o Share the risk - involve both parties in decisions about placements, care plans, and service improvements. This workshop with residential providers is the opportunity to discuss mutually beneficial arrangements so we can secure and support our smaller providers. We value your expertise and look forward to learning and sharing best practices together.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "85000000",
                        "description": "Health and social work services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKK23",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "specialRegime": [
            "lightTouch"
        ],
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2031-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2036-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}