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Residential Placement for ID 392478

Darlington Borough Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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28 Aug 2026 at 13:27

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Darlington Borough Council procured a children’s residential placement for an identified child, under its light-touch social care arrangements. The requirement covers residential care and associated support services, classified as health and social work services. Delivery is in Darlington, within the borough council’s area. This is a single residential placement rather than a broader programme of services or a multi-site framework. It is relevant to providers operating children’s residential homes or specialist residential care services, particularly organisations able to accommodate and support an individual child under a local authority placement. The buyer is Darlington Borough Council, a sub-central public authority, and the selected provider is based in Carnforth, Lancashire.

The procurement has been awarded following a completed direct-award process. Darlington Borough Council used a direct award because an urgent placement was required, under the light-touch regime and the legal basis recorded for the procedure. There was one lot, suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. Hopscotch Care Limited was selected as supplier, with an award value of £1,746,857.82 including tax. The award date was 28 August 2026. The awarded service period runs from 28 August 2026 to 17 April 2029. The award is recorded as pending, with signature scheduled for 28 August 2026. The procurement value was above the relevant threshold. Evaluation was therefore based on the urgent placement requirement and direct-award route rather than a competitive tender.

This award shows sustained local-authority demand for high-value children’s residential placements in Darlington and indicates that urgent individual placements can be sourced through a direct-award route. A credible future provider would need to operate an appropriate children’s residential service, accept referrals from the council and provide safe, continuous accommodation and care for an identified child. The opportunity is accessible in principle to SMEs, as the single lot was marked suitable for them. Providers should be able to demonstrate the operational capacity to sustain a placement over a substantial period, respond to urgent placement needs and work effectively with a borough council. Experience in children’s residential care and health or social work services would be directly relevant.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Residential Placement for ID 392478

Notice Description

PB2026-00486 - Children's Residential Placement for ID 392478

Procurement Information

Urgent placement required

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ee8c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082187-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,746,857 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
28 Aug 2026 - 17 Apr 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Darlington Borough 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
DARLINGTON
Postcode
DL1 5QT
Postcode Area
Darlington
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC3 Tees Valley
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC33 Darlington
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Darlington
Electoral Ward
Park East
Westminster Constituency
Darlington

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Hopscotch Care Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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