--- title: "A Framework Agreement for the Provision of Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) Services" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-0e715422-d19c-4ae8-8ca4-043594fa683a" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-0e715422-d19c-4ae8-8ca4-043594fa683a" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-0e715422-d19c-4ae8-8ca4-043594fa683a.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-0e715422-d19c-4ae8-8ca4-043594fa683a.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL" published: "2024-08-14" --- # A Framework Agreement for the Provision of Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) Services Buyer: SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-0e715422-d19c-4ae8-8ca4-043594fa683a [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-0e715422-d19c-4ae8-8ca4-043594fa683a) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-0e715422-d19c-4ae8-8ca4-043594fa683a.json) ## Summary Southampton City Council has issued a tender for a Framework Agreement for the Provision of Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) Services, which includes sixteen local authorities within the South-Central IFA Framework consortium. The procurement process is currently in the Tender stage, with the tender period ending on 25 January 2024. The contract is projected to start on 26 April 2024 and will run until 31 March 2028. This procurement, valued at up to GBP 750,000,000, focuses on welfare services for children and young people and includes multiple lots for standard placements, placements for children with disabilities, parent and child placements, and enhanced fostering placements. This open procurement procedure is suitable for SMEs and VCSEs, and services are to be delivered across the South East, South West, and Wales regions in the UK. Businesses specializing in child welfare services, particularly those with capabilities in providing foster care for diverse needs such as older children, complex medical needs, large sibling groups, and unaccompanied asylum seekers, will find significant opportunities with this tender. Companies based in Wales, as well as those in England, are invited to apply. This framework will not only provide consistent, high-value contracts over a four-year duration with potential extensions but also allows current providers to improve their price offerings and bid for additional lots, fostering growth and market expansion in the social care sector. ## Notice This procurement invites tenders from both new applicants to The Councils' Framework for the Provision of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) Services, or from existing providers on this framework who wish to improve their original price offers or to apply for a place on additional lots. The notice for the original establishment of the Framework Agreement was published on the 28th July 2021 (reference 2021/S 000-017949) and the amended publication dated 7th September 2021, reference 2021/S 000-022124) which read as follows: "This procurement is for the establishment of a framework agreement for the provision of independent fostering agency services across sixteen (16) local authorities that comprise the South-Central IFA Framework consortium. This ITT is to establish a Framework Agreement between Southampton City Council (on behalf of the South-Central IFA Framework consortium) and those tenderers successful in their applications to be accepted on to the framework to enable the provision of foster care placements in accordance with the terms of the framework agreement. The consortium have the following needs from independent fostering agency placements: Foster carers for children of all ages, but particularly for older children aged 10-15 years. Foster carers who can meet higher levels of need, complexity and risk. Foster carers who can care for sibling groups - particularly large sibling groups. Foster carers who care for parent and child placements Foster carers who can care for disabled children- especially with adapted homes. Some will have complex medical needs and some may have a limited life expectancy. Foster carers who are registered for only one child to meet the need for solo placements. Foster carers who can care for Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers and with an awareness/willingness to work in partnership to meet their immediate immigration, health and educational needs. In addition, the Councils are particularly looking for local, well-matched placements, including education provision, and with commitment to the best interests of the child. Enhanced fostering care placements for children and young people with higher levels of need. The Framework is comprised of the following 4 Lots: Lot 1 (Standard Placements 0+ Years) Lot 2 (Children with Disabilities) Lot 3 (Parent and Child Placements) Lot 4 (Enhanced Fostering Placements) Providers may bid for one or more of these Lots in any combination. This is a requirement amongst some of the consortium members for foster placements that may be located with Wales. As such providers of fostering services based in Wales in addition to those in England are welcome to tender. Additional information: The procurement is to continue establishing a framework agreement with an initial term of four years with 16 months remaining. There is the option to extend the framework agreement by up to two additional twelve month periods, i.e. from 1st April 2026 - 31st March 2027 and from 1st April 2027- 31st March 2028. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e4ddb07-b32b-4bd7-aab7-80f08084350a | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (above threshold) | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 14 Aug 2024 | | Submission deadline | 20 Oct 2024 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 20 Oct 2024 - 31 Mar 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £750,000,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL | | Locality | SOUTHAMPTON | | Post town | Southampton | | Postcode | SO14 7LY | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight | | ITL 3 | TLJ32 Southampton | | Local authority | Southampton | | Electoral ward | Bargate | | Westminster constituency | Southampton Itchen | | Delivery location | TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England), TLL Wales | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people ## Release History - 14 Aug 2024 at 14:18 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e4ddb07-b32b-4bd7-aab7-80f08084350a - 24 Apr 2024 at 12:45 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e4ddb07-b32b-4bd7-aab7-80f08084350a - 24 Jan 2024 at 16:05 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e4ddb07-b32b-4bd7-aab7-80f08084350a - 30 Nov 2023 at 12:02 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e4ddb07-b32b-4bd7-aab7-80f08084350a - 30 Nov 2023 at 12:01 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e4ddb07-b32b-4bd7-aab7-80f08084350a - 18 Aug 2023 at 07:50 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e4ddb07-b32b-4bd7-aab7-80f08084350a - 17 May 2023 at 13:25 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e4ddb07-b32b-4bd7-aab7-80f08084350a - 8 Feb 2023 at 09:00 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e4ddb07-b32b-4bd7-aab7-80f08084350a - 18 Nov 2022 at 08:29 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e4ddb07-b32b-4bd7-aab7-80f08084350a - 20 Oct 2022 at 10:22 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e4ddb07-b32b-4bd7-aab7-80f08084350a - 2 Sep 2022 at 11:04 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e4ddb07-b32b-4bd7-aab7-80f08084350a - 19 Aug 2022 at 09:13 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e4ddb07-b32b-4bd7-aab7-80f08084350a - 1 Aug 2022 at 09:26 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e4ddb07-b32b-4bd7-aab7-80f08084350a - 7 Sep 2021 at 09:07 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e4ddb07-b32b-4bd7-aab7-80f08084350a - 28 Jul 2021 at 14:05 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e4ddb07-b32b-4bd7-aab7-80f08084350a ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e4ddb07-b32b-4bd7-aab7-80f08084350a 14th August 2024 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/2924553f-920a-4337-a81b-0a6ac898fba3 Tender Portal Instructions - https://www.southampton.gov.uk/business-licensing/supply-council/supply-portal Southampton City Council Tender Portal - https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login ## Notice URLs - http://www.southampton.gov.uk ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. 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