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Internal Residential Children's Homes

THURROCK COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

31 Jul 2026 at 10:38

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Thurrock Council, a sub-central public authority in the United Kingdom, is currently in the Planning stage of a procurement process for the potential operation of residential children’s homes, titled "Internal Residential Children’s Homes." This service procurement, anticipated to cater to the social work and community service categories, involves using three council-owned properties to provide local placements for children looked after. The market engagement notice was published on 31st July 2026, with a key milestone for supplier engagement due by 21st August 2026. The main location for this engagement is Grays, UKH32 region, and the procurement process is under a special '"light touch"' regime.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses, particularly those within the social services industry, to participate in the early market engagement stage. SMEs and VCSEs are seen as well-suited to bid, in light of the suitability criteria outlined, to potentially partake in delivering vital services across the community. The significant indicative contract value of £13 million, with a gross estimate of £15.6 million, underscores the contract's potential boost for business scaling and service expansion. Companies interested in helping shape and deliver personalised social care in residential settings will find this tender particularly appealing.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Internal Residential Children's Homes

Notice Description

Thurrock Council is undertaking early market engagement to understand provider interest in the potential operation of residential children's homes using three council-owned properties. The properties may provide up to six local placements for children looked after, subject to governance, registration, procurement and final approval. This is not a call for competition and does not commit the Council to any future procurement or contract award. Please note that the contract value, scope and duration are indicative and subject to review. The final contract arrangements may vary following market engagement and the subsequent development of service requirements, taking account of operational, commercial, regulatory and market considerations.

Planning Information

Suppliers are invited to respond to this market engagement exercise by completing the online questionnaire available through the In-tend portal: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/thurrockcouncil/aspx/ProjectManage/1700

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d89b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072632-2026
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

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

85310000 - Social work services

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£13,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
31 Jul 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Jul 202711 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2028 - 31 Mar 2033 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
THURROCK 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
GRAYS
Postcode
RM17 6SL
Post Town
Romford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH32 Thurrock
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Thurrock
Electoral Ward
Grays Riverside
Westminster Constituency
Thurrock

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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