--- title: "Independent Fostering Agencies (call off)" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0666e4" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0666e4" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0666e4.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0666e4.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL" published: "2026-03-22" --- # Independent Fostering Agencies (call off) Buyer: HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0666e4 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0666e4) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0666e4.json) ## Summary Hampshire County Council, based in Winchester, has concluded its procurement process for commissioning Independent Fostering Agencies (call off) through a framework award methodology. The procurement is aimed at providing fostering services for children, covering various types of placements including standard, parent and child, complex behaviours, and complex healthcare needs. Spanning from the start date of 1 April 2026 until 31 March 2030, with potential extensions up to 2034, this tender falls under the health and social work services category, specifically in regions throughout the UK, such as UKJ3. As of 22 March 2026, multiple suppliers have been awarded contracts under this procurement process as part of its completion stage, offering an opportunity for continual participation by new suppliers during the contract lifecycle. A key milestone set for contract signatures is scheduled for 31 March 2026. The tender provides significant business growth opportunities for companies involved in fostering services. With a maximum budget allocation of £120 million over the life of the contract, awards are determined based on process adherence, making it highly competitive. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) like Compass Fostering South Limited from Leicester, as well as large organisations such as Five Rivers Child Care Limited and Action for Children, have secured awards, indicating suitability for a range of organisational scales. Firms offering tailored services to meet diverse challenges faced by children, including complex behavioural care, respite placements, and healthcare needs, are particularly well-positioned to benefit from this procurement. The ongoing open call structure allows for dynamic participation, permitting both new applications and the expansion of services by existing suppliers as community needs evolve, thus fostering both local and wider regional supplier engagement. ## Notice Hampshire County Council's Children Services Directorate is seeking to commission a range of IFA (independent fostering agencies) to support our looked after children cohort. This is a multi lot call off which will cover fostering arrangements for; * Standard Foster Placements including Respite * Parent & Child Foster Placements * Children with Complex/Challenging Behaviours * Children with Disabilities/Complex Healthcare Needs * Separated Children The priority of any arrangements will be to secure Hampshire placements for Hampshire children and Young People to support with their education, training, contact, and in order to maintain other existing support networks such as friends and other family members. The call off will be open across the life of the contract so new suppliers can apply to join at any time and existing suppliers can apply for additional lots. Suppliers wishing to add lots should resubmit through intend updating their award questionnaire to select the additional lot(s) they are applying for and including an additional copy of the pricing schedule which only includes the new lot(s) and is clearly dated in the title. This is to ensure there is no confusion around pricing for existing lots. The Council will endeavour to evaluate new submissions and submissions for additional lots within 3 weeks. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026024-2026 | | Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Award under framework | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Large, SME | | All stages | Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 22 Mar 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 24 Feb 2026 | | Contract period | 31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2030 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Complete | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL | | Locality | WINCHESTER | | Post town | Southampton | | Postcode | SO23 8UJ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight | | ITL 3 | TLJ36 Central Hampshire | | Local authority | Winchester | | Electoral ward | St Michael | | Westminster constituency | Winchester | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 14 | | Supplier names | ACTION FOR CHILDREN; BRIGHTER FUTURES FOSTER CARE; CAPSTONE FOSTER CARE (SOUTH WEST; CHILDREN'S FAMILY TRUST(THE; COMPASS FOSTERING SOUTH; FAMILY PLACEMENT.COM; FIVE RIVERS CHILD CARE; FOSTER CARE ASSOCIATES; FOSTERING SOLUTIONS; LIBERTY FOSTER CARE; LOTUS FOSTER CARE; ORANGE GROVE FOSTERCARE; SUNBEAM FOSTERING AGENCY; THE NATIONAL FOSTERING AGENCY | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85000000 - Health and social work services ## Release History - 22 Mar 2026 at 07:19 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026024-2026 - 22 Mar 2026 at 07:16 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026023-2026 - 22 Mar 2026 at 07:13 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026022-2026 - 22 Mar 2026 at 07:09 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026021-2026 - 22 Mar 2026 at 07:06 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026020-2026 - 22 Mar 2026 at 07:02 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026019-2026 - 22 Mar 2026 at 06:59 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026018-2026 - 22 Mar 2026 at 06:55 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026017-2026 - 22 Mar 2026 at 06:51 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026016-2026 - 22 Mar 2026 at 06:47 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026015-2026 - 18 Mar 2026 at 21:16 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024873-2026 - 18 Mar 2026 at 21:10 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024871-2026 - 18 Mar 2026 at 21:02 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024870-2026 - 11 Mar 2026 at 09:02 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021608-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026024-2026 22nd March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026023-2026 22nd March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026022-2026 22nd March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026021-2026 22nd March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026020-2026 22nd March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026019-2026 22nd March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026018-2026 22nd March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026017-2026 22nd March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026016-2026 22nd March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026015-2026 22nd March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024873-2026 18th March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024871-2026 18th March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024870-2026 18th March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021608-2026 11th March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://www.Familyplacement.com - http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk - http://www.capstonefostercare.co.uk - http://www.five-rivers.org - http://www.libertyfostercare.co.uk - http://www.lotusfostercare.co.uk - http://www.nfa.co.uk - http://www.orangegrovefostercare.co.uk - http://www.sunbeamfostering.com - http://www.thefca.co.uk - https://thecft.org.uk/ - https://www.compassfostering.com/ - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/api/1.0/ocdsReleasePackages/ocds-h6vhtk-04fe75 - https://www.hants.gov.uk - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents - https://www.nfa.co.uk/fostering-solutions/ ## 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-0666e4. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0666e4.json.