Official UK procurement notice
BHCC Adults Community Support and Supported Living Light Touch Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) Admission Round 4
Authority: Brighton and Hove City Council (Local council)
Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) established a Light Touch Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the supply of services in respect of Community Support and Supported Living for adults on 4th March 2024 for an initial period of up to 5 years + with optional further extension provisions for an additional 3 years + 2 years. The end of the initial contract term of the DPS is 3rd March 2029. The services required fall under Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015). There will be no limit to the number of Providers admitted onto the DPS, providing they meet the minimum requirements as set out in the Invitation to Tender documents. Published lot titles: Community Support; Supported Living.
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionBrighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) established a Light Touch Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the supply of services in respect of Community Support and Supported Living for adults on 4th March 2024 for an initial period of up to 5 years + with optional further extension provisions for an additional 3 years + 2 years. The end of the initial contract term of the DPS is 3rd March 2029. This Contract Notice is for the fourth admission round onto the DPS.
The services required fall under Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015). As a result, this procurement is undertaken under the 'Light Touch Regime' as detailed in Section 7 of PCR 2015.
Any interested organisation or consortium with relevant experience may apply to be admitted onto the DPS.
The DPS will have two (2) lots and be further divided into sub-lots as follows:
Lot 1: Community Support
Lot 1.1: Adults with Learning Disabilities and who may also be autistic
Lot 1.2: Adults with Mental Health needs
Lot 1.3: Adults who are Neurodivergent and who may also be autistic
Lot 1.4: Adults with Acquired Brain Injuries (ABI)
Lot 1.5: Adults with Physical Disabilities and/or sensory needs
Lot 1.6: Adults with Substance Misuse and eligible Care Act needs
Lot 2: Supported Living, for people with:
Lot 2.1: Adults with Learning Disabilities and who may also be autistic
Lot 2.2: Adults with Mental Health needs
Lot 2.3: Adults who are Neurodivergent and who may also be autistic
Lot 2.4: Adults with Acquired Brain Injuries (ABI)
Lot 2.5: Adults with Physical Disabilities and/or sensory needs
Lot 2.6: Adults with Substance Misuse and eligible Care Act needs
Potential Providers are invited to apply for one lot or sub-lot; or multiple lots and sub-lots.
The Brighton & Hove commissioning strategy is to reduce the number of people in residential care, placed out of the city and in long term services that do not meet their needs. Supported Living and Community Support are effective in meeting this goal.
The aim of the DPS is to:
- Ensure that all providers on the DPS have met quality requirements and signed up to a new service specification that reflects the needs that people who receive support and their carers have identified.
- Attract new providers to the market and create a more diverse market that provides more choice for people who receive support.
- Ensure a more strengths-based approach that focus on outcomes for people who receive support.
- Enable the Council to meet the care and support needs of residents who have been assessed as having eligible social care needs in line with the Care Act 2014
For each Lot, there will be an 'Admission' stage, followed by a 'Commissioning' stage.
BHCC intends to open the 'Admission' stage annually for new applications. The Council reserves the right to revise the number of rounds ('opening ceremonies') for Admission stage per year at its discretion.
By applying to be admitted to the DPS, Providers are not obligated to bid for services at 'Commissioning' stage.
These services are being procured under a multiple-Provider DPS. There will be no limit to the number of Providers admitted onto the DPS, providing they meet the minimum requirements as set out in the Invitation to Tender documents.
There will be no guarantee of work or volume of work given under this DPS.
Admission stage evaluation will be based on 100% Quality.
For Lot 1: Community Support, Pricing will be requested and will be binding until 31st March 2028 but will not be scored. This pricing will be used at Stage 2: Commissioning Stage for Direct Awards.
CPV: Health and social work services · Social work and related services
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · all with a published value · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Community SupportPublished value£30,000,000
Lot 1: Community Support
Community Support will be delivered to adults with learning Disabilities and who may also be autistic, mental health needs, Neurodivergent and who may also be autistic, acquired brain injuries, physical disabilities and/or sensory needs or substance misuse and eligible Care Act needs Accommodation is not part of the Service (e.g., the Individual has an independent tenancy or lives with family/others) and this would continue regardless of the support provided.
