Planning

HCC - 02/26 - Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for Reablement and Support at Home Lead Providers

HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

23 Feb 2026 at 15:43

Summary of the contracting process

Hertfordshire County Council is in the planning stage for a procurement process titled "HCC - 02/26 - Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for Reablement and Support at Home Lead Providers." This involves services in the health and social work sector, located in Stevenage, United Kingdom, with the procurement planning set to consider feedback from the market engagement to inform future decisions. Interested parties must submit their Supplier Questionnaires by 12.00 Noon on 9th March 2026. The current contracts for Strategic Lead Provider services are due to cease on 31st March 2027, compelling the Council to plan for future provisions under financial pressures to support independence and apply the Connected Lives model.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the health and social services sector, capable of delivering Reablement and Support at Home services. The procurement is suitable for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs). Such organisations could leverage their expertise in social care and community engagement to compete for a position as a lead provider within Hertfordshire, with contracts potentially extended to 2032. Businesses adept in promoting independent living and reducing care needs through innovative solutions aligned with the Connected Lives approach are well-suited to participate. The planning stage allows for proactive engagement with the council to shape potential future services.

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Notice Title

HCC - 02/26 - Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for Reablement and Support at Home Lead Providers

Notice Description

The current Strategic Lead Provider contracts encompass both Reablement and Support at Home (Domiciliary care) services. These contracts are due to cease 31st March 2027. Reablement services support individuals in their homes following hospital discharge, illness, or acute episodes, aiming to restore confidence and independence. These services are non-chargeable for up to four weeks (six in exceptional cases) and are delivered without a Care Act eligibility assessment, helping to prevent long-term dependency. There is currently a single Lead provider in each district for Reablement. Support at Home delivers ongoing social care to those meeting Care Act eligibility, based on a Connected Lives assessment. Services are delivered in an enabling manner and may be chargeable following a financial assessment. Individuals with continuing needs following Reablement transition into Support at Home services. Support at home is commissioned via a two-tier model, where the lead provider received first refusal of all Support at Home packages in their district. As the Council faces significant financial pressures it is imperative to tender services that reflect Hertfordshire Adult Care Services' vision to support independence, reduce care needs and apply the Connected Lives model to connect people to their communities. Please refer to the PME Document for full information

Planning Information

The Council is carrying out PME in relation to this project. The Council will consider the feedback received to help inform the Council’s options, requirements and further decision making. For the avoidance of doubt, this stage of the project is not part of a formal procurement process and the Council is not committing, at this stage, to carrying out such a process. Participation or non-participation in the PME shall not prevent any supplier participating in a potential future procurement, nor is it intended that any information supplied as part of the PME shall place any supplier at an advantage in a potential procurement process. Participation in the PME will be at each organisation’s own cost. No expense in responding to this PME will be reimbursed by the Council. To access the PME documentation please visit the Council’s e-tendering system Supply Hertfordshire, run by Intend at https://in-tendhost.co.uk/supplyhertfordshire and follow the on-screen guidance. To participate in this PME, organisations must return their completed Supplier Questionnaire (Appendix A of the PME Document), together with any supporting documents, through the Correspondence area of this project by the return deadline of 12.00 Noon on 9th March 2026, as per the PME documentation and e-tendering system. Supplier Questionnaires received after the deadline may not be reviewed at the Council’s sole discretion. Please make sure that you have submitted your Supplier Questionnaire following the instructions within the PME documentation and e-tendering system. The Council will not be held accountable for any errors made by an organisation in submitting their Supplier Questionnaire. If you are experiencing problems with the Supply Hertfordshire website, In-Tend offer a help section which includes a dedicated UK support desk which can be contacted via email: support@in-tend.co.uk or Telephone: +44 1144070065 for any website/technical questions, Monday to Friday, 8:30-17:00.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-065a58
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016184-2026
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

85300000 - Social work and related services

85310000 - Social work services

85312000 - Social work services without accommodation

85320000 - Social services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Feb 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
7 Sep 20267 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY 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
STEVENAGE
Postcode
SG1 2FQ
Post Town
Stevenage
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH26 North and East Hertfordshire
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Stevenage
Electoral Ward
Symonds Green
Westminster Constituency
Stevenage

Further Information

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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