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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

2nd Engagement Event Light Touch Framework for Care Home Provision for Older People and Mental Health Older Persons in Cardiff

Cardiff Council · Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 13 Oct 2026, 18:51.

Opportunity overview

Cardiff Council Adult Services are re commissioning their Care Home provision for Older People and Mental Health Older Persons in Cardiff. The intention is to commission these services via a new Light Touch Services Framework, underpinned by a number of key principles. 1. It is proposed that the framework is underpinned by a set of principles as set out below: • A “Framework First” approach will be taken, whereby all placements are expected to be made through the approved framework, with off-framework placements only permitted in clearly defined exceptional circumstances. This will ensure a consistent approach to decision-making, while also supporting better control of costs, as rates will have been set through the framework arrangement. • Provider Commitment – providers will be required to give the council first refusal on their vacant care home placements. • Quality as Standard - Quality will be a key focus of the framework. Only providers meeting established quality standards will be admitted to the framework, with ongoing performance monitored through existing governance processes. • A Fixed and Transparent Pricing Structure - the proposed framework will operate on the basis of set fee levels, with all providers required to accept the Council’s pricing structure as a condition of entry. The rationale for this approach is to address the current variation and unpredictability in placement costs, where prices are often driven by individual bidding behaviour and urgent need. By establishing clear, standardised rates for each care category the new model will introduce transparency and consistency, ensuring that pricing better reflects actual care requirements rather than market pressure or negotiation dynamics. • Maximising Choice and Continuity -a key principle of the framework is to maximise choice for service users, allowing them to choose from all the placements available within the framework that would meet their needs. Support will be provided to service users to assist them and their families in making this choice. The framework will also allow for continuity, allowing individuals to remain with existing providers when a placement becomes permanent or where needs change, as long as those needs can still be met by the existing provider. • A City Wide Model - it is proposed that the framework adopts a city-wide model, rather than a locality model as the number of care homes is limited. Operating a city-wide model will maximise service user choice and help to ensure placement availability, reducing risks associated with limited local capacity. • Supporting Providers and Market Sustainability -a further key principle is that the framework arrangement will support providers, by introducing a more personalised approach to placements and working in partnership with providers to encouraging growth and development in the areas where demand is likely to continue to increase. 2. It is also proposed that the framework is structured around four lots based on care categories. These will be General Residential, Dementia Residential, General Nursing and Dementia Nursing within each care category there will be 4 sub categories. i) Permanent ii) Temporary iii) Emergency iv) Respite (planned and unplanned).

Classification

  • CPV85000000 — Health and social work services

Lots

  • Lot 1Value not stated

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
ocds-h6vhtk-06f5bc
Main Procurement Category
services
Above Threshold
Yes
Status
planning

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Special regime

lightTouch

Techniques

Has Framework Agreement
Yes

Communication

Future Notice Date
9 Nov 2026, 23:59

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Has Renewal
Yes
Status
planning

Suitability

Sme
Yes

Contract period

Starts
4 May 2027, 00:00
Ends
3 May 2033, 23:59
Max Extent Date
3 May 2035, 23:59

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
85000000
Description
Health and social work services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKL22
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Planning and budget

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Description
This notice is being issued to update the market on its intentions for the forthcoming procurement. Consultation and engagement activity has already informed the proposed service model, and the purpose of this notice is to provide potential bidders with an opportunity to be part of a second market engagement event following on from the initial event held on the 1st October 2026. This will provide the Council with an opportunity to share further information not previously covered on the 1st October 2026 and to address any questions or points of clarification that has arisen during and following the event. Where the Council will provide some information on the anticipated contract Lots, values, and indicative procurement process and timetable. It is the Council's intention that the wider engagement process includes a market engagement event to be held via Microsoft Teams and prior to the tender notice publication. This event is expected to take place on the following dates and times: Venue: Microsoft Teams Date: Friday, 30th October 2026 Time: 10.00 am to 11.30 am. Attendance will be by invitation only and a Microsoft Teams link will be provided to organisations that express an interest in attending the session. It is anticipated that attendance will be limited to a maximum of three (3) representatives per organisation. Organisations wishing to attend should submit an expression of interest, including the names and contact email addresses of proposed attendees to: AS-MarketManagement@cardiff.gov.uk by NO LATER THAN 5pm on the 27th October 2026
Due
6 Nov 2026, 23:59
Status
scheduled

Documents

Entry 1
Id
096739-2026
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Published
13 Oct 2026, 17:26
Format
text/html

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Name
Cardiff Council
Id
GB-PPON-PVHP-5769-YHRQ

Identifier

Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PVHP-5769-YHRQ

Address

Street Address
County Hall
Locality
Cardiff
Postal Code
CF10 4UW
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKL22

Contact

Name
Samantha Harry

Roles

buyer

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Id
publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment
Description
Public authority - sub-central government
Entry 2
Scheme
UK_CA_DEVOLVED_REGULATIONS
Id
GB-WLS
Description
Welsh devolved regulations apply

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Cardiff · UKL22 · CF10 4UW · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKL22 · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

2 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

2 VERSIONS
  1. 085427-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
  2. 096739-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·

PROCURAAXIS ANALYSIS

ProcuraAxis Analysis

Our approved analysis of the opportunity appears below the official tender information.

ANALYSIS PREVIEW

Opportunity intelligence at a glance

Cardiff Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement for a planned Light Touch Services Framework for care home provision for older people and older people with mental health needs in Cardiff. The proposed model covers residential and nursing care, with permanent, temporary, emergency and respite placements.

Who this may suit

Potentially relevant to care home providers able to deliver older persons’ residential or nursing care in Cardiff. This is an early-stage planned procurement, not an open bidding opportunity.

Key points identified

  • Quality standardsProviders would need to meet established quality standards to be admitted to the proposed framework.Evidence: “Only providers meeting established quality standards will be admitted to the framework.”
  • Vacancy referral commitmentProviders would be required to give the Council first refusal on vacant care home placements.Evidence: “providers will be required to give the council first refusal on their vacant care home placements.”
  • Pricing acceptanceProviders would be required to accept the Council’s fixed pricing structure as a condition of entry.Evidence: “all providers required to accept the Council’s pricing structure as a condition of entry.”
94% approved-analysis confidence4 supplier criteria identified4 risks or unknowns

SOURCE AND FRESHNESS

Traceable procurement data

Source
Find a Tender
Notice reference
096739-2026
OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f5bc
First published
9 Sept 2026
Last checked
13 Oct 2026, 18:51
Notice versions reviewed
2

HOW THIS WAS PREPARED

Approved, evidence-bound analysis

ProcuraAxis structures information found in published procurement records, checks the result for consistency and publishes only approved analysis. Confidence describes the completeness and consistency of the available source information; it is not a guarantee of eligibility or contract award.

Analysis status
Approved for publication
Analysed
13 Oct 2026
Read the analysis methodology →