CBC-1985-FW-SK – Supported Accommodation for Care Experienced Young People 16+ Framework (ITT)
Scope
Reference
CBC-1985-FW-SK –
Description
Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) is seeking to establish a Light Touch Framework for the provision of Supported Accommodation for Care Experienced Young People and Young People Seeking Sanctuary aged 16+ years.
The Framework will provide high quality supported accommodation and support services for young people aged 16-17 who are Looked After, Care Experienced or Separated Migrant Children, including PACE placements where required. Providers must be Ofsted registered under the Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 and demonstrate the ability to deliver safe, effective and outcome-focused support that promotes independence, wellbeing and positive life opportunities.
The Council will provide as much support and information as possible to assist suppliers through the tender process. Questions submitted and the Authority’s responses will be shared with all bidders to ensure a fair, open and transparent procurement process.
If there is anything you are unsure about or require clarification on, please use the Correspondence facility within the In-Tend electronic tendering system.
Last date for receipt of clarification questions: Monday 7 September 2026 at 17:00.
Completed tender submissions and all supporting documentation must be submitted electronically via the”My Return” section of the In-Tend system. Tender submissions sent through the Correspondence facility will not be accepted.
Tender submission deadline: Monday 21 September 2026 at 12:00 noon.
Tenders received after this deadline will not be considered.
Commercial tool
Establishes an open frameworkWhat is an open framework?
Total value (estimated)
- £17,916,666.67 excluding VAT
- £21,500,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2030
- Possible extension to 31 January 2032
- 5 years
Description of possible extension:
The Framework Agreement will be awarded for an initial period of three (3) years commencing on 1 February 2027, with the option for Central Bedfordshire Council to extend the Framework on up to two occasions for periods of up to one (1) year each (1 + 1 years), subject to satisfactory performance and at the sole discretion of the Council.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85311000 – Social work services with accommodation
- 85311300 – Welfare services for children and young people
Lot constraints
Description of how multiple lots may be awarded:
Suppliers may tender for one or more Lots. A supplier may be appointed to any number of Lots for which it submits a compliant tender and satisfies the Framework Admission Criteria. Appointment to each Lot will be assessed independently in accordance with the published evaluation methodology and admission criteria. The maximum number of Framework Suppliers appointed to any individual Lot will be 25.
Not the same for all lots
Contract locations are shown in Lot sections, because they are not the same for all lots.
Lot 1. – Placements with 24/7 staffing in Central Bedfordshire,
Description
Provision of supported accommodation and support services for care experienced young people and young people seeking sanctuary aged 16+, including 24/7 staffed placements located within Central Bedfordshire. Services must promote safeguarding, wellbeing, independence and positive outcomes for young people.
Lot value (estimated)
- £0 excluding VAT
- £0 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Contract locations
- UKH25 – Central Bedfordshire
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2 – Placements with 24/7 staffing in Bedford, Luton, Milton Keynes, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and/or Northamptonshire
Description
Provision of supported accommodation and support services for care experienced young people and young people seeking sanctuary aged 16+, including 24/7 staffed placements located within Bedford, Luton, Milton Keynes, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire
Lot value (estimated)
- £0 excluding VAT
- £0 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Contract locations
- UKH24 – Bedford
- UKH21 – Luton
- UKJ12 – Milton Keynes
- UKH23 – Hertfordshire
- UKH12 – Cambridgeshire CC
- UKF24 – West Northamptonshire
- UKF25 – North Northamptonshire
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 3 – PACE placements within Central Bedfordshire
Description
Provision of accommodation placements for young people requiring accommodation under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) within Central Bedfordshire.
Lot value (estimated)
- £0 excluding VAT
- £0 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Contract locations
- UKH25 – Central Bedfordshire
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 4 – PACE placements within Bedford, Milton Keynes, Luton, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire
Description
Provision of accommodation placements for young people requiring accommodation under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) within Bedford, Milton Keynes, Luton, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.