The Community Support Service will provide outcome focused support that meets the aims and goals agreed with each Individual. The Service must provide person-centred support and a strengths-based approach.
Estimated Aggregate Value across lifetime of the DPS (5 + 3 + 2 years) = £30,000,000
Admission stage evaluation will be based on 100% Quality.
Pricing will be requested and will be binding until 31st March 2028 but will not be scored. This pricing will be used at Stage 2: Commissioning Stage for Direct Awards.
Once Providers are admitted onto the DPS, the 'Commissioning' stage can be undertaken. Providers will be requested to respond to quality and price questions for the specific need to win the contract as outlined in the Individual Placement Requirement.
Individual Placement Requirements will be published on an as and when basis.
Stage 2: Commissioning Stage is divided into two routes:
- Route 1: Direct Award
- Route 2: Mini Competition
For Route 2, all Providers admitted to the DPS will be invited to express an interest for all routes under the relevant sub-lot. Providers will be advised a time limit to respond.
Stage 2 will be evaluated based on Quality and Price. Full details will be included at Commissioning Stage
As the DPS is being let under the Light Touch Regime (Regulation 76 (8) of the PCR's 2015), which allows for direct award, the Council shall make Direct Award placements based on a number of factors including; (i) the Provider that best meets the specific needs of the individual; and/or (ii) personal choice of the individual; and/or (iii) has availability; and/or (iv) the best value for money; and/or (v) location.
When a new service or a replacement service for a group of individuals is identified the Council will invite all Providers of the relevant sub-lot(s) who have indicated availability to express an interest based on the total Individual Placement Requirements. The expression of interest will be time-bound.
Full details will be available at time of publication of Stage 2.
TUPE may apply at Stage 2: Commissioning Stage. Full details will be included in the tender documents.
Individual Service Funds (ISFs)
The Council are committed to expanding the use of Individual Service Funds (ISFs). The service provider would receive the fund for each person but must work with them to identify how they want to use their personal budget to meet their needs. As needs change the overall fund can flex without having to reassess needs constantly and people can also 'bank' support hours to use flexibly. If the need for a ISF arrangement occurs, expressions of interest will be sought from admitted DPS providers and a Mini Competition will take place. Price and quality information will be requested specific to the service required, then evaluated. Additional information: Round 1 of the DPS was established on 4th March 2024. Duration indicated is from Round 4 contract start date until the end of the initial contract term of the DPS (3rd March 2029).
Lot #2Supported LivingPublished value£210,000,000
Lot 2: Supported Living
This lot covers Supported Living services where support is provided alongside a tenancy or licence agreement for adults with learning Disabilities and who may also be autistic, mental health needs, Neurodivergent and who may also be autistic, acquired brain injuries, physical disabilities and/or sensory needs or substance misuse and eligible Care Act needs.
People will have their own individual tenancy or licence agreement for their accommodation and are liable to pay rent. When individuals are assessed as not having capacity to sign a tenancy or licence agreement the relevant Assessment team will make an application to the Court of Protection. Rent can be met by Housing Benefit or through Housing Costs under Universal Credit if the person is eligible for these benefits.
Accommodation may have been identified in advance or Service Providers will be expected to source accommodation. This will be identified at the Call-Off Stage.
The Supported Living Service will provide outcome focussed support that meets the aims and goals agreed with each Individual. The Service must provide person-centred support and a strengths-based approach.
Support models will vary depending on a person's needs. Most Services will operate a model of shared care and may provide 24-hour Staff on site, where Staff work night shifts, either waking or sleeping at the Service. The Service Provider and the Council will discuss the support model at an early stage.
The Service will provide a place of safety, security and stability.
If the Service Provider is sourcing accommodation, they must meet the accommodation standards as detailed in the Specification.
Estimated Aggregate Value of Lot 2: Supported Living across lifetime of the DPS (5 + 3 + 2 years) = £210,000,000
Admission stage evaluation will be based on 100% Quality.
Once Providers are admitted onto the DPS, the 'Commissioning' stage can be undertaken. Providers will be requested to respond to quality and price questions for the specific need to win the contract as outlined in the Individual Placement Requirement.
Individual Placement Requirements will be published on an as and when basis.
