Planning

Cross Regional Project

OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

28 Nov 2025 at 12:19

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process initiated by Oxfordshire County Council encompasses a Cross Regional Project aiming to provide residential, educational, and therapeutic services for children aged 11 to 17 with complex needs. This initiative is classified under 'Social work and related services,' with a planned launch date of 1st August 2027 and concluding on 31st July 2032, with the possibility of extension until 2037. The current stage is planning, with a preliminary market engagement set to end on 19th December 2025. This engagement seeks feedback on optimal delivery methods across multiple counties, including Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Milton Keynes, Reading, Bedfordshire, and Oxfordshire. The procurement method involves a light touch regime, suitable for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs).

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities for organisations specialising in social services, education, and therapeutic care for youth. Eligible providers will be able to engage in a block contract for the provision of services within registered special schools to support children with and without Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) across key stages 3 to 5. Businesses with expertise in residential care and related educational solutions, especially those capable of expanding placement capacity beyond the initial 36 placements, are particularly suited to compete. The Council's e-tendering platform, Proactis, will facilitate participation, encouraging innovative solutions from potential suppliers who can meet the complex needs of children in the specified age range. This engagement offers not only a contractual opportunity but also the potential for influencing future service delivery models in public care for children across the concerned regions.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Cross Regional Project

Notice Description

Cross Regional contract on behalf of Councils Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Milton Keynes, Reading, Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire to offer residential and educational provision for Children We Care For (CWCF) with complex social, behavioural and educational needs. Cross Regional Project (CRP) delivers therapeutic residential care and educational services for children aged 11-17 with complex needs, operating across 11 homes in partner counties offering 36 placements. A registered special school, commissioned under a block contract, provides education for pupils aged 11-17--including those without EHCPs--across Key Stages 3 to 5. The new service will launch on August 1, 2027, starting with 36 placements and potentially expanding by 24 more. After six months, partners can buy extra placements at any time during the contract.

Planning Information

This is a preliminary market to seek views from potential providers on how best to deliver Cross Regional Project that offers residential, educational and therapeutic services for children aged 11 to 17 inclusive with complex needs. To partake in this preliminary market engagement, potential providers can register on and access the Council's e-tendering system - Proactis on: https://procontract.due-north.com/ProjectManagement/ProjectDashboard?projectId=16101b29-4acc-f011-813a-005056b64545 then clicking on the "Opportunities" tile to search for the pre-market engagement project (reference:DN798997). A preliminary market engagement questionnaire will be available on this project for providers to download and respond to by the end of Friday 19th December 2025. Please note that any commercially sensitive information supplied by providers will be stored confidentially and will not be disclosed to any third party. Also note that this is neither a call for competition nor a procurement exercise.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05eafe
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078052-2025
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

85300000 - Social work and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£172,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Nov 20256 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
5 Feb 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Jul 2027 - 31 Jul 2032 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
OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Ms Priscilla Opare Mintah
Contact Email
startwellprocurement@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
OXFORD
Postcode
OX1 1ND
Post Town
Oxford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC
Delivery Location
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Local Authority
Oxford
Electoral Ward
Osney & St Thomas
Westminster Constituency
Oxford West and Abingdon

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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