--- title: "Preliminary Market Engagement for Residential Homes for Children Looked After" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0649ec" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0649ec" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0649ec.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0649ec.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "LONDON BOROUGH OF CAMDEN" published: "2026-02-06" --- # Preliminary Market Engagement for Residential Homes for Children Looked After Buyer: LONDON BOROUGH OF CAMDEN Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0649ec [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0649ec) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0649ec.json) ## Summary The London Borough of Camden is initiating a public procurement process, currently at the planning stage, for the commissioning of three new children's homes intended for children aged 6 to 18 who are looked after by the Council. This procurement, titled "Preliminary Market Engagement for Residential Homes for Children Looked After," falls under the industry category of social work services with accommodation. The Council is organising an online market engagement event on 27th February 2026, with registrations due by the 25th of February. The residential homes are located in London (UKI31 region) and the estimated contract value is £18,000,000, under a service category. The first contract is expected to start in December 2026 or January 2027, with follow-ups in mid-2027, each having a potential duration of four years and an extension option up to two additional years. This tender offers vital business growth opportunities, particularly for service providers experienced in social care services and supportive residential environments. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that can deliver care for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties or provide short-term stabilising placements will find this opportunity well-suited to their capabilities. Engaging in this tender allows businesses to contribute to an essential public service, benefiting from long-term contracts and forming part of a supportive network, including health and educational services. The procurement method aligns with the 'light touch' regime, making it an inclusive process for eligible service providers. ## Notice The Council are planning to commission three new children's homes for 6 -18 year olds the first contract will commence in December 2026/January 2027 and the other two in June/July 2027 (subject to change) for an estimated contract duration of four (4) years with an option to extend for a further two year. The Council will provide the buildings, and we are seeking service providers to run the homes. Two of the contracts will be for children with emotional behavioural difficulties and one will provide short term stabilising placements for children with complex needs who are at risk or on deprivation of liberty orders. The children and young people living at the homes will be 'Children Looked After,' where the Council has corporate parenting responsibilities in line with the requirements of the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004. As a result of their experiences, the children referred to the service will have varying and complex needs. Alongside the daily support from the service provider, children and young people placed in this service will receive in-reach from local services including health, education child adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). ### Planning Information We are inviting suppliers to attend an online market engagement event via Microsoft Teams taking place on 27th February 2026 from 9.30am to 11:00am. A link to the meeting will be provided upon registration. Please register by noon on 25th February 2026 and access further information via this link https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=2178df2e-df00-f111-813c-005056b64545&fromRfxSummary=True&rfxId=0cdf5eb7-df00-f111-813c-005056b64545 ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010887-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 6 Feb 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 27 Feb 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Dec 2026 - 30 Nov 2030 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £18,000,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | LONDON BOROUGH OF CAMDEN | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | Central London | | Postcode | WC1H 9JE | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI36 Camden | | Local authority | Camden | | Electoral ward | King's Cross | | Westminster constituency | Holborn and St Pancras | | Delivery location | TLI31 Camden and City of London | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation ## Release History - 6 Feb 2026 at 11:50 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010887-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010887-2026 6th February 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=2178df2e-df00-f111-813c-005056b64545&fromRfxSummary=True&rfxId=0cdf5eb7-df00-f111-813c-005056b64545 - 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-0649ec. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0649ec.json.