--- title: "External Foster Care Services Framework Re-opening - Prospective Providers" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-e3527c1d-46ce-4345-aab9-12f9b01d3c06" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-e3527c1d-46ce-4345-aab9-12f9b01d3c06" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e3527c1d-46ce-4345-aab9-12f9b01d3c06.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e3527c1d-46ce-4345-aab9-12f9b01d3c06.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL" published: "2024-01-03" --- # External Foster Care Services Framework Re-opening - Prospective Providers Buyer: ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-e3527c1d-46ce-4345-aab9-12f9b01d3c06 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-e3527c1d-46ce-4345-aab9-12f9b01d3c06) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e3527c1d-46ce-4345-aab9-12f9b01d3c06.json) ## Summary The Essex County Council and Southend City Council are re-opening the framework agreement for External Foster Care Services, providing opportunities for Independent Foster Agencies (IFAs). The agreement sets out the procedure for placements and terms for service provision. The contract worth £39,200,000 has a tender deadline of 7th February 2024 and a contract period from 18th March 2024 to 20th November 2026. This open procurement presents an opportunity for IFAs to enter a multi-provider framework and compete for placements. Businesses in the social work and related services sector, particularly Independent Foster Agencies, are well-suited to compete in this procurement process. The contract, which prioritizes SMEs and VCSEs, offers a significant contract value and a clear structure for service provision. With the contract's emphasis on individual placement agreements, it provides flexibility for service providers while ensuring compliance with the terms of the framework agreement. ## 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/7d2cc4ae-4422-4995-8f56-8d0c1691ba79 | | 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 | 3 Jan 2024 | | Submission deadline | 7 Feb 2024 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 18 Mar 2024 - 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 | 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 - 3 Jan 2024 at 19:52 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/7d2cc4ae-4422-4995-8f56-8d0c1691ba79 - 3 Jan 2024 at 19:45 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8ec50cb1-e73b-4dd5-9085-15a068d88348 - 13 Jul 2022 at 10:49 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1aeeddf0-7625-4241-bc4b-b4b2b96970b4 - 13 Jul 2022 at 10:37 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f89d1cb3-cd03-409d-9bb5-0d0bc3c4bd89 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/7d2cc4ae-4422-4995-8f56-8d0c1691ba79 3rd January 2024 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8ec50cb1-e73b-4dd5-9085-15a068d88348 3rd January 2024 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1aeeddf0-7625-4241-bc4b-b4b2b96970b4 13th July 2022 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f89d1cb3-cd03-409d-9bb5-0d0bc3c4bd89 13th July 2022 - 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. 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