Planning

Block Beds Project

WEST BERKSHIRE COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

26 Feb 2026 at 15:56

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

26 Feb 2026 at 15:53

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

West Berkshire Council, a sub-central government authority located in Newbury, UK, is progressing a procurement titled "Block Beds Project" in the services category. This procurement focuses on acquiring block contracts for 36 residential care beds for older adults requiring nursing, frailty, and dementia care. The planned procurement is under the Open Procedure, adhering to the Procurement Act 2023 and intending to establish beds to aid in hospital discharge and admission avoidance. The deadline for engagement is scheduled for 5 March 2026, with the contract running from April 2026 to April 2028, potentially extending until 2031. This process falls under the "light touch" regime, suitable for SMEs and VCSEs.

The "Block Beds Project" offers significant growth opportunities for providers within the social care and residential nursing sectors. Its structure, providing a fixed weekly rate per bed regardless of occupancy, ensures revenue stability, making it appealing to businesses seeking guaranteed throughput. The project is particularly beneficial for SMEs and VCSEs suited to delivering residential health services, social work services, welfare services for the elderly, and accommodation-based care. With an overall contract value of over £11.8 million GBP, this procurement represents a substantial business opportunity for capable suppliers, encouraging participation through online supplier events and potential one-to-one meetings.

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

Block Beds Project

Notice Description

West Berkshire Council requires 36 block-purchased beds for older adults requiring residential and nursing care, including support for frailty and dementia. The beds will be allocated as follows: * 25 beds for low-level residential care needs * 11 beds for high-level nursing care needs Block beds provide guaranteed capacity and throughput, supporting timely hospital discharge and admission avoidance whilst enabling the Council to manage care costs effectively. Providers will receive a fixed weekly rate per bed regardless of occupancy, in return for guaranteed availability and priority access for West Berkshire residents.

Planning Information

• General Information: It is mandatory for any interested suppliers to register on the new CENTRAL DIGITAL PLATFORM which is part of the enhanced Find a Tender Service. This procurement will be progressed using the Open Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. Residential services for older persons are identified under Schedule 1 of the Procurement Regulations 2024 as Light Touch. The aim of this procurement is to establish block contracts with suitable providers for residential care for the older people. West Berkshire Council (WBC) welcomes interest from all suitable suppliers, including SMEs and VCSEs. • Outcome Based Specification: WBC is conducting this procurement using the Open procedure in accordance with the requirements of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) for the purpose of procuring 36 beds for older adults requiring residential and nursing, frail and dementia care. Business Requirements (high level for Preliminary Market Engagement Notice only) The residential care beds will be allocated as follows: • 25 beds for low-level residential care needs • 11 beds for high-level nursing care needs The block contract provides guaranteed capacity and throughput, supporting timely hospital discharge and admission avoidance whilst enabling the Council to manage care costs effectively. • Stages: Market Engagement: 1) Supplier event via Teams to discuss requirements and run through the open procedure requirements paying particular attention to conditions of participation 2) One to One supplier meeting via Teams (if required) • Stages: Open Tender

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-065d6d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017529-2026
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

85144000 - Residential health facilities services

85144100 - Residential nursing care services

85310000 - Social work services

85311000 - Social work services with accommodation

85311100 - Welfare services for the elderly

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£11,851,892 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Feb 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
16 Mar 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 1 Apr 2028 2-3 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
WEST BERKSHIRE 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
NEWBURY
Postcode
RG14 5LD
Post Town
Reading
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ16 Berkshire West
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
West Berkshire
Electoral Ward
Newbury Central
Westminster Constituency
Newbury

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-065d6d-2026-02-26T15:56:47Z",
    "date": "2026-02-26T15:56:47Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-065d6d",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PTXJ-8922-CMNQ",
            "name": "West Berkshire Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PTXJ-8922-CMNQ"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Market Street",
                "locality": "Newbury",
                "postalCode": "RG14 5LD",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKJ11"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "procurement@westberks.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.westberks.gov.uk",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PTXJ-8922-CMNQ",
        "name": "West Berkshire Council"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "* General Information: It is mandatory for any interested suppliers to register on the new CENTRAL DIGITAL PLATFORM which is part of the enhanced Find a Tender Service. This procurement will be progressed using the Open Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. Residential services for older persons are identified under Schedule 1 of the Procurement Regulations 2024 as Light Touch. The aim of this procurement is to establish block contracts with suitable providers for residential care for the older people. West Berkshire Council (WBC) welcomes interest from all suitable suppliers, including SMEs and VCSEs. * Outcome Based Specification: WBC is conducting this procurement using the Open procedure in accordance with the requirements of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) for the purpose of procuring 36 beds for older adults requiring residential and nursing, frail and dementia care. Business Requirements (high level for Preliminary Market Engagement Notice only) The residential care beds will be allocated as follows: * 25 beds for low-level residential care needs * 11 beds for high-level nursing care needs The block contract provides guaranteed capacity and throughput, supporting timely hospital discharge and admission avoidance whilst enabling the Council to manage care costs effectively. * Stages: Market Engagement: 1) Supplier event via Teams to discuss requirements and run through the open procedure requirements paying particular attention to conditions of participation 2) One to One supplier meeting via Teams (if required) * Stages: Open Tender",
                "dueDate": "2026-03-05T23:59:59+00:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "017524-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017524-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-02-26T15:53:04Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "017529-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017529-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-02-26T15:56:47Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "1901",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Block Beds Project",
        "description": "West Berkshire Council requires 36 block-purchased beds for older adults requiring residential and nursing care, including support for frailty and dementia. The beds will be allocated as follows: * 25 beds for low-level residential care needs * 11 beds for high-level nursing care needs Block beds provide guaranteed capacity and throughput, supporting timely hospital discharge and admission avoidance whilst enabling the Council to manage care costs effectively. Providers will receive a fixed weekly rate per bed regardless of occupancy, in return for guaranteed availability and priority access for West Berkshire residents.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "85310000",
                        "description": "Social work services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "85311100",
                        "description": "Welfare services for the elderly"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "85144000",
                        "description": "Residential health facilities services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "85144100",
                        "description": "Residential nursing care services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "85311000",
                        "description": "Social work services with accommodation"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 11851892,
            "amount": 11851892,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "specialRegime": [
            "lightTouch"
        ],
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true,
                    "vcse": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2028-04-01T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2031-04-01T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-03-16T23:59:59+00:00"
        },
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}