---
title: "Internal Residential Children's Homes"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06d89b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06d89b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06d89b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06d89b.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "THURROCK COUNCIL"
published: "2026-07-31"
---

# Internal Residential Children's Homes

Buyer: THURROCK COUNCIL  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06d89b

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06d89b.json)

## Summary

Thurrock Council, a sub-central public authority in the United Kingdom, is currently in the Planning stage of a procurement process for the potential operation of residential children’s homes, titled "Internal Residential Children’s Homes." This service procurement, anticipated to cater to the social work and community service categories, involves using three council-owned properties to provide local placements for children looked after. The market engagement notice was published on 31st July 2026, with a key milestone for supplier engagement due by 21st August 2026. The main location for this engagement is Grays, UKH32 region, and the procurement process is under a special '"light touch"' regime.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses, particularly those within the social services industry, to participate in the early market engagement stage. SMEs and VCSEs are seen as well-suited to bid, in light of the suitability criteria outlined, to potentially partake in delivering vital services across the community. The significant indicative contract value of £13 million, with a gross estimate of £15.6 million, underscores the contract's potential boost for business scaling and service expansion. Companies interested in helping shape and deliver personalised social care in residential settings will find this tender particularly appealing.

## Notice

Thurrock Council is undertaking early market engagement to understand provider interest in the potential operation of residential children's homes using three council-owned properties. The properties may provide up to six local placements for children looked after, subject to governance, registration, procurement and final approval. This is not a call for competition and does not commit the Council to any future procurement or contract award. Please note that the contract value, scope and duration are indicative and subject to review. The final contract arrangements may vary following market engagement and the subsequent development of service requirements, taking account of operational, commercial, regulatory and market considerations.

### Planning Information

Suppliers are invited to respond to this market engagement exercise by completing the online questionnaire available through the In-tend portal:
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/thurrockcouncil/aspx/ProjectManage/1700

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072632-2026 |
| 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 | 31 Jul 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 Jul 2027 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2028 - 31 Mar 2033 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £13,000,000 |
| 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 | THURROCK COUNCIL |
| Locality | GRAYS |
| Post town | Romford |
| Postcode | RM17 6SL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH3 Essex |
| ITL 3 | TLH32 Thurrock |
| Local authority | Thurrock |
| Electoral ward | Grays Riverside |
| Westminster constituency | Thurrock |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services
- 98 - Other community, social and personal services

### Codes

- 85310000 - Social work services
- 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

## Release History

- 31 Jul 2026 at 10:38 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072632-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072632-2026
  31st July 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.thurrock.gov.uk
- https://in-tendhost.co.uk/thurrockcouncil/aspx/ProjectManage/1700
- 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-06d89b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06d89b.json.