--- title: "Framework Agreement Re-opening - External Foster Care Services" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-3ba42995-caf1-4500-b970-a51f6e7cbc3d" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-3ba42995-caf1-4500-b970-a51f6e7cbc3d" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-3ba42995-caf1-4500-b970-a51f6e7cbc3d.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-3ba42995-caf1-4500-b970-a51f6e7cbc3d.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL" published: "2023-11-10" --- # Framework Agreement Re-opening - External Foster Care Services Buyer: ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-3ba42995-caf1-4500-b970-a51f6e7cbc3d [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-3ba42995-caf1-4500-b970-a51f6e7cbc3d) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-3ba42995-caf1-4500-b970-a51f6e7cbc3d.json) ## Summary The Essex County Council and Southend City Council are re-opening a framework agreement for External Foster Care Services. This procurement opportunity allows Independent Foster Agencies (IFAs) to participate in up to 4 lots on a multi-provider framework agreement. Existing IFAs can enter additional lots. The Customers are not obliged to make placements with any specific IFA under this agreement. The opportunity involves social work and related services in the UK. The buying organisation, Essex County Council, based in Chelmsford, UK, is seeking providers for foster care services under the framework agreement. The procurement stage is in the planning phase. Key milestones include an engagement end date of November 24, 2023. This opportunity is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations interested in providing foster care services in the specified region. ## 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. Existing IFAs, who are currently on the framework agreement, will be required to confirm either that there has been no change to its tender response or to confirm what changes have occurred since its tender response (including any changes to pricing - the Council may, at its sole discretion, place a maximum cap on any annual re-pricing which may be linked to the Consumer Price Index) and any changes will be subject to evaluation in accordance with the published criteria. Existing IFAs also have the opportunity to enter lots they are not currently apart of. 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/e12ef0f2-7192-4cc0-a3d9-8b146bf20c62 | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 10 Nov 2023 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 24 Nov 2023 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | 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 | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85300000 - Social work and related services ## Release History - 10 Nov 2023 at 16:53 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e12ef0f2-7192-4cc0-a3d9-8b146bf20c62 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e12ef0f2-7192-4cc0-a3d9-8b146bf20c62 10th November 2023 - Early engagement 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-b5fd17-3ba42995-caf1-4500-b970-a51f6e7cbc3d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-3ba42995-caf1-4500-b970-a51f6e7cbc3d.json.