Find a TenderClosedTender notice
Published 25 Aug 2026, 14:35 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Adult Social Care Extra Care Services Framework

Official notice

Authority: Sefton Council (Local council)

Framework agreementServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdLight touch regimeSME suitable
Framework ceiling (notional)£23,040,000framework ceiling, not attributable revenue
Submissions closed 26 Oct 2026
Next notice expected 22 Sept 2026
Framework period 3 yrsends 31 Mar 2030 · up to 31 Mar 2032 with extensions · starts 1 Apr 2027

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Extra Care forms an important part of the wider adult social care market by providing accommodation-based care and support that enables people to live independently in their own home, while having access to planned and responsive support when required.

The Council is seeking to work with providers who can deliver safe, reliable, person-centred and outcomes-focused services within designated Extra Care schemes, supporting people to maintain their independence, wellbeing and connections within their local community.

CPV: Health and social work services

How this framework works

From the published notice
Type
Closed framework
Call-offs
call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
Places
up to 15 suppliers
Framework period
3 yrs · up to 5 yrs from 1 Apr 2027
Published description of the framework

Providers will have to submit hourly rate for Care and for Waking Night Care

The Council will award schemes to Providers on the Framework by either direct award or by the operation of a further competition amongst Framework Providers on a scheme-by-scheme basis.

There will be two mechanisms by which a Direct Award of a Scheme may be made:

A) In Accordance with Framework Ranking:

Providers will be assigned a ranking determined by their combined Quality, Social Value and Price Score calculated from their Tender submission.

Schemes subject to such a direct award will first be offered to the highest ranked Framework Provider that meets the financial capacity required for the award of the Scheme. If they decline to accept the Scheme offered to them, for whatever reason, then the Council will offer the Scheme to the next highest ranked Framework Provider that meets the financial criteria for the Scheme award. This process will continue until the Scheme requirement can be fulfilled.

B) Under Exclusive Rights:

The Council reserves the right to award Schemes directly to Framework Providers without reference to their Framework ranking or by means of further competition when certain conditions are met. These conditions are as follows:

(i) the Framework Provider owns, leases, controls or has legally enforceable rights in respect of the land, buildings or facilities from which the relevant Extra Care Service is to be delivered;

(ii) those rights mean that no other Framework Provider could lawfully or practically provide the Services from that location without the consent of the Framework Provider;

(iii) the relevant Extra Care scheme includes specialist accommodation, care, support or facilities (including, without limitation, specialist dementia care provision) which are uniquely integrated with the site and cannot be replicated, transferred or substituted without significant disruption to service users or substantial additional cost to the Authority; and

(iv) the Authority is satisfied that there is no reasonable alternative provider capable of delivering equivalent services from that location and that the Direct Award is compliant with all applicable procurement legislation.

Further / Mini Competition

Further / Mini Competition - Within the parameters of this Framework and under its Terms and Conditions, Sefton Council will carry out further competitions for some Schemes described in Section 2.6 above.

Using this Framework to conduct a further competition, the Council shall:

  • Develop the service requirements for the Scheme that is subject to the further competition.
  • Develop the assessment criteria to be used in the evaluation of submissions received under the further competition
  • Identify all eligible Framework Providers to invite to the further competition.
  • Invite eligible Framework Providers to submit a bid for the Scheme by conducting a further competition in accordance with the regulations and guidance.
  • Set a time limit for the receipt of submissions.
  • Apply the further competition award criteria to the Framework Providers' compliant bids submitted through the further competition as the basis of its decision to award and issue call-off agreement for the Scheme;

Further / Mini Competition Evaluation Process

The award of Call Off contracts for Schemes subject to Further / Mini Competition will be determined by the response to certain scheme specific quality questions and price. Up to three Framework Providers who submit the highest scoring tenders may undergo a further assessment of quality determined by interview.

The following criteria may be applied to Allocated Provider's compliant tenders submitted through the further competition. The Authority, reserves the right to define the sub-criteria, including weightings as part of the further competition process.

Evaluation criteria

Price - Weighting 0% - 100% To be determined at Further competition stage

Quality (Written & Interview) - Weighting 0 % - 100% To be determined at Further competition stage

In the event of a tied bid, the Tenderer with the highest score for the assessment criterion with the greatest weighting will be awarded the Contract.

