---
title: "A Framework Agreement for the Provision of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) Services"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0357bd"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0357bd"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0357bd.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0357bd.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL"
published: "2024-04-24"
---

# A Framework Agreement for the Provision of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) Services

Buyer: SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0357bd

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0357bd)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0357bd.json)

## Summary

The procurement process involves a framework agreement for the provision of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) services. Southampton City Council, representing 16 local authorities, is seeking tenders for foster care placements. The deadline for receipt of tenders has been extended to 15th August 2024.

This tender for the IFA services framework agreement offers business growth opportunities for organisations providing welfare services for children and young people. Businesses in the services sector that specialise in fostering care placements are well-suited to compete. The procurement stage is currently at the Tender stage with a focus on service provision.

## Notice

This procurement invites tenders from both new applicants to The Councils' Framework for the Provision of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) Services, or from existing providers on this framework who wish to improve their original price offers or to apply for a place on additional lots. The notice for the original establishment of the Framework Agreement was published on the 28th July 2021 (reference 2021/S 000-017949) and the amended publication dated 7th September 2021, reference 2021/S 000-022124) which read as follows: "This procurement is for the establishment of a framework agreement for the provision of independent fostering agency services across sixteen (16) local authorities that comprise the South-Central IFA Framework consortium. This ITT is to establish a Framework Agreement between Southampton City Council (on behalf of the South-Central IFA Framework consortium) and those tenderers successful in their applications to be accepted on to the framework to enable the provision of foster care placements in accordance with the terms of the framework agreement. The sixteen local authorities which comprise the South-Central IFA Framework consortium (thereby referred to as "The Councils") are: Bracknell Forest Council, Bristol City Council, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, Dorset Council, Isle of Wight Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, Reading Borough Council, Slough Children's Services Trust, Southampton City Council, Surrey County Council, Swindon Borough Council, West Berkshire Council, Wiltshire County Council, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham Borough Council

### Lot Information

(Standard Placements 0+ Years)

Lot 1 (Standard Placements 0+ Years) - full details provided in procurement documents. Additional information: Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 48 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 41 months will remain

Renewal: Potential for 2 x 12 month extensions.

Lot 2 (Children with Disabilities

Lot 2 Children with Disabilities - full details can be found within procurement documents. Additional information: Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 48 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 41 months will remain.

Renewal: Potential for 2 x 12 month extensions

Lot 3 (Parent and Child Placements)

Lot 3 Parent and Child Placements - full details can be found within procurement documents. Additional information: Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 48 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 41 months will remain.

Renewal: Potential for 2 x 12 month extensions

Lot 4 (Enhanced Fostering Placements)

Lot 4 (Enhanced Fostering Placements) - full details can be found within procurement documents. Additional information: Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 48 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 41 months will remain.

Renewal: Potential for 2 x 12 month extensions

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013304-2024 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 24 Apr 2024 |
| Submission deadline | 2 Sep 2022 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | This procurement is for applicants to join an open framework and for existing framework providers to apply for additional lots and / or submit improved offers (prices). This information supercedes that published in the original notice (28th July 2021 - ref 2021/S 000-017949) & amended notice (7th September 2021 - ref 2021/S 000-022124). Please refer to these notices for further details. |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL |
| Additional buyers | ACHIEVING FOR CHILDREN FOR THE ROYAL BOROUGH OF WINDSOR AND MAIDENHEAD; BOURNEMOUTH CHRISTCHURCH & POOLE COUNCIL; BRACKNELL FOREST COUNCIL; BRIGHTER FUTURES FOR CHILDREN FOR READING BOROUGH COUNCIL; BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL; DORSET COUNCIL (INCORPORATING THE FORMER DORSET COUNTY COUNCIL, EXCEPT THE FORMER CHRISTCHURCH BOROUGH COUNCIL ); ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCIL; OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL; PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL; SLOUGH CHILDREN'S SERVICES TRUST (SLOUGH BOROUGH COUNCIL); SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL; SWINDON BOROUGH COUNCIL; WEST BERKSHIRE COUNCIL; WILTSHIRE COUNCIL; WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL |
| Locality | SOUTHAMPTON |
| Post town | Southampton |
| Postcode | SO14 7LY |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight |
| ITL 3 | TLJ32 Southampton |
| Local authority | Southampton |
| Electoral ward | Bargate |
| Westminster constituency | Southampton Itchen |
| Delivery location | TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England), TLL Wales |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

## Release History

- 24 Apr 2024 at 12:49 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013304-2024
- 31 Jan 2024 at 10:36 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003168-2024
- 30 Nov 2023 at 12:06 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035332-2023
- 18 Aug 2023 at 07:51 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024260-2023
- 17 May 2023 at 13:33 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014067-2023
- 8 Feb 2023 at 09:01 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003806-2023
- 13 Dec 2022 at 08:53 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035140-2022
- 20 Oct 2022 at 10:25 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029560-2022
- 2 Sep 2022 at 11:08 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024619-2022
- 1 Aug 2022 at 09:26 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020919-2022

## Notice URLs

- http://www.achievingforchildren.org.uk
- http://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk
- http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk
- http://www.bristol.gov.uk
- http://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
- http://www.iow.gov.uk
- http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk
- http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk
- http://www.sloughchildrenfirst.co.uk
- http://www.southampton.gov.uk
- http://www.surreycc.gov.uk
- http://www.swindon.gov.uk
- http://www.westberks.gov.uk
- http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk
- http://www.wokingham.gov.uk
- https://brighterfuturesforchildren.org/
- https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login

## 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-0357bd. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0357bd.json.