Lot value (estimated)
- £0 excluding VAT
- £0 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Contract locations
- UKH24 – Bedford
- UKJ12 – Milton Keynes
- UKH21 – Luton
- UKH23 – Hertfordshire
- UKH12 – Cambridgeshire CC
- UKF24 – West Northamptonshire
- UKF25 – North Northamptonshire
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Framework
Open framework scheme end date (estimated)
31 January 2032
Maximum number of suppliers
25
Maximum percentage fee charged to suppliers
0%
Framework operation description
This procurement will establish an Open Framework for the provision of Supported Accommodation for Care Experienced Young People and Young People Seeking Sanctuary aged 16+, including PACE placements. The Framework is divided into four Lots. Suppliers may apply for one or more Lots and those satisfying the Framework Admission Criteria will be eligible for appointment to the relevant Lot(s). The total number of Framework Suppliers appointed at commencement will not exceed 25 suppliers per Lot. The Council reserves the right to reopen the Framework during its term and admit additional suppliers in accordance with the Framework Agreement. Where the Framework is reopened, no more than 10 additional suppliers may be appointed to any Lot at any one time.
Award method when using the framework
With competition
Contracting authorities that may use the framework
Establishing party only
ParticipationParticipation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Lot 1 – Placements with 24/7 staffing in Central Bedfordshire,
Lot 2 – Placements with 24/7 staffing in Bedford, Luton, Milton Keynes, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and/or Northamptonshire
Lot 3 – PACE placements within Central Bedfordshire
Lot 4 – PACE placements within Bedford, Milton Keynes, Luton, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire
Suppliers must demonstrate sufficient legal and financial capacity to deliver the services. This includes compliance with the Conditions of Participation set out in the procurement documents, satisfactory financial standing, appropriate insurance cover, valid Ofsted registration under the Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023, and compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
Technical ability conditions of participation
Lot 1 – Placements with 24/7 staffing in Central Bedfordshire,
Lot 2 – Placements with 24/7 staffing in Bedford, Luton, Milton Keynes, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and/or Northamptonshire
Lot 3 – PACE placements within Central Bedfordshire
Lot 4 – PACE placements within Bedford, Milton Keynes, Luton, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire
Suppliers must demonstrate the technical ability required to deliver supported accommodation services for care experienced young people and young people seeking sanctuary aged 16+. This includes relevant experience, appropriate staffing, safeguarding arrangements, operational capability and compliance with the requirements set out in the procurement documents.
Particular suitability
Lot 1 – Placements with 24/7 staffing in Central Bedfordshire,
Lot 2 – Placements with 24/7 staffing in Bedford, Luton, Milton Keynes, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and/or Northamptonshire
Lot 3 – PACE placements within Central Bedfordshire
Lot 4 – PACE placements within Bedford, Milton Keynes, Luton, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
7 September 2026, 5:00pm
Tender submission deadline
21 September 2026, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tender responses must be submitted electronically via the Central Bedfordshire Council In-Tend e-tendering portal at https://in-tendhost.co.uk/centralbedfordshire. Tender responses must be uploaded through the “My Return” section of the system. Responses submitted by email, post or through the correspondence facility will not be accepted. Suppliers are responsible for ensuring that their tender response is submitted before the tender deadline
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
9 November 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality – Methodology | Quality submissions will be evaluated against the published Quality Award Criteria and Framework Admission Criteria set out in the procurement documents. | Quality | 60% |
| Price | Tender prices will be evaluated in accordance with the Pricing Schedule and evaluation methodology set out in the procurement documents | Price | 40% |
Other information
Payment terms
30-day payment terms from receipt of a valid and undisputed invoice.
Description of risks to contract performance
Key risks include provider capacity, staffing, safeguarding, regulatory compliance, accommodation availability and business continuity. Suppliers will be required to have appropriate controls and mitigation measures in place
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Documents
Associated tender documents
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/centralbedfordshire/aspx/Home
Full procurement documentation is available via the procurement portal and includes the ITT, Tender Response Document, Pricing Schedule, Form of Tender, Financial Assessment, Framework Agreement, Specifications, Quality Assurance documentation and supporting appendices.
Contracting authority
Central Bedfordshire Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVNH-1137-QJBX
Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands
Shefford
SG17 5TQ
United Kingdom
Contact name: Shawez Khwaja
Telephone: 03003006229
Email: procurement@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Website: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/centralbedfordshire/aspx/Home
Region: UKH25 – Central Bedfordshire
Organisation type: Public authority – sub-central government
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