---
title: "Flexible Agreement for the provision of Fostering Agency Placements"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-030b4b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-030b4b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-030b4b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-030b4b.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2022-06-29"
---

# Flexible Agreement for the provision of Fostering Agency Placements

Buyer: LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-030b4b

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## Summary

The Lancashire County Council is procuring a Flexible Agreement for the provision of Fostering Agency Placements, with an estimated total value between £375,000,000 and £415,000,000. This open procedure tender is currently in the active stage, allowing interested providers to apply until the initial application deadline, which is expected to be detailed within the Invitation to Participate (ITP) available on the Council's eTendering portal. The procurement, which is set to establish an approved list of Independent Foster Care Providers, aims to influence service delivery prioritising children from collaborating councils in the geographical areas of Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Cumbria, and Lancashire over a duration of 9 years.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses involved in health and social care services, especially those specialising in foster care placements and support services. Companies that would be well-suited to compete include both small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as larger organisations with relevant accreditations and experience in regulated fostering activities. Businesses should be prepared to meet the specific criteria set forth in the procurement documents, particularly those concerning quality and pricing, to enhance their chances of successfully joining this substantial agreement.

## Notice

Lancashire County Council (the Council) are leading on the procurement of an open Flexible Agreement for the Provision of Fostering Agency Placements. Since 2019 Blackburn with Darwen Council, Blackpool Council, Cumbria County Council and Lancashire County Council (BBLC) have been collaborating as part of a Department of Education funded project to improve the sufficiency of foster care placements across the authorities. By working together, the four Contracting Bodies have developed the Flexible Agreement which this procurement intends to establish, with the aim to influence the behaviour of these agencies in order to prioritise the Children from the four Contracting Bodies within the combined authorities' geographical footprint. The Flexible Agreement will be a list of approved Independent Foster Care Providers. It is intended that the Flexible Agreement will remain effect for 9 years, Service Contracts can be awarded as call-off contracts as detailed within the Invitation to Participate (ITP). This procurement procedure is considered to be subject to the Light Touch Regime under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Providers can apply to join the Flexible Agreement, if Applicants satisfy the required criteria. The Flexible Agreement will be open for new Applications during the initial Application phase. Once the initial Application deadline has passed (see ITP for dates), Providers can apply to join every three years throughout the term. (See the Council's eTendering portal iSupplier and ITP for dates). Following an evaluation process, applicants will receive an outcome notification. Successful Applicants will be required to sign a Flexible Agreement Page 4 to 12 and will be appointed as a provider. Lancashire County Council's Flexible Agreement may be used by Contracting Authorities listed below and any successor council as defined in The Local Government (Structural Changes) (Transfer of Functions, Property, Rights and Liabilities) Regulations 2008 to the Contracting Authorities. * Cumbria County Council * Blackpool Council * Blackburn with Darwen Council Please note that Cumbria County Council is currently undergoing a local government reorganisation and Government has announced that Cumbria County Council is to be replaced by two unitary authorities with effect form 01 April 2023. Therefore, Cumbria County Council will be entitled to novate the Flexible Agreement for the provision of Fostering Agency Placements to any successor council. The Flexible Agreement will be split into the following Lots: * Lot 1 Mainstream Foster Care * Lot 2 Enhanced Foster Care * Lot 3 Step Down Foster Care Applicants must be successful in Lot 1 to be eligible for Lot 2 and/or Lot 3. Estimated total value up to PS375,000,000 - PS415,000,000.

### Lot Information

Lot 1 Mainstream Foster Care

Lot 1 Standard Foster Care. The provision of foster care placements for children and young people aged 0-4, 5-10, 11-15, 16+ and Parent and Child placements Additional information: Quality and Price criteria as per the published tender documents https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and-procurement/tenders/flexible-agreement-for-the-provision-of-fostering-agency-placements/

Lot 2 Enhanced Foster Care

Lot 2 Enhanced Foster Care. The provision of foster care placements and support services for children and young people with enhanced needs Additional information: Quality and Price criteria as per the published evaluation criteria https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and-procurement/tenders/flexible-agreement-for-the-provision-of-fostering-agency-placements/

Lot 3 Step Down into Foster Care

Lot 3 Step Down into Foster Care. The provision of foster care placements and support services for children and young people who are placed within Residential Care or on a trajectory to be placed within Residential Care. Additional information: Quality and Price criteria as per the published tender documents https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and-procurement/tenders/flexible-agreement-for-the-provision-of-fostering-agency-placements/

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017779-2022 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large, SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 29 Jun 2022 |
| Submission deadline | 4 May 2031 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 20 Jun 2022 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £415,000,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £10,000,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL |
| Locality | PRESTON |
| Post town | Preston |
| Postcode | PR1 8XJ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD4 Lancashire |
| ITL 3 | TLD45 Mid Lancashire |
| Local authority | Preston |
| Electoral ward | City Centre |
| Westminster constituency | Preston |
| Delivery location | TLC2 Northumberland, and Tyne and Wear, TLD North West (England), TLD1 Cumbria, TLD4 Lancashire, TLE2 North Yorkshire, TLM9 Southern Scotland |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 31 |
| Supplier names | ACORN HOUSE FOSTERING SERVICES; ACTIVE CARE SOLUTIONS; ALPHA PLUS FOSTERING; CAPSTONE FOSTER CARE (NORTH; CARITAS CARE; CHILD ACTION NORTHWEST; COMMUNITY FOSTER CARE; COMPASS COMMUNITY; CUFFE & LACEY ASSOCIATES; EXCEL FOSTERING; FAMILY CARE ASSOCIATES; FAMILY FOSTERCARE; FIVE RIVERS CHILD CARE LTD - SAFEHOUSES; FOSTER CARE ASSOCIATES; FOSTERING CHANGES LIFE; FOSTERING PEOPLE; FOSTERING SOLUTIONS; FUSION FOSTERING; LORIMER FOSTER SERVICES; NATIONAL FOSTERING AGENCY; OLIVE BRANCH FOSTERING; ORANGE GROVE FOSTERCARE; PARALLEL PARENTS; PEOPLE WHO FOSTER; SWIIS FOSTER CARE; THE ADOLESCENT & CHILDRENS TRUST; THE FOSTER CARE CO-OPERATIVE; THREE CIRCLES FOSTERING; TOGETHER TRUST; TUTIS FOSTER CARE; UK FOSTERING |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85000000 - Health and social work services

## Release History

- 29 Jun 2022 at 14:11 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017779-2022
- 14 Jan 2022 at 15:12 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001202-2022

## Notice URLs

- http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/isupplier
- https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:318142-2020:TEXT:EN:HTML
- https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/royal-courts-of-justice
- https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and-procurement/
- https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and-procurement/tenders/flexible-agreement-for-the-provision-of-fostering-agency-placements/

## 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-h6vhtk-030b4b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-030b4b.json.