--- title: "Strategic Partner to Operate 2 Residential Children's Homes in Bath & North East Somerset" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05ae47" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05ae47" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05ae47.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05ae47.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "BATH & NORTH EAST SOMERSET COUNCIL" published: "2026-03-17" --- # Strategic Partner to Operate 2 Residential Children's Homes in Bath & North East Somerset Buyer: BATH & NORTH EAST SOMERSET COUNCIL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05ae47 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05ae47) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05ae47.json) ## Summary Bath & North East Somerset Council is seeking a strategic partner to operate two residential children's homes in Bath & North East Somerset. The initiative involves developing quality accommodation with support facilities for children aged 11-18, focusing on autism and complex social, emotional, and mental health needs. Located in Keynsham, adjacent to the new special school, the programme is currently in the tender stage with completion of public consultation and marked commencement of procurement to appoint operators. Providers are invited to submit responses by 24 April 2026, with the final award determined by 31 August 2026. The services are planned to commence on 1 September 2027. This tender offers substantial business growth opportunities for operators of Ofsted Registered Residential Children's Homes skilled in providing care for children with autism and complex needs. Interested parties should ideally demonstrate proven experience in successfully achieving Ofsted Registration and delivering compliant and outcome-focused services. The competitive flexible procedure provides a structured path for experienced suppliers to negotiate and refine their proposals in collaboration with Bath & North East Somerset Council, encouraging comprehensive engagement and potential extension options up to three years, contingent on service quality and occupancy outcomes. This presents a lucrative opportunity for firms aiming to expand their reach and introduce innovative practices within children's residential care. ## Notice B&NES Council has embarked on an ambitious project to deliver 2, 4-bed children's homes for children aged between 11 and 18 who have autism and complex needs associated with social, emotional and mental health needs. The homes will be co-located with, but entirely separate from, a new 30-place special school which will be operated by a single/multi-academy trust. It is anticipated that many, if not all, of the children will attend the co-located school. A building for both the homes and the school has been identified in Keynsham, by utilising the closure of the care home Charlton House (post code BS31 1BF) which is under the ownership and management of the LA. The programme to design and build the newly re-furbished, and bespoke, high-quality children's homes is underway. A public consultation was completed before Christmas, and we have commenced the procurement process to appoint contractors. B&NES Council is looking to commission a single provider to operate the two residential children's homes, working as a close, strategic partner to ensure that public money is utilised to provide quality, outcome focused provision. The two homes will each offer accommodation for four children/young people, with sleep-in staff provision, living and support spaces and a house garden. The services are expected to commence 1st September 2027. There is currently no SEND residential provision in B&NES that caters for our most complex and vulnerable children. Consultation with our parents and carers has highlighted the priority of bringing children closer to home and to their families. Many of the children in the residential homes will continue to have close contact and relationships with their families. By providing these homes in the local area, parents/carers can remain fully involved in all aspects of their child's care for example attending all medical appointments, meetings in person etc. Charlton House is also a five-minute walk away from the social care teams based at Keynsham. It is adjacent to a range of local amenities and activities allowing opportunities for socialisation and for engagement with the wider community. All of which will the improve safety and wellbeing of the children and young people and enhance preparation for adulthood. Potential providers must already operate existing Ofsted Registered Residential Children's Homes to demonstrate their knowledge and competence of successfully achieving Ofsted Registration and delivering an Ofsted compliant service, and be able to demonstrate specialist experience, qualification and knowledge regarding the care of children and young people with Autism and complex needs. In addition to the public consultation https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/charlton-house-homes-and-special-school, we have also held a number of market engagement events (presentations available with tender documentation). Note that the published contract value is a maximum value based on the full contract term (including full extension), based on 100% occupancy of both homes and includes an estimation of additional costs to meet individual care needs. ### Lot Information Lot 1 Renewal: The contract has an option to extend for a further period or periods up to 3 years. Note that the published contract value is a maximum value based on the full contract term (including full extension), based on 100% occupancy of both homes and includes an estimation of additional costs to meet individual care needs. ### Planning Information Following a successful market engagement session on the 22nd of October 2025, we have planned a follow up workshop with potential providers of the children's homes. The workshop will be in-person on Tuesday 9th of December between 1 - 3 pm at The Civic Centre, Market Walk, Keynsham, BS31 1FS It will provide an opportunity to explore the following in more detail: 1: Focus on service delivery, building configuration, and quality of life for young people. 2: Focus on tender requirements, staffing, occupancy, costs, and provider expectations. Please register your interest in attending this event by responding to: Education_Commissioning@BATHNES.GOV.UK If you are interested in understanding more about the commissioning intentions and would like a discussion ahead of this event, please contact the Head of Education Commissioning: olwyn_donnelly@bathnes.gov.uk ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024024-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning, Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 17 Mar 2026 | | Submission deadline | 24 Apr 2026 | | Future notice date | 31 Jan 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2036 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £34,800,000 | | Lots value | £34,800,000 | | 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 | BATH & NORTH EAST SOMERSET COUNCIL | | Locality | BATH | | Post town | Bath | | Postcode | BA1 5AW | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England | | ITL 3 | TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire | | Local authority | Bath and North East Somerset | | Electoral ward | Kingsmead | | Westminster constituency | Bath | | Delivery location | TLK South West (England), TLK1 Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area, TLK12 Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation ## Release History - 17 Mar 2026 at 12:58 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024024-2026 - 11 Mar 2026 at 16:10 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021953-2026 - 28 Nov 2025 at 10:11 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077967-2025 - 13 Oct 2025 at 12:57 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064779-2025 - 13 Oct 2025 at 12:49 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064768-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024024-2026 17th March 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021953-2026 11th March 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077967-2025 28th November 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064779-2025 13th October 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064768-2025 13th October 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://procontract.due-north.com - https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=1d7638b6-de13-f111-813c-005056b64545 - https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=1d7638b6-de13-f111-813c-005056b64545https://procontract.due-north.com - https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/charlton-house-homes-and-special-school - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-05ae47. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05ae47.json.