{ "tag": [ "compiled" ], "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-06ad88-2026-06-04T13:32:11+01:00", "date": "2026-06-04T13:32:11+01:00", "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-06ad88", "initiationType": "tender", "parties": [ { "id": "GB-PPON-PMPB-8772-VYWM", "name": "Durham County Council", "identifier": { "scheme": "GB-PPON", "id": "PMPB-8772-VYWM" }, "address": { "streetAddress": "Corten House, Dunholme Close", "locality": "Durham", "postalCode": "DH1 5WB", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom", "region": "UKC14" }, "contactPoint": { "email": "corporate.procurement@durham.gov.uk" }, "roles": [ "buyer" ], "details": { "url": "http://www.durham.gov.uk/", "classifications": [ { "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment", "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE", "description": "Public authority - sub-central government" } ] } } ], "buyer": { "id": "GB-PPON-PMPB-8772-VYWM", "name": "Durham County Council" }, "tender": { "id": "003404", "legalBasis": { "id": "2023/54", "scheme": "UKPGA", "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents" }, "title": "Regulation 44 Visits by an Independent Person", "description": "This contract is for Regulation 44 Visits by an Independent Person. The Community Children's Homes maintained by Durham County Council provide support and care for some of our most vulnerable children. Durham County Council is committed to be the best parent we can be for Children in our Care and strives to ensure that we deliver support and care that is as good as every good parent. In addition to this we also host Aycliffe Secure Centre within County Durham for both male and females who have been admitted by courts or councils on a welfare and youth custody basis, this may be due to a risk to themselves or others or because there is a concern about involvement with criminal activities. The Children's Homes Regulations 2015 (Regulation 44) require all providers of Children's Residential Homes, to secure monthly visits (as a minimum) by an Independent Person to undertake a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home's arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home's care. There are currently 15 Community Children's Homes maintained by Durham County Council, including a Short Breaks Service and a Step-Down from Secure home. Each of these homes requires monthly Regulation 44 visits conducted by an Independent Person. In addition, Aycliffe Secure Centre comprises a further five homes. Over the course of the contract, the Council plans to develop up to five additional Community Children's Homes. It is anticipated that the scope and value of the contract will be adjusted accordingly as each new home is developed and registered with Ofsted, ensuring ongoing compliance with Regulation 44 requirements. The view of the Council is that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) will apply to this contract. However, Bidders should seek their own legal advice as to the applicability of TUPE and as to the effect of the TUPE clause contained in the contract Terms and Conditions.", "status": "active", "items": [ { "id": "1", "additionalClassifications": [ { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "85000000", "description": "Health and social work services" } ], "deliveryAddresses": [ { "region": "UKC14", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom" } ], "relatedLot": "1" } ], "value": { "amountGross": 1272000, "amount": 1060000, "currency": "GBP" }, "procurementMethod": "open", "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure", "mainProcurementCategory": "services", "specialRegime": [ "lightTouch" ], "aboveThreshold": true, "submissionMethodDetails": "www.open-uk.org", "submissionTerms": { "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed", "languages": [ "en" ] }, "tenderPeriod": { "endDate": "2026-07-06T10:00:00+01:00" }, "awardPeriod": { "endDate": "2026-07-17T23:59:59+01:00" }, "lots": [ { "id": "1", "status": "active", "value": { "amountGross": 1272000, "amount": 1060000, "currency": "GBP" }, "awardCriteria": { "weightingDescription": "Contract Specific Essential - Pass/Fail *Safeguarding (Including E-Safety) & Prevent Policies and Procedures *Right to Work in the UK *Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) *Data Protection - ICO Registration *UK General Data Protection Regulations (UK GDPR) *Lone Working, Violence and Aggression *IT Policies and Practices *Transfer of Undertaking (Protections of Employment) Regulations Technical Questions - Total Weighting 70% Service Delivery 30% weighting Quality Assurance 20% weighting Performance Monitoring 20% weighting Pricing - Total Weighting 30%", "criteria": [ { "type": "quality", "name": "Technical Questions" }, { "type": "price", "name": "Price" } ] }, "contractPeriod": { "startDate": "2026-09-01T00:00:00+01:00", "endDate": "2031-08-31T23:59:59+01:00", "maxExtentDate": "2034-08-31T23:59:59+01:00" }, "hasRenewal": true, "renewal": { "description": "3 periods of 12 months each subject to commissioner and budget approval" }, "hasOptions": true, "options": { "description": "The number of homes may increase / decrease over the life of the contract and the successful organisation requires flexibility to this contract to accommodate this. Over the course of the contract, the Council plans to develop up to five additional Community Children's Homes. It is anticipated that the scope and value of the contract will be adjusted accordingly as each new home is developed and registered with Ofsted, ensuring ongoing compliance with Regulation 44 requirements. The separate governance arrangements for the Secure Centre and Community Children's Homes may need to be reviewed when considering any contract extension. In particular, a decision may be made as to whether it remains appropriate for a single contract to continue covering both services, or whether they should be commissioned separately to better reflect their distinct operational and regulatory frameworks." } } ], "documents": [ { "id": "conflictOfInterest", "documentType": "conflictOfInterest", "description": "Not published" }, { "id": "052811-2026", "documentType": "tenderNotice", "noticeType": "UK4", "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender", "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/052811-2026", "datePublished": "2026-06-04T13:32:11+01:00", "format": "text/html" } ], "hasRecurrence": true, "recurrence": { "dates": [ { "startDate": "2034-01-02T23:59:59Z" } ] } }, "language": "en" }