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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Northamptonshire Children's Trust Pre-Market Engagement Event for the Reopening of the Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes DPS

Northamptonshire Children's Trust · planning

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

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Name
Northamptonshire Children's Trust
Id
GB-FTS-147917

Identifier

Legal Name
Northamptonshire Children's Trust
No Identifier Rationale
notOnAnyRegister

Address

Street Address
1 Angel Square
Locality
Northampton
Region
UKF24
Postal Code
NN11ED
Country Name
United Kingdom

Contact

Roles

buyer

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
TED_CA_TYPE
Id
REGIONAL_AUTHORITY
Description
Regional or local authority
Entry 2
Scheme
COFOG
Id
01
Description
General public services

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Northampton · UKF24 · NN11ED · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKF24
  • Delivery location · UKF25

Notice and amendment history

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

SOURCE AND FRESHNESS

Traceable procurement data

Source
Find a Tender
Notice reference
097398-2026
OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-07885f
First published
15 Oct 2026
Last checked
15 Oct 2026, 13:26
Notice versions reviewed
1

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
15 Oct 2026
Read the analysis methodology →