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Working innovatively and in partnership with Somerset Council to deliver homes for children and young people

SOMERSET COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

15 Jul 2026 at 14:14

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Somerset Council is in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "Working innovatively and in partnership with Somerset Council to deliver homes for children and young people." The initiative aims to engage with providers of children's residential homes, focusing on the welfare services sector. This early market engagement is crucial for shaping future strategies for residential care provision. A virtual market engagement session is scheduled for 10th August 2026 via Microsoft Teams to discuss the approach and gather provider insights. The project targets regions within the United Kingdom, particularly South West England (UKK23), and is significant by exceeding the standard procurement threshold, with an estimated contract value of £36 million gross (£30 million net).

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in children's welfare services, especially those focusing on innovative residential care solutions. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are particularly encouraged to participate, as the suitability criteria support these types of organisations. By attending the engagement session, businesses can influence the shaping of the process and potentially position themselves for future procurement opportunities. The formal commitment to procurement and specifics regarding contract commencement will be informed by the feedback collected during this phase.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Working innovatively and in partnership with Somerset Council to deliver homes for children and young people

Notice Description

Early market engagement with the children's residential market Organisations that take part will not be advantaged or disadvantaged in any way in any potential future formal procurement. Commercial confidentiality will be respected. This notice does not represent a formal commitment by Somerset Council to undertake a procurement procedure.

Planning Information

Somerset Council are seeking to engage with providers of children's residential homes as part of our early market engagement activity to help inform the future commissioning of residential care provision. At this stage, no decisions have been made regarding the number of homes, contract values, or contract commencement and end dates. Through this engagement, we aim to gauge market interest and capacity, share key learning and emerging priorities, and gather feedback from providers through a series of questions to help shape our approach and ensure any future procurement is informed by market insight and expertise. We are holding a virtual market engagement exercise via Microsoft Teams on 10th August 2026 at 14:30 - 16:00. The session will provide more background on what we are trying to achieve to provide the best possible outcomes for our most complex young people. In addition, it will discuss the proposed procurement process and how you can participate in this. To attend this event please respond to this invitation via email to stephen.barker@somerset.gov.uk providing the name of your organisation, the name and role of the person(s) wishing to attend and a contact email address for each. Please ensure that those attending from your organisation are the most appropriate to feed into the discussions. If you are unable to attend the event, the presentation, notes and associated documentation will be available through the e-tender system https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login Event Details Date: 10.08.2026 Time: 14:30 to 16:00 Venue: Microsoft Teams meeting (invitation to be sent via email following registration)

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06cc1a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066863-2026
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

85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£30,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Jul 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Sep 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Nov 2027 - 31 Oct 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
SOMERSET 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
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

JSON Markdown

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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