Find a TenderPast planning noticePreliminary market engagement notice
Published 9 Jul 2025, 15:00 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Request for Information for Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs)

Official notice

Authority: The North Yorkshire Council (Local council)

Framework agreementServicesAbove thresholdLight touch regimeSME suitableVCSE suitable
Planned pipeline value£4,680,000pipeline notice, not a live tender
Tender notice expected 5 Jan 2026from the planned procurement notice
Framework period 5 yrsends 1 Apr 2031 · up to 1 Apr 2036 with extensions · starts 1 Apr 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

North Yorkshire Council (the Authority) is requesting information from providers to help determine the scope and feasibility of its requirement, to understand the range of potential solutions available in the market, and to assist with drafting a potential future tender specification for the provision of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs). The Authority is seeking to procure a framework, under Light Touch Regime, of high-quality Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) to support the delivery of safe, stable and nurturing foster placements for children and young people across the county with the aim of ensuring that the Authority has access to a diverse and responsive pool of foster carers through external providers, complementing the Authority’s in-house provision.

CPV: Social work and related services

How this framework works

From the published notice
Framework period
5 yrs · up to 10 yrs from 1 Apr 2026

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1PlannedRenewal 5 yrsSMEVCSE
Contract period: 1 Apr 2026 – 1 Apr 2031 (5 yrs) · up to 1 Apr 2036 with extensions
Delivery: Yorkshire & HumberEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
Extensions: Extension options published

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
What this means for your bid
  • “Request for Information for Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs)” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Past planning notice
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
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
9 Jul 2025, 15:00 BST
Last source update
9 Jul 2025, 15:00 BST
Authority reference
456-NYC-CY
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-038656
Latest notice
Preliminary market engagement notice (UK2)
Classification (CPV)
Social work and related services
Delivery area
Yorkshire & Humber (UKE22)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-055c2a Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Appointment period ends
—

Timeline

9 Jul 2025 → 1 Apr 2026 · 4 dates
  1. Planning notice published
    9 Jul 2025, 15:00 BST
  2. Market engagement
    1 Aug 2025, 00:59 BST
  3. Tender notice expected296 days ago
    5 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
  4. Contract starts211 days ago
    1 Apr 2026

Notice history

1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender
  1. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    9 Jul 2025, 15:00 BST
    UK2

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Pipeline notice
Awards (0)
No award published
Contracts (0)
No contract published
Bid statistics
No aggregate bid statistics published

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

The North Yorkshire Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PNXY-8263-XCNL County Hall, Racecourse Lane,, Northallerton, Yorkshire & Humber, DL7 8ADContact name, email, phone

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure