--- title: "External Foster Care Services Framework Re-opening - Prospective Providers" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-23b38a7b-69a4-4cb7-9bbf-e2823c8427da" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-23b38a7b-69a4-4cb7-9bbf-e2823c8427da" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-23b38a7b-69a4-4cb7-9bbf-e2823c8427da.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-23b38a7b-69a4-4cb7-9bbf-e2823c8427da.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL" published: "2024-12-06" --- # External Foster Care Services Framework Re-opening - Prospective Providers Buyer: ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-23b38a7b-69a4-4cb7-9bbf-e2823c8427da [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-23b38a7b-69a4-4cb7-9bbf-e2823c8427da) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-23b38a7b-69a4-4cb7-9bbf-e2823c8427da.json) ## Summary Essex County Council, in collaboration with Southend City Council, is inviting independent foster agencies (IFAs) to participate in the re-opening of the External Foster Care Services Framework. This procurement process, classified under social work and related services (CPV code 85300000), is at the tender stage and employs an open procedure for above-threshold contracts. The framework aims to facilitate placements in line with agreed terms, though it does not guarantee any specific volume of services from any IFA. The tender period closes on 16 December 2024, with the contract running from 10 March 2025 to 20 November 2026. The total estimated value of this framework is £39,200,000, with a minimum value of £24,099,055. This tender offers substantial opportunities for IFAs to expand their services within Essex and Southend, contributing to the provision of essential social care services. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) are particularly encouraged to apply, enhancing their growth and presence in the public sector market. By joining this framework, businesses can secure individual placement agreements which serve as standalone contracts, thereby presenting multiple avenues for service delivery and sustained contractual engagements with the councils. ## Notice Essex County Council and Southend City Council are re-opening the framework agreement for External Foster Care Services. This Framework Agreement sets out the procedure for Placements, the terms and conditions for the provision of the Services and the obligations of a Provider under this Framework Agreement. Independent Foster Agencies (IFAs), who are not currently on the framework agreement, have the opportunity to enter up to 4 lots on a multi-provider framework agreement to provide Services to those customers who, if required, will make foster care placements in accordance with this Framework Agreement. It is important to note that despite entering the framework agreement, the Customers shall have no obligation to make placements with any particular IFA under this Framework Agreement and this Framework Agreement is not a commitment or guarantee from the Customers to procure any Services or any specific volume of Services from any particular IFA. Instead, the Customers shall only be committed under the terms of a valid and binding Individual Placement Agreement formed pursuant to this Framework Agreement. Each Individual Placement Agreement shall be an independent contract in its own right and therefore shall survive termination or expiry of this Framework Agreement with the relevant provisions of this Framework Agreement surviving as necessary until the expiry or earlier termination of any such Individual Placement Agreements. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/60ba6671-9688-42a0-a5a9-7c6484c3894d | | 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 | 6 Dec 2024 | | Submission deadline | 16 Dec 2024 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 10 Mar 2025 - 20 Nov 2026 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £39,200,000 | | 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 | ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL | | Locality | CHELMSFORD | | Post town | Chelmsford | | Postcode | CM1 1QH | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLH East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLH3 Essex | | ITL 3 | TLH36 Heart of Essex | | Local authority | Chelmsford | | Electoral ward | Moulsham and Central | | Westminster constituency | Chelmsford | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85300000 - Social work and related services ## Release History - 6 Dec 2024 at 15:16 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/60ba6671-9688-42a0-a5a9-7c6484c3894d - 6 Nov 2024 at 16:34 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/01cfa295-9297-4171-92ed-35e7e8c1b8bf ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/60ba6671-9688-42a0-a5a9-7c6484c3894d 6th December 2024 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/01cfa295-9297-4171-92ed-35e7e8c1b8bf 6th November 2024 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder ## Notice URLs - https://www.essex.gov.uk/ ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-23b38a7b-69a4-4cb7-9bbf-e2823c8427da. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-23b38a7b-69a4-4cb7-9bbf-e2823c8427da.json.