If there is a tie on the highest score for this criterion, then the criterion with the next greatest weighting will be used, until a winner is determined.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1Renewal 3 yrsSMEPublished value£23,040,000
Contract period: 1 Apr 2027 – 31 Mar 2030 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Mar 2032 with extensionsValue: £23,040,000 exc. VAT · £23,040,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: North WestEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: Extension 1 : 1/4/2030 - 31/3/31 to be used if framework suppliers continue to deliver services satisfactorily and costs remain within budget. Extension 2 : 1/4/2031 - 31/3/32 to be used if framework suppliers continue to deliver services satisfactorily and costs remain within budget.
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2
  • Economic & financial standing

    As stated in the Tender Documents

  • Technical & professional ability

    As stated in the Tender Documents

What it takes to win
i

How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
How bids were scored
Quality: 55%Price: 40%Social value: 5%
Published award criteria (3)
  • Price: Care Rate £/hr Waking Night Rate £/hr
  • Quality: Method Satements
  • Social Value
Conditions of participation2
  • Economic & financial standing

    As stated in the Tender Documents

  • Technical & professional ability

    As stated in the Tender Documents

What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
  • “Adult Social Care Extra Care Services Framework” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 15 suppliers, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.

Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Closed
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Light touch regime
Commercial structure
Framework agreement
Who may use this agreement
Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
25 Aug 2026, 14:35 BST
Last source update
28 Sept 2026, 16:35 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 23 Dec 2026
Authority reference
DN826713
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-091579
Latest notice
Tender notice (UK4)
Classification (CPV)
Health and social work services
Delivery area
North West (UKD73)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ebad Find a Tender
Review and risk notes
Risks
  1. Possible changes to legislation or policy which affect the statutory obligations of the Council.
  2. Fluctuations in demand for the service resulting from demographic changes and/or the availability of alternative methods of achieving the required outcomes recipients of the Services.
  3. Fluctuations in demand resulting from changes in legislation for unrelated factors such as benefits entitlement for example which may impact on potential users of the Service(s)
  4. Performance of Providers in delivery of Services for the Schemes that they have been awarded.
  5. Changes in technology relevant to the Services provided under the Framework Contract
  6. Risk that Providers experience financial difficulties, insolvency, or loss of key funding streams, affecting their ability to deliver the Services for the duration of the Framework.
  7. Difficulties in recruiting or retaining suitably qualified staff, or loss of key personnel, impacting service continuity, quality, or responsiveness.
  8. Events such as pandemics, extreme weather, cyberattacks, or other emergencies disrupting the Provider's operational capacity or the Council's ability to commission services as planned.
  9. Risks relating to Providers' ability to comply with data protection legislation (e.g., UK GDPR), maintain secure systems, or respond properly to information requests.
  10. Potential failures in Providers' safeguarding practices requiring contract variation, intervention, or enforcement due to risk of harm to service users.
  11. Risk that insufficient market interest or provider exit from the market affects competition, value for money, or availability of services.
  12. Significant increases in staffing, utilities, insurance, or other operating costs that may necessitate contract review or limit Providers' ability to deliver at agreed prices.
  13. Persistent failure to meet agreed quality standards, KPIs, or regulatory requirements (e.g., CQC ratings), requiring additional monitoring, support, or contractual changes.
  14. Changes in the quality standards and / or evaluation methodology employed by the relevant regulator of the Services
  15. Changes or failures in related health, housing, or social care provision that affect Providers' ability to deliver outcomes under this Framework.
  16. Risks where Providers cannot deliver services equitably across all Schemes that they are awarded.

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: ProContract (Due North) · Who buys & how to bid on ProContract
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free · short registration with manual review; public opportunity list
Appointment period ends
26 Oct 2026, 12:00 GMT
Clarification deadline
19 Oct 2026, 12:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

25 Aug 2026 → 1 Apr 2027 · 8 dates
  1. Planning notice published62 days ago
    25 Aug 2026, 14:35 BST
  2. Market engagement45 days ago
    11 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST

    On line presentation and Q&A event via MS Teams

    Expressions of interest to be submitted via ProContract tendering portal :

    procontract.due-north.com/RFx/RFxSummary ↗

  3. Next notice expected34 days ago
    22 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST
  4. Tender notice published28 days ago
    28 Sept 2026, 16:35 BST
  5. Clarification questions by7 days ago
    19 Oct 2026, 12:00 BST
  6. Admission / appointment period endsearlier today · period end, not a bid countdown
    26 Oct 2026, 12:00 GMT
  7. Today
    26 Oct 2026
  8. Award decision expected byin 58 days
    23 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT
  9. Contract startsin 156 days
    1 Apr 2027, 00:00 BST

Notice history

5 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 25 Aug 2026
  1. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    25 Aug 2026, 14:35 BST
    UK2
  2. Tender notice published
    28 Sept 2026, 16:35 BST
    UK4
  3. Status changed to active
    28 Sept 2026, 16:35 BST
  4. Procurement method changed
    28 Sept 2026, 16:35 BST
  5. Deadline published: 26 Oct 2026, 12:00 GMT
    28 Sept 2026, 16:35 BST

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PTHP-5656-DLCN Bootle Town Hall, Bootle, North West, L20 7AEContact email

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

Notices published for this procedure