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Adult and Children/Young Persons Care and Support Flexible Framework

North Ayrshire Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

24 Jul 2026 at 01:00

PCS Notice - Website Prior Information Notice
Summary of the contracting process

North Ayrshire Council is planning a replacement flexible framework for outcome-based adult and children’s care and support services. The framework will cover children and young people up to and including age 25 who have disabilities or other needs, their families, and young people moving from children’s to adult services. It will also cover adults with learning disabilities, physical or sensory disabilities, or mental health disorders. Services will support people assessed as needing care, helping them live independently, participate in their communities and achieve improved outcomes. Delivery will be across North Ayrshire, including Arran. This is a public service procurement supporting the North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership’s 2026–2030 priorities.

This process is at the planning stage: the council has announced its intention to procure and is seeking market input before inviting tenders. It expects to use a flexible framework, replacing the current community support framework, with a future procurement notice anticipated on 4 January 2027. The council expects the resulting contracts to start in December 2027, subject to change, and to run for nine years, with review and break mechanisms every three years. Interested providers are asked to complete and return a questionnaire by close of business on 13 August 2026. The planned service would operate continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 or 366 days a year, including sleepovers and waking-night provision.

This will suit established care and support providers able to deliver person-centred services continuously across North Ayrshire, including Arran. Relevant capability includes supporting children, young people and families affected by disability or other needs, adults with learning, physical or sensory disabilities or mental health disorders, and people transitioning between children’s and adult services. Providers should be able to deliver outcome-focused support that promotes independence, community participation, improved health and reduced inequalities, including sleepovers and waking-night care. They will need appropriate Care Inspectorate registration before service commencement, with at least grade three across all inspected key quality questions, or a Low New Registration Scrutiny Assessment Tool score where no inspection grades exist. Required insurance cover is employers’ liability of £5 million and public liability of £10 million, alongside two relevant service examples from the previous three years.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Adult and Children/Young Persons Care and Support Flexible Framework

Notice Description

North Ayrshire Council ("NAC") are looking to notify the market of this opportunity for providers to join a flexible framework. This will be a replacement for the current framework - NAC/4280 Community Support Service which is due to expire in December 2027. Providers will be appointed under the Flexible Framework agreement to deliver outcome-based care and support services for the following categories: Children and Young People up to and including 25 years with a range of disabilities and needs, and their families across North Ayrshire. This will include Young People transitioning from Children and Young Peoples services to Adult services. Adults with either a Learning Disability, Physical or Sensory Disability, or Mental Health disorder.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The service will contribute to the North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership's Strategic Commissioning Plan (2026-2030) priorities of Improving Population Health, Meeting the Needs of an Aging Population and tackling health Inequalities. The service will contribute to improving outcomes for individuals with effective response to the issues that impact on their lives and ability to live independently and engage in the community. Services will be delivered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365(6) days per year, inclusive of sleepovers and waking night provision for individuals who have been assessed by North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership as requiring a service. It is anticipated that contracts will be for 9 years with review and break mechanisms every 3 years. The anticipated contract commencement date is December 2027; however this may be subject to change. Providers must be appropriately registered with the Care Inspectorate prior to the contract start date. A minimum grade of three (3) is required across all inspected key quality questions. In the circumstance where Quality grades have not yet been assigned to the registered Service because the Service has not had its first inspection North Ayrshire Council will consider the score assigned by the Care Inspectorate in its New Registration Scrutiny Assessment Tool (SAT) (or its equivalent replacement) for the Service. A SAT score of Low will be required to meet the minimum requirement. Required minimum insurances as follows: Employers Liability 5m GBP; Public Liability 10m GBP. Providers must be able to provide two experience examples of services delivered in the past 3 years that demonstrate the relevant experience to deliver the service as outlined in this notice and the attached questionnaire.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000838120
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL560832
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
PCS Notice - Website Prior Information Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
4 Jan 20273 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
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
North Ayrshire 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
IRVINE
Postcode
KA12 8EE
Postcode Area
Kilmarnock
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM9 Southern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM93 North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire
Delivery Location
TLM93 North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire
Local Authority
North Ayrshire
Electoral Ward
Irvine South
Westminster Constituency
Central Ayrshire

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=JUL560832&idx=1
    24th July 2026 - PIN Questionnaire
  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL560832
    Adult and Children/Young Persons Care and Support Flexible Framework - North Ayrshire Council ("NAC") are looking to notify the market of this opportunity for providers to join a flexible framework. This will be a replacement for the current framework - NAC/4280 Community Support Service which is due to expire in December 2027. Providers will be appointed under the Flexible Framework agreement to deliver outcome-based care and support services for the following categories: Children and Young People up to and including 25 years with a range of disabilities and needs, and their families across North Ayrshire. This will include Young People transitioning from Children and Young Peoples services to Adult services. Adults with either a Learning Disability, Physical or Sensory Disability, or Mental Health disorder.

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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