✓Tender information last checkedLast checked 15 Oct 2026, 13:26.
Opportunity overview
Northamptonshire Children's Trust (hereafter referred to as the "Children's Trust") is re-opening the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes.
Northamptonshire Children's Trust (NCT) would like to invite Residential Children's Home Providers and Independent Fostering Agencies who are not currently part of the framework to attend the forthcoming Pre-Market Engagement Event.
As part of the preparations to re-open the Children's Services Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), we are keen to engage with providers, share our future plans, and gain valuable insight from the market.
Event Details:
Date: Friday 23 October
Time: 2:00pm to 3:00pm
Venue: Microsoft Teams
The session will include:
- An overview of the DPS re-opening process.
- Future commissioning intentions.
- Opportunities for providers to ask questions and provide feedback.
- Information on how organisations can participate in future procurement opportunities.
To reserve your place, please complete the registration form below:
https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/ioNHCy6kBCYGYBwHZfm0sxUIIV?domain=forms.cloud.microsoft
Following registration, a Teams meeting link will be sent directly to the email address provided.
We encourage any provider interested in future opportunities to attend and look forward to hearing your views
The primary role of Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes is to provide homes to ensure children in our care have a place that is safe and suitable for their individual needs, where they are supported by people who care for them and about them to achieve their full potential, develop resilience, enjoy good health and wellbeing and develop into adulthood.
The Children's Trust previously set up the DPS which commenced on 1st February 2024 with an initial term of 4 years and 2 months (i.e. to 31st March 2028), with an option to extend for up to an additional 3 years (until 31st March 2031).
Services will be categorised by the following lots that are described further in the specification:
Lot 1: Independent Fostering Agency placements for Children in Care
Category 1.1 - Standard
Category 1.2 - Enhanced
Category 1.3 - Complex Needs
Category 1.4 - Emergency
Category 1.5 - Transition to Family Care from Children's Homes
Category 1.6 - Parent and Child
Lot 2: Children's Homes placements for Children in Care
Category 2.1 - Standard Homes
Category 2.2 - Specialist Homes
Category 2.3 - Complex Needs
Category 2.4 - Emergency
Potential Providers can apply for one or more Lots and Categories.
Please note: this contract originally started on 1st February 2024.
The Light Touch Regime (LTR) applies to the Services under this DPS, as per Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
Classification
CPV85000000 — Health and social work services
Lots
Lot 1: Independent Fostering ArrangementsValue not stated
Lot 2 - Children's HomesValue not stated
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-07885f
Status
planned
Main Procurement Category
services
Legal basis
Id
32014L0024
Scheme
CELEX
Classification
Scheme
CPV
Id
85000000
Description
Health and social work services
Communication
Future Notice Date
28 Oct 2026, 00:00
Covered By
GPA
Lots and requirements
Entry 1
Id
Lot 1
Title
Lot 1: Independent Fostering Arrangements
Description
The primary role of Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes is to provide homes to ensure children in our care have a place that is safe and suitable for their individual needs, where they are supported by people who care for them and about them to achieve their full potential, develop resilience, enjoy good health and wellbeing and develop into adulthood.
The Children's Trust previously set up the DPS which commenced on 1st February 2024 with an initial term of 4 years and 2 months (i.e. to 31st March 2028), with an option to extend for up to an additional 3 years (until 31st March 2031).
Services will be categorised by the following lots that are described further in the specification:
Lot 1: Independent Fostering Agency placements for Children in Care
Category 1.1 - Standard
Category 1.2 - Enhanced
Category 1.3 - Complex Needs
Category 1.4 - Emergency
Category 1.5 - Transition to Family Care from Children's Homes
Category 1.6 - Parent and Child
Status
planned
Entry 2
Id
Lot 2
Title
Lot 2 - Children's Homes
Description
Potential Providers can apply for one or more Lots and Categories.
Please note: this contract originally started on 1st February 2024.
The Light Touch Regime (LTR) applies to the Services under this DPS, as per Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
Status
planned
Items and delivery
Item 1
Id
Lot 1
Related Lot
Lot 1
Additional Classifications
Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
85000000
Description
Health and social work services
Delivery locations
Entry 1
Region
UKF24
Entry 2
Region
UKF25
Item 2
Id
Lot 2
Related Lot
Lot 2
Additional Classifications
Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
85000000
Description
Health and social work services
Delivery locations
Entry 1
Region
UKF24
Entry 2
Region
UKF25
Delivery Location
Description
The primary role of Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes is to provide homes to ensure children in our care have a place that is safe and suitable for their individual needs, where they are supported by people who care for them and about them to achieve their full potential, develop resilience, enjoy good health and wellbeing and develop into adulthood.
The Children's Trust previously set up the DPS which commenced on 1st February 2024 with an initial term of 4 years and 2 months (i.e. to 31st March 2028), with an option to extend for up to an additional 3 years (until 31st March 2031).
Lot 2: Children's Homes placements for Children in Care
Category 2.1 - Standard Homes
Category 2.2 - Specialist Homes
Category 2.3 - Complex Needs
Category 2.4 - Emergency
1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.
1 VERSION
1
097398-2026planning ·
PROCURAAXIS ANALYSIS
ProcuraAxis Analysis
Our approved analysis of the opportunity appears below the official tender information.
ANALYSIS PREVIEW
Opportunity intelligence at a glance
Early-stage pre-market engagement for the planned reopening of Northamptonshire Children's Trust's Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for independent fostering arrangements and children's homes. The Trust is inviting providers not currently on the framework to a Microsoft Teams event; this is not an open bid opportunity. Future DPS services are described across fostering-agency placement categories and children's-home placement categories.