Stage 2: Commissioning Stage is divided into two routes:
- Route 1: Direct Award
- Route 2: Mini Competition
For Route 2, all Providers admitted to the DPS will be invited to express an interest for all routes under the relevant sub-lot. Providers will be advised a time limit to respond.
Stage 2 will be evaluated based on Quality and Price. Full details will be included at Commissioning Stage
As the DPS is being let under the Light Touch Regime (Regulation 76 (8) of the PCR's 2015), which allows for direct award, the Council shall make Direct Award placements based on a number of factors including; (i) the Provider that best meets the specific needs of the individual; and/or (ii) personal choice of the individual; and/or (iii) has availability; and/or (iv) the best value for money; and/or (v) location.
When a new service or a replacement service for a group of individuals is identified the Council will invite all Providers of the relevant sub-lot(s) who have indicated availability to express an interest based on the total Individual Placement Requirements. The expression of interest will be time-bound.
Full details will be available at time of publication of Stage 2.
TUPE may apply at Stage 2: Commissioning Stage. Full details will be included in the tender documents.
Individual Service Funds (ISFs)
The Council are committed to expanding the use of Individual Service Funds (ISFs). The service provider would receive the fund for each person but must work with them to identify how they want to use their personal budget to meet their needs. As needs change the overall fund can flex without having to reassess needs constantly and people can also 'bank' support hours to use flexibly. If the need for a ISF arrangement occurs, expressions of interest will be sought from admitted DPS providers and a Mini Competition will take place. Price and quality information will be requested specific to the service required, then evaluated. Additional information: Round 1 of the DPS was established on 4th March 2024. Duration indicated is from Round 4 contract start date until the end of the initial contract term of the DPS (3rd March 2029).
What it takes to wini
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 morei
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).
Published award criteria (2)
- Quality: 100
- Price: 0
- “BHCC Adults Community Support and Supported Living Light Touch Dynamic…” is a dynamic market: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.
Competition analysis · published record, not a forecast of who will bid
How Brighton and Hove City Council buys Health and social work services (CPV 85), and who usually turns up
Brighton and Hove City Council’s published record next to the market for the same work. Compared with other frameworks and DPS only. Whole-market view: Health and social work services (CPV 85) →
How the contest usually goes
Winner shares use published awards; bid and price charts use contested lots.
i
How often small and medium firms win.
Share of awards where the winner’s size is known.
The counts under this question show how many awards have a known supplier size.
Small firms have won here. Neither number says whether you qualify; it describes who has been winning.
i
How often local firms win similar work.
Winners with a registered address in the delivery region, out of awards with a known address.
Local means the winner is registered in the region where that award was delivered. The market figure counts awards delivered in South East England.
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners were registered in the region where that award was delivered.
i
How long buyers here take to decide after bids close.
Middle value in days from the bid deadline to the award date, on competitions that published both.
Only decided tenders count, so slow ones still waiting are not in.
Half of these awards have an award date within 75 days of the bid deadline.
i
How often work is awarded with no recorded rival.
Direct awards and tenders where every published lot count shows one bid.
The market share is a minimum: some awards have no bid count.
Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.
Missing bid counts may hide more single-bid awards. This share is a minimum.
How many bids did past lots attract?
i
How many bids past lots received.
Each colour is a bid-count range. Only competed lots with a published count are included.
Past bids do not predict this tender.
1 bid17% / 5%
2–317% / 6%
4–617% / 16%
7+50% / 73%
How did awards compare with estimates?
i
Where winning prices landed against estimates.
Awards below, close to or above the estimate, per lot. The buyer side adds below-threshold contracts with a pre-award estimate; an award inside a published range counts as close.
On a framework or DPS, prices are agreed when work is called off.
Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.
Not comparable on a framework or DPS: the price is set later, on each call-off.
Assess each lot i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
Open a lot for its forecast, this buyer’s previous supplier and possible competitors, from published award history, not a bid list
Our matching links this notice to “BHCC Adults Community Support and Supported Living Light Touch Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)” of this authority, but none of the 20 panel members sit in a category matching this notice.
Lot #1Community SupportCPV 85Published estimate£30m
This lot lists more than one class in CPV 85. The comparison uses that group.
