--- title: "Northamptonshire Children's Trust for the Provision of Homes for Children and Young People in our Care Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0544c1" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0544c1" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0544c1.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0544c1.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "NORTHAMPTONSHIRE CHILDREN'S TRUST" published: "2025-07-08" --- # Northamptonshire Children's Trust for the Provision of Homes for Children and Young People in our Care Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes Buyer: NORTHAMPTONSHIRE CHILDREN'S TRUST Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0544c1 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0544c1) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0544c1.json) ## Summary The Northamptonshire Children's Trust has concluded a procurement process for the provision of homes for children and young people under their care, encompassing Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children’s Homes. This procurement, tagged under the category of Health and Social Work Services, was executed through a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) and has reached the stage of contract award as of 8th July 2025. Located in Northampton, UK, this project is categorised into different lots and service categories, allowing service providers to apply for one or more categories. The contract, initially started on 1st February 2024, has an active term until 31st March 2028, with an option to extend until 2031 under the Light Touch Regime as per the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The DPS is structured to allow electronic and written submissions, although the tendering period ended on 13th June 2025. This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses specializing in health and social work services, specifically those with expertise in fostering and care home services for young people. Companies like Bright Starts Childcare Group and Priority Care Services Limited have already been awarded contracts under this scheme, each valued at £19 million. Small to medium-sized enterprises that offer innovative or specialised care services could find ample growth opportunities by participating in such dedicated lots. Additionally, the option for service providers to apply to multiple categories within the lots enables businesses to extend their service offerings and scale their operations, fostering collaboration with a notable regional authority like Northamptonshire Children’s Trust. ## Notice Northamptonshire Children's Trust (hereafter referred to as the "Children's Trust") is re-opening their Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the supply of services in respect of this requirement. This specification covers providing Homes for Children and Young People in Our Care, Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes. The primary role of Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes is to provide homes to ensure children in our care have a place that is safe and suitable for their individual needs, where they are supported by people who care for them and about them to achieve their full potential, develop resilience, enjoy good health and wellbeing and develop into adulthood. The Children's Trust previously set up the DPS which commenced on 1st February 2024 with an initial term of 4 years and 2 months (i.e. to 31st March 2028), with an option to extend for up to an additional 3 years (until 31st March 2031). Services will be categorised by the following lots that are described further in the specification: Lot 1: Independent Fostering Agency placements for Children in Care - Category 1.1 - Standard - Category 1.2 - Enhanced - Category 1.3 - Complex Needs - Category 1.4 - Emergency - Category 1.5 - Transition to Family Care from Children's Homes - Category 1.6 - Parent and Child Lot 2: Children's Homes placements for Children in Care - Category 2.1 - Standard Homes - Category 2.2 - Specialist Homes - Category 2.3 - Complex Needs - Category 2.4 - Emergency Potential Providers can apply for one or more Lots and Categories. Please note: this contract originally started on 1st February 2024. The Light Touch Regime (LTR) applies to the Services under this DPS, as per Public Contracts Regulations 2015. ### Lot Information Lot 1: Independent Fostering Agency placements for Children in Care Northamptonshire Children's Trust (hereafter referred to as the "Children's Trust") is re-opening their Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the supply of services in respect of this requirement. This specification covers providing Homes for Children and Young People in Our Care, Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes. The primary role of Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes is to provide homes to ensure children in our care have a place that is safe and suitable for their individual needs, where they are supported by people who care for them and about them to achieve their full potential, develop resilience, enjoy good health and wellbeing and develop into adulthood. The Children's Trust previously set up the DPS which commenced on 1st February 2024 with an initial term of 4 years and 2 months (i.e. to 31st March 2028), with an option to extend for up to an additional 3 years (until 31st March 2031). Services will be categorised by the following lots that are described further in the specification: Lot 1: Independent Fostering Agency placements for Children in Care - Category 1.1 - Standard - Category 1.2 - Enhanced - Category 1.3 - Complex Needs - Category 1.4 - Emergency - Category 1.5 - Transition to Family Care from Children's Homes - Category 1.6 - Parent and Child Lot 2: Children's Homes placements for Children in Care - Category 2.1 - Standard Homes - Category 2.2 - Specialist Homes - Category 2.3 - Complex Needs - Category 2.4 - Emergency Potential Providers can apply for one or more Lots and Categories. Please note: this contract originally started on 1st February 2024. The Light Touch Regime (LTR) applies to the Services under this DPS, as per Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Lot 2: Children's Homes placements for Children in Care Northamptonshire Children's Trust (hereafter referred to as the "Children's Trust") is re-opening their Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the supply of services in respect of this requirement. This specification covers providing Homes for Children and Young People in Our Care, Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes. The primary role of Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes is to provide homes to ensure children in our care have a place that is safe and suitable for their individual needs, where they are supported by people who care for them and about them to achieve their full potential, develop resilience, enjoy good health and wellbeing and develop into adulthood. The Children's Trust previously set up the DPS which commenced on 1st February 2024 with an initial term of 4 years and 2 months (i.e. to 31st March 2028), with an option to extend for up to an additional 3 years (until 31st March 2031). Services will be categorised by the following lots that are described further in the specification: Lot 1: Independent Fostering Agency placements for Children in Care - Category 1.1 - Standard - Category 1.2 - Enhanced - Category 1.3 - Complex Needs - Category 1.4 - Emergency - Category 1.5 - Transition to Family Care from Children's Homes - Category 1.6 - Parent and Child Lot 2: Children's Homes placements for Children in Care - Category 2.1 - Standard Homes - Category 2.2 - Specialist Homes - Category 2.3 - Complex Needs - Category 2.4 - Emergency Potential Providers can apply for one or more Lots and Categories. Please note: this contract originally started on 1st February 2024. The Light Touch Regime (LTR) applies to the Services under this DPS, as per Public Contracts Regulations 2015. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038284-2025 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Dynamic | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender, Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 8 Jul 2025 | | Submission deadline | 13 Jun 2025 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 8 Jul 2025 | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | £19,000,000 | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Active | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | NORTHAMPTONSHIRE CHILDREN'S TRUST | | Locality | NORTHAMPTON | | Post town | Northampton | | Postcode | NN1 1ED | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLF East Midlands (England) | | ITL 2 | TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire | | ITL 3 | TLF24 West Northamptonshire | | Local authority | West Northamptonshire | | Electoral ward | Castle | | Westminster constituency | Northampton North | | Delivery location | TLF24 West Northamptonshire, TLF25 North Northamptonshire | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 2 | | Supplier names | BRIGHT STARTS CHILDCARE GROUP; PRIORITY CARE SERVICES | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85000000 - Health and social work services ## Release History - 8 Jul 2025 at 13:50 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038284-2025 - 6 Jun 2025 at 15:19 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030708-2025 ## Notice URLs - http://www.nctrust.co.uk/ - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/nnc ## 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-0544c1. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0544c1.json.