--- title: "Block Beds Project" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-065d6d" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-065d6d" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065d6d.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065d6d.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "WEST BERKSHIRE COUNCIL" published: "2026-02-26" --- # Block Beds Project Buyer: WEST BERKSHIRE COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-065d6d [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-065d6d) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065d6d.json) ## Summary West Berkshire Council, a sub-central government authority located in Newbury, UK, is progressing a procurement titled "Block Beds Project" in the services category. This procurement focuses on acquiring block contracts for 36 residential care beds for older adults requiring nursing, frailty, and dementia care. The planned procurement is under the Open Procedure, adhering to the Procurement Act 2023 and intending to establish beds to aid in hospital discharge and admission avoidance. The deadline for engagement is scheduled for 5 March 2026, with the contract running from April 2026 to April 2028, potentially extending until 2031. This process falls under the "light touch" regime, suitable for SMEs and VCSEs. The "Block Beds Project" offers significant growth opportunities for providers within the social care and residential nursing sectors. Its structure, providing a fixed weekly rate per bed regardless of occupancy, ensures revenue stability, making it appealing to businesses seeking guaranteed throughput. The project is particularly beneficial for SMEs and VCSEs suited to delivering residential health services, social work services, welfare services for the elderly, and accommodation-based care. With an overall contract value of over £11.8 million GBP, this procurement represents a substantial business opportunity for capable suppliers, encouraging participation through online supplier events and potential one-to-one meetings. ## Notice West Berkshire Council requires 36 block-purchased beds for older adults requiring residential and nursing care, including support for frailty and dementia. The beds will be allocated as follows: * 25 beds for low-level residential care needs * 11 beds for high-level nursing care needs Block beds provide guaranteed capacity and throughput, supporting timely hospital discharge and admission avoidance whilst enabling the Council to manage care costs effectively. Providers will receive a fixed weekly rate per bed regardless of occupancy, in return for guaranteed availability and priority access for West Berkshire residents. ### Planning Information • General Information: It is mandatory for any interested suppliers to register on the new CENTRAL DIGITAL PLATFORM which is part of the enhanced Find a Tender Service. This procurement will be progressed using the Open Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. Residential services for older persons are identified under Schedule 1 of the Procurement Regulations 2024 as Light Touch. The aim of this procurement is to establish block contracts with suitable providers for residential care for the older people. West Berkshire Council (WBC) welcomes interest from all suitable suppliers, including SMEs and VCSEs. • Outcome Based Specification: WBC is conducting this procurement using the Open procedure in accordance with the requirements of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) for the purpose of procuring 36 beds for older adults requiring residential and nursing, frail and dementia care. Business Requirements (high level for Preliminary Market Engagement Notice only) The residential care beds will be allocated as follows: • 25 beds for low-level residential care needs • 11 beds for high-level nursing care needs The block contract provides guaranteed capacity and throughput, supporting timely hospital discharge and admission avoidance whilst enabling the Council to manage care costs effectively. • Stages: Market Engagement: 1) Supplier event via Teams to discuss requirements and run through the open procedure requirements paying particular attention to conditions of participation 2) One to One supplier meeting via Teams (if required) • Stages: Open Tender ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017529-2026 | | 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, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 26 Feb 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 16 Mar 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Mar 2026 - 1 Apr 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £11,851,892 | | 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 | WEST BERKSHIRE COUNCIL | | Locality | NEWBURY | | Post town | Reading | | Postcode | RG14 5LD | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire | | ITL 3 | TLJ16 Berkshire West | | Local authority | West Berkshire | | Electoral ward | Newbury Central | | Westminster constituency | Newbury | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85144000 - Residential health facilities services - 85144100 - Residential nursing care services - 85310000 - Social work services - 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation - 85311100 - Welfare services for the elderly ## Release History - 26 Feb 2026 at 15:56 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017529-2026 - 26 Feb 2026 at 15:53 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017524-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017529-2026 26th February 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017524-2026 26th February 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://www.westberks.gov.uk - 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-065d6d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065d6d.json.