Residential and Nursing Care Home Services for Adults Aged 65 and Over Framework (Issue 2)

Staffordshire County Council has reopened its framework for Residential and Nursing Care Home Services for adults aged 65 and over, giving new providers an opportunity to join the arrangement from 15 February 2027.

The framework supports adults who have been assessed by the Council as requiring care and support under the Care Act 2014 and Mental Health Act 1983.

The existing framework commenced on 1 September 2026. This second issue is specifically intended to admit new service providers. Organisations already appointed to the IA3668 Residential and Nursing Care Home Services for Adults Aged 65 and Over Framework do not need to submit another tender.

The framework is primarily intended for people ordinarily resident within Staffordshire, excluding Stoke-on-Trent. Placements will be determined according to individual assessed needs and relevant legislation.

The Council’s Choice Policy generally provides for placements within a reasonable distance of the resident’s usual home, normally up to 20 miles. Placements further away may be considered where suitable provision cannot be found within this distance or where the resident chooses a care home outside the 20-mile radius.

Providers will be expected to accept referrals covering long-term, temporary and respite care home stays.

Long-term placements are intended to become the resident’s permanent home, while temporary stays may support a planned return home or a period of further assessment and are expected to last no longer than 52 weeks.

Respite provision covers short residential or nursing stays for people normally cared for at home, providing their carer with a temporary break. These stays will usually last up to eight weeks and can include planned and unplanned respite, including placements required within 24 hours because of a carer crisis.

Lots Available

The framework covers four service lots:

• Lot 1 – Residential for Older People: Residential placements for people who may require 24-hour care, observation or supervision, support with most daily living activities and daily input from care workers.
• Lot 2 – Residential for Older People with Dementia: Residential placements for older people with dementia who may have high assessed care needs and require 24-hour care, supervision and support with daily living.
• Lot 6 – Nursing for Older People: Nursing care home placements for people with high assessed needs who may receive NHS Funded Nursing Care and require daily nursing care alongside assistance with daily living.
• Lot 7 – Nursing for Older People with Dementia: Nursing care home placements for older people with dementia who may require 24-hour support, NHS Funded Nursing Care and daily nursing input.

Where a resident has multiple care needs, their primary need will determine the appropriate lot. Providers are expected to respond flexibly when needs change, either by continuing to meet those needs or supporting an appropriate transfer to another provider.

Care home provision for people aged 18 to 65 will be covered through a separate procurement exercise.

Contract Information

• Buyer: Staffordshire County Council
• Deadline: 30 September 2026, 12:00pm
• Contract Value: £1,565,078,303 excluding VAT (£1,878,093,963.60 including VAT)
• Delivery Length: New providers joining under Issue 2 are expected to commence on 15 February 2027. The framework runs until 31 August 2030, with the option to extend by up to 48 months to 31 August 2034
• Tender Link: Click here

Reference: IA3668 Issue 2

Framework Operation

The arrangement is a Light Touch open framework with no stated maximum number of suppliers and no supplier fee.

The Council does not guarantee any particular volume of placements or business to providers appointed to the framework and may use other arrangements to source care and support services.

Once appointed, suppliers may remain on the framework until it expires, unless they are removed under its terms or voluntarily request removal.

Individual placements can be made through three routes:

• Standard Award Procedure – Option A: Where care needs to be sourced within seven days.
• Emergency Award Procedure – Option B: Where an urgent or more time-critical care home placement is required.
• Award without Competition – Option C: For specified urgent circumstances or where a resident, their family or chosen representative exercises choice over a preferred care home held on the framework.

Only one supplier will be awarded each Mini Competition.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications to join the framework will be evaluated on:

• Quality – 100%

Legal, financial and technical participation requirements are detailed within Part 3, Condition of Participation, of the IA3668 Invitation to Tender Procurement Specific Questionnaire.

The opportunity is identified as particularly suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises.

CQC Requirements

Service providers must be registered with the Care Quality Commission to deliver residential and/or nursing care for residents aged 65 and over.

Providers must also hold the appropriate registrations for any additional care specialisms required to meet residents’ primary and secondary needs, with these reflected within their statement of purpose.

The framework also requires providers to maintain appropriate arrangements for service continuity and regulatory compliance, including Business Continuity Plans where applicable.

With an estimated value exceeding £1.56 billion excluding VAT, the reopened framework represents a substantial opportunity for residential and nursing care providers seeking to deliver placements for older people across Staffordshire. The framework covers residential, dementia and nursing provision and is designed to remain available until 2030, with the potential for extension to 2034.

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