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Residential and Nursing Care Framework

Southend-on-Sea City Council

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

22 Oct 2026 at 16:48

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

15 Oct 2026 at 13:50

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

15 Oct 2026 at 13:46

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

05 May 2026 at 16:57

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Southend-on-Sea City Council is preparing a framework for residential and nursing care services for adults with varied support needs. It is intended to cover older people, people living with dementia, adults with learning disabilities, people with mental health needs and individuals requiring nursing care. The aim is to make placements and funding more consistent and transparent, linking assessed need and care complexity to provider capability and fees. The framework is also intended to help the Council understand local care capacity and support sustainable, high-quality services. Care would be delivered in the Mid and South Essex area. The Council is seeking input from residential, nursing and specialist care providers, existing framework providers, prospective providers and sector representative organisations.

This is at the planning stage: the Council has set out its intention to procure, but has not issued an invitation to tender. It expects to use an open procedure under the light-touch provisions of the Procurement Act 2023, through a framework; the final structure remains subject to confirmation. The estimated value is £296 million across a proposed maximum eight-year period. The proposed initial term is five years, with up to three one-year extensions. The planned contract period is 1 October 2027 to 1 October 2032, with a possible extension to 1 October 2035. A formal tender notice is expected by the end of 2026. The Council planned two online market-engagement sessions: the first has been postponed, and the second is scheduled for 12 November 2026. A further workshop may follow.

The proposed framework is relevant to providers able to deliver residential, nursing or specialist care for adults with varied and potentially complex needs in Mid and South Essex. It is intended to suit small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises as well as other providers. The Council wants to hear how levels of need and care complexity should be defined, how provider capabilities should relate to fee arrangements, and how placements can better match individuals with appropriate care. It is also seeking views on nursing requirements, workforce and market capacity, specialist provision, sustainable delivery, quality and outcomes, including independence, wellbeing and person-centred support. Providers with insight into practical framework participation and placement arrangements can help shape the model before the formal competition.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Residential and Nursing Care Framework

Notice Description

Southend-on-Sea City Council is preparing to procure a new Residential and Nursing Care Framework to support adults with a range of care and support needs, including older people, people living with dementia, adults with learning disabilities, people with mental health needs and individuals requiring nursing care. The Council is seeking to develop a more transparent, consistent and sustainable approach to residential and nursing care, with a stronger relationship between individuals' assessed needs, the complexity of support required, provider capabilities and the fees paid for care. The proposed framework will support improved placement decision-making, greater consistency in funding arrangements and a stronger understanding of the capacity and capabilities available within the local care market. The Council currently intends to establish a framework under the light-touch provisions of the Procurement Act 2023, with an estimated value of PS296 million over the proposed maximum eight-year period. The proposed initial term is five years, with options to extend for up to three additional years in 12-month increments. The final procurement structure remains subject to confirmation. The formal Invitation to Tender and associated tender notice are expected to be published by the end of 2026. Before commencing procurement, the Council wishes to engage with providers to test its proposed approach and ensure that the future framework reflects the needs of residents, the capabilities of the market and the practical considerations of delivering sustainable, high-quality care.

Planning Information

The Council will hold two online market engagement sessions via Microsoft Teams. These sessions will provide an opportunity for providers to understand the proposed framework and contribute to its development. We are particularly interested in views on: Complexity and needs-based care: How different levels of care and complexity should be defined and how these relate to provider capability. Fee structures: The proposed relationship between assessed need, care complexity and fee arrangements, including nursing care requirements. Placement matching: How the Council and providers can improve the matching of individuals to appropriate residential and nursing placements. Market capacity and sustainability: Current and future challenges, including workforce, specialist provision and increasing complexity of need. Quality and outcomes: How the framework can promote quality, independence, wellbeing and person-centred support. Framework operation: The proposed approach to provider participation, placement arrangements and ongoing market engagement. Planned Engagement Sessions Market Engagement Event 1: TBC Market Engagement Event 2: 12th November 2026 from 11-12.30 A further provider workshop may be arranged to explore particular elements of the proposed model following the initial engagement sessions. Who Should Attend? We welcome participation from providers based in the Mid and South Essex areas: • Residential Care Providers • Nursing Care Providers • Specialist Care Providers • Existing Framework Providers • Providers not currently contracted with the Council who may be interested in future opportunities • Sector Representative Organisations Register Your Interest: Providers interested in attending a market engagement event or receiving updates regarding the forthcoming procurement are encouraged to register their interest by contacting: strategiccommissioning@southend.gov.uk

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0691da
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100179-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85144100 - Residential nursing care services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£296,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Nov 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2027 - 1 Oct 2032 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
Southend-on-Sea City 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
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA
Postcode
SS2 6FA
Postcode Area
Southend-on-Sea
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH31 Southend-on-Sea
Delivery Location
TLH31 Southend-on-Sea
Local Authority
Southend-on-Sea
Electoral Ward
Victoria
Westminster Constituency
Southend East and Rochford

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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