This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Summary of the contracting process

Scotland Excel is establishing a national flexible framework for trained and vetted temporary social care agency workers in a range of social care settings. The requirement is divided into care roles, professional roles and ancillary roles. Care roles cover care assistants, support workers, housing assistants and senior carers. Professional roles cover social workers, occupational therapists, social work managers and social work assistants. Ancillary roles cover domestic assistants, cooks, kitchen assistants, handypersons and bus escorts. The framework is being procured for Scotland Excel, the 32 Scottish local authorities, Scotland Excel associate members, integration authorities and other eligible public bodies, including the Scottish Prison Service. Services will be delivered across Scotland.

The procurement has reached tender: Scotland Excel invited offers through an open procedure, with electronic submission in English. Bids must be submitted by 20 October 2026 at 12:00. It will establish a flexible framework agreement with a contract duration of 1,440 days, including provision for two extensions of up to 12 months. The overall estimated value is £100,000,000. Estimated lot values are £89,000,000 for Care Roles, £8,000,000 for Professional Roles and £3,000,000 for Ancillary Roles. Suppliers may bid for any number of lots. Each lot is evaluated on quality and commercial criteria, weighted 60% technical and 40% commercial. The procurement documents set the detailed requirements and evaluation approach.

This opportunity suits recruitment agencies and specialist workforce providers able to supply trained, vetted and legally qualified staff for temporary social care work across Scotland. Suppliers need to cover one or more of the specified care, professional or ancillary roles and ensure every worker is registered with the relevant regulatory body for the role. Businesses should have the systems and capacity to verify qualifications, vetting and regulatory compliance, and to manage varied workforce requirements for public-sector care settings. The framework allows for admission of new suppliers and variation of services under its terms, creating potential routes for providers entering or expanding in this market. Bidders must accept the framework conditions, declare any intended subcontracting and commit to the required community benefits.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Social Care Agency Workers Flexible Framework Agreement

Notice Description

This procurement exercise is to establish a 'National Flexible Framework Agreement' in accordance with Regulations 74-76 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, "the Regulations" (further referred to as 'the Flexible Framework Agreement (FFA)') for the provision of trained and vetted Social Care Agency Workers in a variety of social care settings. Once established, subject to the terms of the FFA, there may be opportunities for admission of new suppliers and existing suppliers may vary their service (see the Procurement Documents for full details). The value provided in II.1.5 is an ESTIMATE only. TENDER INFORMATION SESSIONS Scotland Excel is running Tenderer Information Sessions on the following dates - 22 September 2026 @ 1pm - 2.30pm and - 23 September 2026 @ 1pm - 2.30pm. Please contact adultsocialcare@scotland-excel.org.uk if you would like to attend either session.

Lot Information

Ancillary Roles

Lot 3 is for the provision of trained and vetted Domestic Assistants, Cooks, Kitchen Assistants, Handypersons and Bus Escorts. (see the Procurement Documents, Schedule 2 - Description of Core Roles). The anticipated value is estimated and may be subject to change. There is no guarantee of any business, use, level of use or continuity of business through the FFA. Award criteria Quality criterion: Technical Weighting: 60 / Commercial Weighting: 40. Please note, the duration shown at section II.2.7 includes two, up to twelve (12) month extensions. By virtue of Regulation 76(3) of the Public Contract (Scotland) Regulations 2015, Tenderers in any of the situations listed in Regulation 58 of the Regulations may be excluded.

Care Roles

Lot 1 is for the provision of trained and vetted Care Assistants, Support Workers, Housing Assistants and Senior Carers (see the Procurement Documents, Schedule 2 - Description of Core Roles). The anticipated value is estimated and may be subject to change. There is no guarantee of any business, use, level of use or continuity of business through the FFA. Award criteria Quality criterion: Technical Weighting: 60 / Commercial Weighting: 40. Please note, the duration shown at section II.2.7 includes two, up to twelve (12) month extensions. By virtue of Regulation 76(3) of the Public Contract (Scotland) Regulations 2015, Tenderers in any of the situations listed in Regulation 58 of the Regulations may be excluded.

Professional Roles

Lot 2 is for the provision of trained and vetted Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Social Work Managers and Social Work Assistants (see the Procurement Documents, Schedule 2 - Description of Core Roles). The anticipated value is estimated and may be subject to change. There is no guarantee of any business, use, level of use or continuity of business through the FFA. Award criteria Quality criterion: Technical Weighting: 60 / Commercial Weighting: 40. Please note, the duration shown at section II.2.7 includes two, up to twelve (12) month extensions. By virtue of Regulation 76(3) of the Public Contract (Scotland) Regulations 2015, Tenderers in any of the situations listed in Regulation 58 of the Regulations may be excluded.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000817598
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP564562
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts)
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

85 - Health and social work services

98 - Other community, social and personal services


CPV Codes

55321000 - Meal-preparation services

55322000 - Meal-cooking services

79612000 - Placement services of office-support personnel

79622000 - Supply services of domestic help personnel

85300000 - Social work and related services

85310000 - Social work services

85311000 - Social work services with accommodation

85311100 - Welfare services for the elderly

85311200 - Welfare services for the handicapped

85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

85312000 - Social work services without accommodation

85312100 - Daycare services

85312110 - Child daycare services

85312120 - Daycare services for handicapped children and young people

85312400 - Welfare services not delivered through residential institutions

85312500 - Rehabilitation services

85312510 - Vocational rehabilitation services

85320000 - Social services

85323000 - Community health services

98510000 - Services of commercial and industrial workers

98514000 - Domestic services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
20 Oct 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
24 Apr 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Scotland Excel
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
PAISLEY
Postcode
PA1 1AR
Postcode Area
Paisley
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM3 West Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM33 Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, and Renfrewshire
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland

Local Authority
Renfrewshire
Electoral Ward
Paisley East and Central
Westminster Constituency
Paisley and Renfrewshire South

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=DEC545193
    Social Care Agency Workers Flexible Framework Agreement - This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is in relation to the renewal framework for Social Care Agency Workers for all 32 council areas in Scotland and Scotland Excel Associate members. This framework is for the provision of social care agency workers on a temporary basis. The anticipated scope of the framework includes 3 lots, which includes but is not limited to Social Care, Professional and Ancillary job roles.
  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP564562
    Social Care Agency Workers Flexible Framework Agreement - This procurement exercise is to establish a 'National Flexible Framework Agreement' in accordance with Regulations 74-76 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, "the Regulations" (further referred to as 'the Flexible Framework Agreement (FFA)') for the provision of trained and vetted Social Care Agency Workers in a variety of social care settings. Once established, subject to the terms of the FFA, there may be opportunities for admission of new suppliers and existing suppliers may vary their service (see the Procurement Documents for full details). The value provided in II.1.5 is an ESTIMATE only. TENDER INFORMATION SESSIONS Scotland Excel is running Tenderer Information Sessions on the following dates - 22 September 2026 @ 1pm - 2.30pm and - 23 September 2026 @ 1pm - 2.30pm. Please contact adultsocialcare@scotland-excel.org.uk if you would like to attend either session.

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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