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative. The bar shows 81 past lots.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid5%
2–36%
4–616%
7+73%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
No comparable awards for this lot yet.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
Candidate suppliers for this notice have not been worked out yet, so this is not a verdict that nobody fits.
Lot #2Supported LivingCPV 85Published estimate£210m
This lot lists more than one class in CPV 85. The comparison uses that group.
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative. The bar shows 81 past lots.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid5%
2–36%
4–616%
7+73%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
No comparable awards for this lot yet.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
Candidate suppliers for this notice have not been worked out yet, so this is not a verdict that nobody fits.
About this data
- Source. Official UK public procurement notices (Find a Tender and Contracts Finder), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. New notices arrive through the day; the figures are rebuilt nightly. Contracts Finder appears in live search, the Retender Radar, contract pages, organisation counts, the earlier contracts and past suppliers on a tender's competition panel, the buyer's decision figure and its award against estimate; the other analytical figures are built from Find a Tender notices.
- Two views, kept apart. The authority’s own track record and the wider market for the same kind of work sit side by side and are never mixed. Where the local picture is too thin, a figure widens to a broader market and says which one it used.
- Forecasts are labelled. The price forecast and its range, possible competitors and the earlier-work matches are our estimates from past awards: not published facts, not win chances and not price advice. Official notices do not say who is bidding.
- Every figure shows what it rests on. Not every notice publishes a bid count, a value or a delivery region, so each figure carries the number of records behind it, and one built on few records is marked as such. The on a figure explains it; the counting rules are in the methodology. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
What this replaces i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
84% title match.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
84% title match.
A past supplier may not bid again.
The prior contract this notice most likely re-tenders · matched by title and category (84% title match), the holder is not guaranteed to re-bid
BHCC Adults Community Support and Supported Living Light Touch Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) — held by FitzRoy Support and Newcross Healthcare Solutions Limited (+1 more); no contract end date published.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Open admission
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Dynamic market
- Who may use this agreement
- Any qualifying supplier may apply while the market is open
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 11 Nov 2026, 15:17 GMT
- Last source update
- 11 Nov 2026, 15:17 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- 4 Dec 2026 – …
- Authority reference
BHCC - 039286- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-107223- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-07b9ddFind a Tender
Publisher note: Previous round contract notices can be found at: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062572-2025? https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012185-2024? https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019842-2023? Main features of the award procedure: Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) has established a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the supply of services in respect of Community Support and Supported Living for adults for an initial period of up to 5 years + with optional further extension provisions for an additional 3 years + 2 years. This contract notice is for the fourth admission round onto the DPS. For each Lot, there will be an 'Admission' stage, followed by a 'Commissioning' stage. • Stage 1: Admission Stage - At this stage Providers are invited to apply for admittance onto the DPS by submitting their responses via the Pass/Fail Selection Questionnaire (SQ) and, if passed, the evaluation of quality questions. If successful, Providers will be 'admitted' onto the DPS. • Stage 2: Commissioning Stage - The Providers who meet the initial Admission criteria will be invited to bid for the relevant sub-lots at individual placement or block contracts. BHCC intends to open the 'Admission' stage annually for new applications. The Council reserves the right to revise the number of rounds ('opening ceremonies') for Admission stage per year at its discretion. Admission stage evaluation will be based on 100% Quality. Pricing will be requested for Lot 1: Community Support at Admission Stage for information only and will not be scored. See tender documentation for further information. Stage 2 will be evaluated based on Quality and Price for both Lots. Full details will be included at Commissioning Stage.
How to participate & submission route
Official notice Apply via In-tend- Requests to participate (first stage)
- —
- Admission period ends
- 4 Dec 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- —
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bids opened
- 4 Dec 2026, 12:01 GMT
Timeline
11 Nov 2026 → 4 Dec 2026 · 3 dates- Notice published1h ago11 Nov 2026, 15:17 GMT
- Today11 Nov 2026
- Admission / appointment period endsin 22 days · period end, not a bid countdown4 Dec 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Bids openedin 22 days4 Dec 2026, 12:01 GMT
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Nothing awarded yet- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Royal Courts of JusticeReview body
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice; the tender pack is on the portal.