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Tenders

AT1487 Independent Foster Agencies Provision

Open
Deadline
17 days left
April 14, 2026
Contract Details
Category
Open Procedure
Reference
022666-2026
Value
£118,000,000
Location
United Kingdom
Published
March 20, 2026
Organization
CPV Code
Project Timeline

Tender Published

March 13, 2026

Deadline for Questions

April 07, 2026

Submission Deadline

April 14, 2026

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Budget
£118,000,000
Duration
108 months
Location
United Kingdom
Type
Open Procedure
75
Quality Score/100
Good

Original Tender Description

Luton Council are leading on the procurement on behalf of the four Local Authority Partners, Central Bedfordshire Council, Bedford Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council (the Partnership Authorities). Luton, Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Councils are working collaboratively to re-open and expand the Approved Provider List (APL) for Independent Fostering Agencies to serve all authorities. The APL will support the authorities to deliver suitable foster care placements at the right time, in the right location and with the right support, to improve the overall outcomes for children looked after. We are seeking independent Foster Care provision must be in in Beds/Herts and surrounding areas eg Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire. Providers must be Ofsted registered as Good or Outstanding and act in accordance with the guidance contained in Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018) and any subsequent guidance. This is being procured under the Light Touch Regime under Public Contract Regulations 2015 as the original APL was procured before the Procurement Act 2023 came into force.

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Requirements & Qualifications

7 requirements across 5 categories

Submission (1)
Mandatory (1)
Compliance (3)
Technical (1)
Financial (1)
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS1
--[No specific submission requirements detailed in the provided text]
MANDATORY EXCLUSION GROUNDS1
--[No specific mandatory exclusion grounds detailed in the provided text]
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS3
--Must be Ofsted registered as Good or Outstanding.
--Must act in accordance with the guidance contained in Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018) and any subsequent guidance.
--Must provide Independent Fostering Agency provision in Beds/Herts and surrounding areas (eg Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire).
TECHNICAL CAPABILITY REQUIREMENTS1
--[No specific technical capability requirements detailed in the provided text]
FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS1
--[No specific financial requirements detailed in the provided text]

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Documents

No processed documents available for this tender.

Documents will appear here once they are downloaded and analyzed.

75
Good

Tender Quality Score

This tender for Independent Foster Agencies is generally well-structured with clear objectives and a substantial estimated value. However, it lacks specific details on evaluation criteria and technical/financial requirements, and the availability of tender documents needs improvement.

Score Breakdown

Legal Compliance75/100

The tender follows an open procedure and specifies a CPV code. Deadlines appear reasonable given the contract duration. The mention of 'Light Touch Regime' suggests awareness of regulatory frameworks, though the specific application of the Procurement Act 2023 could be clearer. No disputes are reported.

Clarity80/100

The description of the procurement's purpose and the partnership involved is clear. Eligibility requirements, such as Ofsted registration and geographical scope, are well-defined. However, the absence of specified evaluation criteria leaves a significant gap in understanding how bids will be assessed.

Missing evaluation criteria
Completeness70/100

Basic information like title, organization, estimated value, and contract duration is present. However, the lack of content for the tender documents and the absence of specific technical and financial requirements reduce the overall completeness.

No document content available
No specific technical capability requirements detailed
Fairness85/100

The tender is open and uses e-procurement, promoting fairness. The estimated value is disclosed. Eligibility criteria are objective. The geographical scope is defined, but the lack of detailed technical and financial requirements could inadvertently favor larger or more established providers if not properly addressed in the full documentation.

Practicality65/100

The tender utilizes e-procurement, which is positive. However, the 'Issues' section flags 'No e-submission', which contradicts the 'E-Procurement' characteristic and needs clarification. The contract start date is not specified, and financing information is absent.

No e-submission (contradicts E-Procurement characteristic)
Contract start date not specified
Data Consistency90/100

Key fields such as title, organization, value, and deadlines are populated. The status is 'active' and there are no reported disputes or suspensions. Dates appear logical within the context of the tender.

Sustainability50/100

The tender does not explicitly mention green procurement, social aspects, or innovation. It is also not indicated as EU funded, which limits the sustainability score.

Not green procurement
No social criteria

Strengths

Clear partnership and collaborative approach
Substantial estimated value and long contract duration
Objective eligibility criteria (Ofsted registration, geographical scope)
Use of e-procurement (indicated)

Concerns

Missing evaluation criteria
Lack of detailed technical and financial requirements
No document content available
Potential contradiction regarding e-submission

Recommendations

1. Provide detailed evaluation criteria to ensure transparency and fairness.
2. Publish full tender documentation with specific technical and financial requirements.
3. Clarify the e-submission process and confirm its availability.

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