Official UK procurement notice
Strategic Partner to Operate 2 Residential Children's Homes in Bath & North East Somerset
Authority: Bath & North East Somerset Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionB&NES Council has embarked on an ambitious project to deliver 2, 4-bed children's homes for children aged between 11 and 18 who have autism and complex needs associated with social, emotional and mental health needs. The homes will be co-located with, but entirely separate from, a new 30-place special school which will be operated by a single/multi-academy trust. It is anticipated that many, if not all, of the children will attend the co-located school. A building for both the homes and the school has been identified in Keynsham, by utilising the closure of the care home Charlton House (post code BS31 1BF) which is under the ownership and management of the LA.
B&NES Council is looking to commission a single provider to operate the two residential children's homes, working as a close, strategic partner to ensure that public money is utilised to provide quality, outcome focused provision. The two homes will each offer accommodation for four children/young people, with sleep-in staff provision, living and support spaces and a house garden. The services are expected to commence 1st September 2027.
- How the procedure runs: This competitive flexible procedure may be conducted in two stages. The two stages are described in more detail below. Stage 1: Submission of PSQ and Initial Tender and Evaluation Stage 1 commenced with the issuing of a Tender Notice. Suppliers will submit the response to the PSQ with any required attachments AND the Initial Tender. The council will check Supplier's Initial Tender and PSQ Response for completeness and compliance with the instructions and requirements set out in this document and the other documents associated with the Procurement. The council will assess first the PSQ which contains questions assessing whether the Tenderer meets the council's Conditions of Participation in order to be considered capable of delivering the contract. The PSQ includes both minimum pass/fail requirements and qualitative questions designed to assess the Tenderers' experience and capabilities that are specific to this procurement. Suppliers who successfully meet all pass/fail criteria and achieve a minimum score of 2 on each scored question will advance to step 2, where their tenders will be assessed. Conversely, any supplier who fails any pass/fail question or receives a score of 0 or 1 on any scored PSQ question will be excluded from the process at this stage. The council will assess Initial Tenders of those suppliers that passed the PSQ Conditions of Participation in line with paragraph 10.8 of the Invitation to Tender. Following the evaluation of the suppliers' Initial Tender, the Council may either award the contract on Initial Tender or enter into negotiations with the top two ranking suppliers. The decision on this will be the Council's responsibility and this decision will be final. The Council reserve the right to award the contract on the basis of Initial Tender where: • The Initial Tender is complete in all respects, has been reviewed for compliance and is capable of assessment. • The Initial Tender has been evaluated by the Council in accordance with the published Evaluation Methodology and in accordance with 'The assessment process and award criteria' and the top supplier has achieved a minimum quality score as set out in the Minimum Quality Score Requirements of this ITT; and • The draft contract is capable of being awarded without negotiation. If the Council decides to award the Contract following evaluation of Initial Tenders it will notify suppliers and provide assessment summaries, in accordance with the requirements of the Act. If the Council decides to enter into negotiations, it will invite the two highest-ranking suppliers based on evaluation of the Initial Tenders. Prior to commencement of the negotiation stage, the Council will notify the suppliers who will not be invited to participate in negotiations of its intention to commence the negotiation stage and provide an explanation of the assessment of their Tender against the relevant award criteria, in accordance with the requirements of the Act. Stage 2: Invitation to negotiate and submit a final tender The negotiation stage may consist of one or more negotiations meetings. See the Procurement Timetable for potential weeks/dates for attending virtual/and or face to face sessions. When inviting the top two highest-ranking suppliers to negotiations meetings, the Council will issue: a) Details of the attendees, location, date and time for negotiations. b) A Negotiation Questions Document (NQD) highlighting areas for discussion. c) A template for Suppliers to ask questions or areas for discussion with the Council and timeline for submission of this. Both documents mentioned in a. and b. aim to make the negotiation meetings as productive as possible for both the Council and the Supplier. When the Council intends to conclude the negotiations, it will notify suppliers confirming the closure of the negotiations and invite the suppliers to submit their Final Tender. The Final Tender must be submitted in accordance with the timetable and instructions set out in the Invitation to Tender and any additional information provided in the Invitation to Submit Final Tenders. After the deadline for submission, the Council will evaluate the Final Tenders in line with the assessment process set out in the Invitation to Submit Final Tenders, to identify the most advantageous tender.
CPV: Social work services with accommodation
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£34,800,000
- Economic & financial standing
The conditions of participation are set out in the tender documents
The full conditions of participation are set out in the tender documents.
- Technical & professional ability
The full conditions of participation are set out in the tender documents.
Suppliers will need to provide up to three relevant contract examples and demonstrates experience relevant to the subject matter of the contract and a proven track record of supporting children who present with significant SEMH needs, including trauma‑related behaviours, attachment difficulties, emotional dysregulation, and high‑risk behaviours.
Suppliers must demonstrate that they meet the required standards in relation to Ofsted by submitting the URN information required
Suppliers must provide evidence that no more than 50% of their residential children homes have an OFSTED inadequate rating.
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: Detailed quality criteria are set out in the tender documents These are the criteria to be used in Stage 1 of the Competitive Flexible Procedure, where the Council proceeds with Stage 2 the criteria for that stage will be confirmed when Final Tenders are invited.
- Price: Detailed price criteria are set out in the tender documents These are the criteria to be used in Stage 1 of the Competitive Flexible Procedure, where the Council proceeds with Stage 2 the criteria for that stage will be confirmed when Final Tenders are invited.
- Economic & financial standing
The conditions of participation are set out in the tender documents
The full conditions of participation are set out in the tender documents.
- Technical & professional ability
The full conditions of participation are set out in the tender documents.
Suppliers will need to provide up to three relevant contract examples and demonstrates experience relevant to the subject matter of the contract and a proven track record of supporting children who present with significant SEMH needs, including trauma‑related behaviours, attachment difficulties, emotional dysregulation, and high‑risk behaviours.
Suppliers must demonstrate that they meet the required standards in relation to Ofsted by submitting the URN information required
Suppliers must provide evidence that no more than 50% of their residential children homes have an OFSTED inadequate rating.
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 13 Oct 2025, 13:49 BST
- Last source update
- 26 Jun 2026, 08:27 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 31 Aug 2026
- Authority reference
DN793708- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-021953- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05ae47Find a Tender
- How it runs
This competitive flexible procedure may be conducted in two stages. The two stages are described in more detail below.
Stage 1: Submission of PSQ and Initial Tender and Evaluation
Stage 1 commenced with the issuing of a Tender Notice.
Suppliers will submit the response to the PSQ with any required attachments AND the Initial Tender.
The council will check Supplier's Initial Tender and PSQ Response for completeness and compliance with the instructions and requirements set out in this document and the other documents associated with the Procurement.
The council will assess first the PSQ which contains questions assessing whether the Tenderer meets the council's Conditions of Participation in order to be considered capable of delivering the contract.
The PSQ includes both minimum pass/fail requirements and qualitative questions designed to assess the Tenderers' experience and capabilities that are specific to this procurement.
Suppliers who successfully meet all pass/fail criteria and achieve a minimum score of 2 on each scored question will advance to step 2, where their tenders will be assessed. Conversely, any supplier who fails any pass/fail question or receives a score of 0 or 1 on any scored PSQ question will be excluded from the process at this stage.
The council will assess Initial Tenders of those suppliers that passed the PSQ Conditions of Participation in line with paragraph 10.8 of the Invitation to Tender.
Following the evaluation of the suppliers' Initial Tender, the Council may either award the contract on Initial Tender or enter into negotiations with the top two ranking suppliers. The decision on this will be the Council's responsibility and this decision will be final.
The Council reserve the right to award the contract on the basis of Initial Tender where:
- The Initial Tender is complete in all respects, has been reviewed for compliance and is capable of assessment.
- The Initial Tender has been evaluated by the Council in accordance with the published Evaluation Methodology and in accordance with 'The assessment process and award criteria' and the top supplier has achieved a minimum quality score as set out in the Minimum Quality Score Requirements of this ITT; and
- The draft contract is capable of being awarded without negotiation.
If the Council decides to award the Contract following evaluation of Initial Tenders it will notify suppliers and provide assessment summaries, in accordance with the requirements of the Act.
If the Council decides to enter into negotiations, it will invite the two highest-ranking suppliers based on evaluation of the Initial Tenders.
Prior to commencement of the negotiation stage, the Council will notify the suppliers who will not be invited to participate in negotiations of its intention to commence the negotiation stage and provide an explanation of the assessment of their Tender against the relevant award criteria, in accordance with the requirements of the Act.
Stage 2: Invitation to negotiate and submit a final tender
The negotiation stage may consist of one or more negotiations meetings. See the Procurement Timetable for potential weeks/dates for attending virtual/and or face to face sessions.
When inviting the top two highest-ranking suppliers to negotiations meetings, the Council will issue:
a) Details of the attendees, location, date and time for negotiations.
b) A Negotiation Questions Document (NQD) highlighting areas for discussion.
c) A template for Suppliers to ask questions or areas for discussion with the Council and timeline for submission of this. Both documents mentioned in a. and b. aim to make the negotiation meetings as productive as possible for both the Council and the Supplier.
When the Council intends to conclude the negotiations, it will notify suppliers confirming the closure of the negotiations and invite the suppliers to submit their Final Tender.
The Final Tender must be submitted in accordance with the timetable and instructions set out in the Invitation to Tender and any additional information provided in the Invitation to Submit Final Tenders.
After the deadline for submission, the Council will evaluate the Final Tenders in line with the assessment process set out in the Invitation to Submit Final Tenders, to identify the most advantageous tender.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 24 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 29 Mar 2026, 23:59 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
13 Oct 2025 → 1 Sept 2026 · 11 dates- Planning notice published381 days ago13 Oct 2025, 13:49 BST
- Market engagement301 days ago31 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT
Following a successful market engagement session on the 22nd of October 2025, we have planned a follow up workshop with potential providers of the children's homes.
The workshop will be in-person on Tuesday 9th of December between 1 - 3 pm at The Civic Centre, Market Walk, Keynsham, BS31 1FS
It will provide an opportunity to explore the following in more detail:
1: Focus on service delivery, building configuration, and quality of life for young people.
2: Focus on tender requirements, staffing, occupancy, costs, and provider expectations.
Please register your interest in attending this event by responding to: [email protected]
If you are interested in understanding more about the commissioning intentions and would like a discussion ahead of this event, please contact the Head of Education Commissioning: [email protected]
- Next notice expected270 days ago31 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Tender notice published232 days ago11 Mar 2026, 16:10 GMT
- Clarification questions by213 days ago29 Mar 2026, 23:59 BST
- Submission deadline188 days ago24 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent125 days ago26 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published125 days ago26 Jun 2026, 08:27 BST
- Standstill ends113 days ago7 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
- Award decision expected by58 days ago31 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts58 days ago1 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
13 events · 6 releases on Find a Tender · since 13 Oct 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published13 Oct 2025, 13:49 BSTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published13 Oct 2025, 13:57 BSTUK2
- Published value updated to £26,000,00013 Oct 2025, 13:57 BSTwas £260,000,000
- Preliminary market engagement notice published28 Nov 2025, 10:11 GMTUK2
- Tender notice published11 Mar 2026, 16:10 GMTUK4
- Published value updated to £34,800,00011 Mar 2026, 16:10 GMTwas £26,000,000
- Status changed to active11 Mar 2026, 16:10 GMT
- Procurement method changed11 Mar 2026, 16:10 GMT
- Deadline published: 24 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST11 Mar 2026, 16:10 GMT
- Tender notice published17 Mar 2026, 12:58 GMTUK4
- Contract award notice published26 Jun 2026, 08:27 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete26 Jun 2026, 08:27 BST
- Contract signature expected31 Jul 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Published amendments (2)
Contract values incorrectly entered. Correct values are £26,000,000 (excluding VAT) and £31,200,000 (including VAT)
Deadline for clarification questions amended to 29/03/2026 at midnight
Routine re-releases (6)
- 2025-11: 1 release · 28 Nov 2025
- 2025-10: 2 releases · 13 Oct 2025, 13 Oct 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACTION FOR CHILDREN1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2036 · up to 1 Sept 2039Extensions: The contract has an option to extend for a further period or periods up to 3 years. Note that the published contract value is a maximum value based on the full contract term (including full extension), based on 100% occupancy of both homes and includes an estimation of additional costs to meet individual care needs. | £34,800,000 | 24 Jun 2026standstill to 7 Jul 2026 | Standstill |
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1final-stage tenders · 2 at stage one | 0 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- wonACTION FOR CHILDREN · East of England
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- ACTION FOR CHILDRENAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (6)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender