Scope
Reference
WAR-0024
Description
Warwickshire County Council (WCC) is seeking to commission a Children's residential care provider within Warwickshire to deliver a 6-bed block arrangement across 3 nominated local homes for children and young people (CYP) with a diverse range of needs. The aim of this contract is to ensure high-quality, stable, and therapeutic residential care that promotes positive outcomes, emotional wellbeing, and long-term stability.
WCC is seeking to put in place a new block contracting arrangement for residential services for Children in Care and to replace the existing Warwickshire block contract from 7th May 2026. The new arrangements will fulfil WCC's sufficiency duty and enable WCC to achieve and ensure:
• Meeting statutory duties under the Children Act 1989 and the Sufficiency Duty to provide enough accommodation within the local area.
• Providing safe, nurturing environments that support emotional wellbeing, education, and long-term stability.
• Achieving financial efficiency through block contracts and framework agreements, reducing reliance on high-cost spot placements.
• Enabling children to remain within or close to Warwickshire, maintaining community ties and access to local services.
• Shaping the local provider market to ensure quality, consistency, and responsiveness to changing needs.
Ensuring providers meet regulatory standards (e.g., Ofsted) and contractual obligations through robust monitoring.
Total value (estimated)
- £8,550,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 7 May 2026 to 6 May 2029
- Possible extension to 6 May 2033
- 7 years
Description of possible extension:
The initial contract term will be 3 years however the Council reserves the right to extend the contract by further periods not exceeding 48 months (48 being the maximum available extension period) at the discretion of the Council based on the contract performance of the successful applicant(s)
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
Additional placements as required, as further detailed in the tender documents.
Additional requirements as a consequence of the materialisation of contract risks as further detailed in the tender documents.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people
Contract locations
- UKG13 - Warwickshire
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
As detailed in the tender documents
Technical ability conditions of participation
As detailed in the tender documents
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
12 December 2025, 5:00pm
Submission type
Tenders
Tender submission deadline
19 December 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Warwickshire County Council will be using its new e-tendering system (In-Tend Warwickshire County Council) for the administration of this procurement process. Providers must register with the system to be able to express an interest and download documents. The web address for the portal is:
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/warwickshirecc/aspx/Home
Registration and use of our portal is free. When registering you will be re-directed to the In-Tend sell2midlands site. If you already registered and have issues logging in then you may need to re-set your password. You will need to select "Log in to portal" next to Warwickshire County Council.
All correspondence or clarifications relating to this procurement must be via the portals' correspondence function. If you are having trouble registering with the portal, please email us at: procurement@warwickshire.gov.uk
Providers must register on In-Tend and log in to our portal to express an interest in this project and to be able to correspond with us about this procurement.
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
6 March 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Cost | 60% |
| Quality | Quality | 40% |
Other information
Payment terms
As detailed in the tender documents
Description of risks to contract performance
The satisfactory performance of the contract may be jeopardised by the following risks, which by their nature, are unable to be addressed in the contract as awarded:
• The changing needs and requirements of the Council and the changing demands placed on the Council by its customers. increases or decreases in funding - such as reductions or additions in budget allocations as part of the Council's budget setting processes, or as a consequence of additional funding streams which were unknown at the time of awarding the contract, but which are provided to increase the volume and scope of services delivered.
• Changes in legislation or national guidance.
• Changes brought about by Local Government Reorganisation.
• The identification of additional service recipients, not originally captured by the scope of the contract e.g. young people above the age of 18 yrs.
• Opportunities offered by emerging/new technologies.
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Competitive flexible procedure description
Conditions of Participation Stage;
Award Stage - Mandatory questions, cost assessment, quality assessment, interviews/site visits
Justification for not publishing a preliminary market engagement notice
Preliminary market engagement was carried out before the Procurement Act went live.
Contracting authority
Warwickshire County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDTN-5446-NMXW
Shire Hall
Warwick
CV34 4SA
United Kingdom
Email: procurement@warwickshire.gov.uk
Website: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk
Region: UKG13 - Warwickshire
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government