Who this may suit
Relevant to independent fostering agencies and residential children's home providers able to provide placements for children in care. Final participation, selection and submission requirements are not stated.
Key points identified
Provider types sought for engagementResidential Children's Home Providers and Independent Fostering Agencies not currently part of the frameworkEvidence: "invite Residential Children's Home Providers and Independent Fostering Agencies who are not currently part of the framework to attend"
Lot application flexibilityPotential providers may apply for one or more lots and categoriesEvidence: "Potential Providers can apply for one or more Lots and Categories."
Fostering placement categoriesStandard, Enhanced, Complex Needs, Emergency, Transition to Family Care from Children's Homes, and Parent and ChildEvidence: "Category 1.1 - Standard" through to "Category 1.6 - Parent and Child"
95% approved-analysis confidence6 supplier criteria identified4 risks or unknowns
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.
Early-stage pre-market engagement for the planned reopening of Northamptonshire Children's Trust's Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for independent fostering arrangements and children's homes. The Trust is inviting providers not currently on the framework to a Microsoft Teams event; this is not an open bid opportunity. Future DPS services are described across fostering-agency placement categories and children's-home placement categories.
Who this may suit
Relevant to independent fostering agencies and residential children's home providers able to provide placements for children in care. Final participation, selection and submission requirements are not stated.
Key deliverables
Independent fostering agency placements for children in care (Lot 1)
Children's home placements for children in care (Lot 2)
Potential categories include standard, enhanced/specialist, complex-needs and emergency placements
SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS
6 criteria identified
Provider types sought for engagement
99% confidence
Residential Children's Home Providers and Independent Fostering Agencies not currently part of the framework
View supporting evidence
"invite Residential Children's Home Providers and Independent Fostering Agencies who are not currently part of the framework to attend"
Lot application flexibility
99% confidence
Potential providers may apply for one or more lots and categories
View supporting evidence
"Potential Providers can apply for one or more Lots and Categories."
Fostering placement categories
99% confidence
Standard, Enhanced, Complex Needs, Emergency, Transition to Family Care from Children's Homes, and Parent and Child
View supporting evidence
"Category 1.1 - Standard" through to "Category 1.6 - Parent and Child"
Children's home placement categories
99% confidence
Standard Homes, Specialist Homes, Complex Needs, and Emergency
View supporting evidence
"Category 2.1 - Standard Homes" through to "Category 2.4 - Emergency"
Framework status for event invitees
97% confidence
Providers not currently part of the framework are invited to attend the pre-market engagement event
View supporting evidence
"Independent Fostering Agencies who are not currently part of the framework"
Future DPS eligibility and selection criteria
99% confidence
Unknown
View supporting evidence
No eligibility or selection criteria are supplied.
Both supplied lot records have null value amounts.
Commercial terms and pricing model
99% confidence
Unknown
View supporting evidence
No pricing model, rates or contractual commercial terms are supplied.
Delivery
Engagement event
96% confidence
Microsoft Teams; Friday 23 October, 2:00pm to 3:00pm; year not stated
View supporting evidence
"Date: Friday 23 October"; "Time: 2:00pm to 3:00pm"; "Venue: Microsoft Teams".
Delivery regions
93% confidence
UKF24 and UKF25
View supporting evidence
Supplied delivery-location fields list regions "UKF24" and "UKF25".
Service outcome
97% confidence
Homes that are safe and suitable for individual needs, with support for children in care
View supporting evidence
"provide homes to ensure children in our care have a place that is safe and suitable for their individual needs"
PROCEDURE
How to respond
Opportunity status
99% confidence
Upcoming planned pre-market engagement; bidding is not stated to be open
View supporting evidence
Opportunity fields: stage "planning", display_status "upcoming", source_status "planned", notice_type "planning". Description calls this a "Pre-Market Engagement Event".
Procurement vehicle
99% confidence
Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) reopening
View supporting evidence
"is re-opening the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)"
Regime
99% confidence
Light Touch Regime under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015
View supporting evidence
"The Light Touch Regime (LTR) applies to the Services under this DPS, as per Public Contracts Regulations 2015."
Existing DPS term stated in notice
98% confidence
Commenced 1 February 2024; initial term to 31 March 2028; optional extension up to 31 March 2031
View supporting evidence
"commenced on 1st February 2024 with an initial term of 4 years and 2 months ... to 31st March 2028), with an option to extend ... until 31st March 2031"
Submission deadline
99% confidence
Unknown
View supporting evidence
No tender or lot submission deadline is supplied.
RISKS AND UNKNOWNS
Points requiring attention
Early-stage procurement uncertainty
99% confidence
This is an upcoming planning notice and pre-market engagement event, not a stated live competition. Final scope, timetable, route, commercial terms, selection criteria and submission requirements are unknown.
View supporting evidence
Opportunity fields show "planning" and "upcoming"; description refers to "future procurement opportunities" and a "Pre-Market Engagement Event".
Event date ambiguity
99% confidence
The event date gives day and month but no year.
View supporting evidence
"Date: Friday 23 October"
Lot 2 scope limitation
98% confidence
The supplied Lot 2 description does not describe the children's-home service categories; those categories appear in the overall opportunity description only.
View supporting evidence
Lot 2 description contains only application, historical-start and LTR statements; overall description lists Categories 2.1 to 2.4.
Delivery geography granularity
97% confidence
Delivery is coded only to regions UKF24 and UKF25; no town, address or placement geography is stated.
View supporting evidence
Supplied delivery-location fields list UKF24 and UKF25 without locality or postal code.
ProcuraAxis analysis supplements, but does not replace, the original notice and tender documents. Always verify eligibility, deadlines and commercial terms with the issuing authority.
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