---
title: "Independent Placements Framework - Lincolnshire County Council"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-077c4c"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-077c4c"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077c4c.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077c4c.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "Lincolnshire County Council"
published: "2026-09-30"
---

# Independent Placements Framework - Lincolnshire County Council

Buyer: Lincolnshire County Council  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-077c4c

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## Summary

Lincolnshire County Council intends to commission independent placements for children and young people through an open framework. The services will cover a range of individual needs and intended outcomes, with placements matched to the Council’s assessment and requirements. Eight areas are planned: independent non-maintained special schools; residential care; foster care; supported accommodation; domiciliary care for children and young people with disabilities; short breaks and social inclusion for this group; alternative provision for permanently excluded children and young people; and alternative provision for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. This is a children’s social care and education services framework, delivered through placements for children and young people whose needs are identified by the Council. Lincolnshire County Council is the buyer.

The process is at planning stage: the Council has stated its intention to procure, and there is no invitation to tender yet. It expects to establish an open framework, with new providers able to apply to join at intervals during the framework term. Individual placements will be commissioned according to assessed needs, matching requirements and call-off arrangements. The planned framework term runs from 1 September 2027 to 31 August 2035. The stated estimated value is £1.3 billion excluding VAT (£1.56 billion including VAT). The Council has planned preliminary market engagement through a questionnaire, with a return date of 13 October 2026. The process is divided into the eight service areas described above; the framework’s suitability is marked for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises.

The framework is intended for providers able to deliver safe, high-quality placements tailored to the individual needs and outcomes of children and young people. It may suit organisations specialising in one or more of the planned areas, including specialist schooling, residential or foster care, supported accommodation, disability support, short breaks and social inclusion, or alternative education provision. Providers will need to be able to match placements to the Council’s assessed requirements and work within its commissioning and call-off arrangements. The planned open-framework model is intended to allow new providers to apply at specified intervals over its term, so businesses can prepare for future entry rather than treat this planning process as a current bid invitation. Being accepted onto the framework would not guarantee any volume of placements or business.

## Notice

Lincolnshire County Council intends to establish an Open Framework for the commissioning of independent placements for children and young people. The framework will support the Council in sourcing a range of high-quality, safe and suitable placements that meet the individual needs and outcomes of children and young people. The Open Framework will provide opportunities for new providers to apply to join at specified intervals throughout its term. Individual placements will be commissioned through the framework in accordance with the Council's assessed needs, matching requirements and call-off arrangements. Inclusion on the framework will not guarantee any level of business or placement volume. Lots to be included in the framework will be: - Independent Non-Maintained (Special) Schools (INMS) - Residential Care - Foster Care - Supported Accommodation - Domiciliary Care for Children and Young People with Disabilities (CWD) - Short Breaks and Social Inclusion for Children and Young People with Disabilities (CWD) - Alternative Provision (AP) for permanently excluded children and young people (PEX) - Alternative Provision (AP) to meet Special Educational, needs and disabilities (SEND)

### Planning Information

Access the Panacea Procurement Portal via:
https://app.panacea-software.com/lcc/Login.aspx
Download the Pre-Market Engagement Questionnaire Document, complete the questionnaire and return to:
LCCPlacements@lincolnshire.gov.uk

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092155-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| 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 | 30 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Sep 2027 - 31 Aug 2035 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,300,000,000 |
| 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 | Lincolnshire County Council |
| Locality | LINCOLN |
| Postcode area | Lincoln |
| Postcode | LN1 1YL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLF East Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLF3 Lincolnshire |
| ITL 3 | TLF30 Lincolnshire CC |
| Local authority | Lincoln |
| Electoral ward | Carholme |
| Westminster constituency | Lincoln |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services
- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 80100000 - Primary education services
- 80200000 - Secondary education services
- 85320000 - Social services

## Release History

- 30 Sep 2026 at 09:39 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092155-2026
- 29 Sep 2026 at 12:01 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091794-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092155-2026
  30th September 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091794-2026
  29th September 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://app.panacea-software.com/lcc/Login.aspx
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/

## 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-077c4c. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077c4c.json.