---
title: "External Fostering Placements"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-41ec51e1-2191-4f0c-a5c2-0cacd77371e8"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-41ec51e1-2191-4f0c-a5c2-0cacd77371e8"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-41ec51e1-2191-4f0c-a5c2-0cacd77371e8.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-41ec51e1-2191-4f0c-a5c2-0cacd77371e8.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2018-12-20"
---

# External Fostering Placements

Buyer: ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-41ec51e1-2191-4f0c-a5c2-0cacd77371e8

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## Summary

Essex County Council is seeking to maintain effective and reliable independent fostering placements through a recent procurement titled "External Fostering Placements." This initiative, classified under health and social work services (CPV Code: 85000000), is currently in the award stage, with a value of £39,200,000, covering the contract period from 1 January 2019 to 18 November 2022. The tender, which involved an open procurement method, had a submission deadline on 21 November 2018, and the successful service providers will operate within the East of England. This procurement's framework also includes a refresh mechanism to allow for new entrants to join during its four-year duration.

This tender presents significant opportunities for growth, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) active in the fostering and childcare sectors. Providers that can offer effective, versatile fostering services and have the capacity to support young people's development and transition to independent living will be well-suited to compete. Businesses specialising in fostering services, particularly those that align with the statutory objectives set forth by the Children's Act 1989, should consider participating to leverage this substantial contract opportunity.

## Notice

Essex County Council ("the Council") conducted a procurement to secure a range of effective, reliable and efficient independent fostering agencies to deliver external fostering placements to enable the Council to fulfil its statutory duties as a corporate parent under section 22 of the Children's Act 1989. The overarching aim of this service is to provide a stable placement in suitable accommodation which supports young people to develop the requisite resilience, wellbeing, form positive relationships in preparation for their transition to adulthood and progression to independent living. This procurement was conducted under the light touch regime and incorporates the following four lots: Limited, Standard, Intensive and Parent and Child. Candidates are advised that this framework will incorporate a refresh mechanism to enable new entrants to apply to join the framework which is anticipated to be enacted at the 2 year anniversary or as required by ECC during its four year lifetime.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a4ee0936-7874-4a43-ba22-310bf0a03825 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 20 Dec 2018 |
| Submission deadline | 21 Nov 2018 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 21 Nov 2018 |
| Contract period | 1 Jan 2019 - 18 Nov 2022 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £39,200,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £39,200,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| 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 |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 11 |
| Supplier names | AFFINITY FOSTERING SERVICES; CHILDREN FIRST FOSTERING AGENCY; EASTERN FAMILY SERVICES LTD T/A EASTERN FOSTERING SERVICES; FOSTER CARE ASSOCIATES; NEXT STEP FOSTERING SERVICES; RAINBOW FOSTERING SERVICES; SUNBEAM FOSTERING AGENCY; THE ADOLESCENT AND CHILDREN'S TRUST (TACT; TIME FOR CHILDREN; XCEL 2000 FOSTERCARE SERVICES; YOUNG PEOPLE AT HEART |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85000000 - Health and social work services

## Release History

- 20 Dec 2018 at 10:07 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a4ee0936-7874-4a43-ba22-310bf0a03825

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a4ee0936-7874-4a43-ba22-310bf0a03825
  20th December 2018 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/respondToList.html?noticeId=364239042
  Please follow this link to view the notice.

## 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-b5fd17-41ec51e1-2191-4f0c-a5c2-0cacd77371e8. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-41ec51e1-2191-4f0c-a5c2-0cacd77371e8.json.