Residential and Nursing Care Homes for Adults – Framework Agreement

Nottinghamshire County Council is establishing a major framework for the provision of residential and nursing care home services for adults, with an estimated value of £995 million including VAT.

The Framework will appoint multiple providers capable of supporting adults with a range of needs, including learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs, physical disabilities, brain injuries and sensory impairments. Provision may include standard residential placements alongside short breaks, emergency placements, forensic provision and exceptional or highly specialist care arrangements.

The Framework will initially run for six years from April 2027, with extension options potentially taking the arrangement to a maximum of ten years.

Service Requirements

The Framework is primarily intended to commission residential and nursing care for adults with eligible support needs.

Services commissioned through the arrangement may include:

• Standard residential and nursing placements
• Short breaks
• Emergency placements
• Forensic provision
• Exceptional and highly specialist care arrangements

While the Framework primarily covers adults, Nottinghamshire County Council may also use it for young people aged 16 or 17, provided the relevant care home meets all applicable registration, regulatory and policy requirements.

For people aged 65 and over, the Council would ordinarily use its alternative contracts specifically established for older people’s residential care. This Framework is expected to be used for older adults only in exceptional circumstances where suitable provision cannot be secured through those arrangements.

Most placements are expected to be within the seven districts of Nottinghamshire, although placements outside the county may be commissioned where required.

Framework Operation

There is no stated maximum number of providers that can be appointed to the Framework.

Bidders that satisfy the Conditions of Participation and achieve the minimum 60% quality threshold will be selected for appointment.

Being appointed to the Framework does not guarantee providers any minimum number of placements or level of expenditure.

Call-off contracts can be awarded through either Direct Award or Further Competition.

Direct Awards may be used in specified circumstances, including emergency placements where the Council has fewer than 72 hours to secure provision, transfers of existing placements and situations involving an individual’s clear and informed choice of provider.

Further Competitions may be undertaken for planned placements, where more than 72 hours is available to secure provision, where ongoing support is required following an emergency placement, or where a block arrangement covering multiple individuals is required.

At Further Competition stage, quality can account for between 25% and 100%, while price can account for between 0% and 75%, depending on the requirements of the individual call-off.

Contract Information

Buyer: Nottinghamshire County Council

Deadline: 9 November 2026, 12:00pm

Contract Value: £995,000,000 including VAT

Delivery Length: 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2033, with two potential extensions of up to 24 months each to 31 March 2037 – maximum 10 years

Tender Link: ProContract – Reference DN825573

The deadline for supplier enquiries is 2 November 2026 at 11:59pm, with an estimated award decision date of 8 March 2027.

The procurement is being conducted using an open procedure under the light touch regime.

The Framework is identified as particularly suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs).

Evaluation Criteria

Admission to the Framework will be evaluated on:

• Quality – 100%
• Minimum Quality Threshold – 60%

Bidders must also satisfy the Council’s Conditions of Participation.

Further Competition evaluation arrangements will be established at individual call-off stage, with the potential weighting ranges outlined within the Framework documentation.

Participation Requirements

The Council has established legal and financial Conditions of Participation covering:

• