Children’s Home Collaborative Project Framework

West Sussex County Council is seeking providers for a new Children’s Home Collaborative (CHC) Framework covering trauma-informed residential placements for Children and Young People in care.

The framework will provide residential placements across three service areas, supporting children with complex lives and those experiencing varying levels of emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Initially, the Council intends to secure 14 residential placements across the framework’s three lots.

The procurement will establish a Light Touch pseudo-Open Framework. While the arrangement will resemble an open framework through its ability to periodically reopen to providers, the Council has confirmed that it will operate as a Light Touch framework.

Lots Available

The Children’s Home Collaborative Framework has been divided into three lots:

• Lot 1 – Homes for Children with Complex Lives: 4 initial residential placements
• Lot 2a – Homes for Children with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD): 5 initial residential placements
• Lot 2b – Homes for Children with Complex Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (Complex EBD): 5 initial residential placements

Across the three lots, the framework will initially provide a total of 14 residential placements.

Contract Information

• Buyer: West Sussex County Council
• Deadline: 1 October 2026, 12:00pm
• Contract Value: £79,000,000 excluding VAT (£94,800,000 including VAT)
• Delivery Length: 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2031, with the option for a five-year extension to 31 December 2036
• Tender Link: Click here

Reference: C21723

Framework Information

The framework is expected to run initially for five years, with the potential to extend for a further five years.

The estimated open framework scheme end date is 31 December 2036.

There is no maximum number of suppliers stated, and the maximum percentage fee charged to suppliers is 0%.

Contracts under the framework will be awarded without competition, and West Sussex County Council is the contracting authority permitted to use the arrangement.

The procurement is reserved for supported employment providers and public service mutuals.

Evaluation Criteria

Tenderers will be assessed through six pass/fail Technical Quality questions.

Providers must achieve a minimum score of 2 on every Technical Quality question.

No separate price weighting or other evaluation weighting has been disclosed within the information provided.

Procurement Procedure

The procurement is being conducted under the Procurement Act 2023 using a Competitive Flexible Procedure and the Light Touch special regime.

The Council intends to establish a Light Touch pseudo-Open Framework that can be periodically reopened.

The estimated award decision date is 31 December 2026, with the new framework expected to commence on 1 January 2027.

Payment terms are stated as 30 days in arrears.

The opportunity represents a significant long-term residential children’s care framework for providers capable of delivering trauma-informed placements. With an estimated value of £79 million excluding VAT and potential operation through to the end of 2036, the framework will support residential provision for Children and Young People in care with complex needs and emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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