Scope
Reference
F009PA
Description
Essex County Council and Suffolk County Council is seeking to procure a new framework for the provision of Adoption and Kinship Specialist Support Services. Local Authorities have a statutory duty to provide these services as outlined in the Children and Families Act 2014, and in the Kinship Care Statutory Guidance published in October 2024. The framework will meet this duty by providing adoptive and kinship families access to therapeutic services, assessment services and training to assist both children and adults to deal with the long-term effects of abuse, and trauma across Essex County Council and Suffolk County Council. The framework will be for an initial period of three (3) years and there will be an option to extend the framework for up to one year.
The framework will have the following 3 Lots to support adoptive and kinship order families:
• Lot 1 Training - To enable parent/carers to develop their skills to support their children effectively meet their full potential.
• Lot 2 Therapeutic Intervention- To address emotional and behavioural challenges for children and their families stemming from negative early life experiences.
• Lot 3 Specialist Assessments- To assess and identify a child's support needs that will enable the and subsequent planning to meet those needs.
The contracting authority is Essex County Council and any Successor Body meaning one or more entities which assumes any of the Council's functions (as applicable) as a result of Local Government Reform (LGR). Such successor body or bodies may be, without limitation, a local authority, a combined authority, a combined county authority, a strategic authority or any other status determined pursuant to the Devolution and LGR Legislation.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £4,800,000 excluding VAT
- £5,760,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2029
- Possible extension to 30 June 2030
- 4 years
Description of possible extension:
The Authority may, at its sole discretion, extend the Term by a further period or periods of up to twelve (12) months (the "Extension Periods")
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Contract locations
- UKH14 - Suffolk
- UKH3 - Essex
Lot 1. Training
Description
Lot 1 - Training - to enable parent/carers to develop the skills to support their child(ren) effectively to meet their full potential.Providers will be ranked based on price and quality as indicated in the procurement documents.
Lot value (estimated)
- £768,000 excluding VAT
- £921,600 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2. Therapeutic Intervention
Description
Lot 2 - Therapeutic Intervention - to address emotional and behavioural challenges for children and their families stemming from negative early life experiences.Providers will be ranked based on price and quality as indicated in the procurement documents.
Lot value (estimated)
- £3,696,000 excluding VAT
- £4,435,200 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 3. Specialist Assessments
Description
Lot 3 - Specialist Assessments To identify the child's support needs and requirements. Providers will be ranked based on price and quality as indicated in the procurement documents.
Lot value (estimated)
- £336,000 excluding VAT
- £403,200 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Framework
Maximum number of suppliers
Unlimited
Maximum percentage fee charged to suppliers
0%
Framework operation description
When a service is required, a competitive call-off process will be undertaken within the relevant lot or sub-lot to identify the provider best suited to meet the family's specific needs.
This Framework is not intended to operate as an Open Framework as defined in s49 of the Procurement Act 2023. However, the Council may elect to re-open the Framework to new entrants as detailed in the tender documentation where, in the Council's reasonable opinion additional capacity is required to meet the local demand.
Award method when using the framework
With competition
Contracting authorities that may use the framework
Suffolk County Council - Any successor to this organisation
Contracting authority location restrictions
- UKH14 - Suffolk
- UKH3 - Essex
Participation
Particular suitability
Lot 1. Training
Lot 2. Therapeutic Intervention
Lot 3. Specialist Assessments
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Tender submission deadline
9 March 2026, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
30 April 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | As detailed in the tender documents. |
Quality | 100% |
Other information
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Contracting authorities
Essex County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PWVM-4844-NRQH
County Hall, Market Road
Chelmsford
CM1 1QH
United Kingdom
Email: isabelle.clarke@essex.gov.uk
Region: UKH36 - Heart of Essex
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
Suffolk County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHVH-1657-HHMV
Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road
Ipswich
IP1 2BX
United Kingdom
Region: UKH14 - Suffolk
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government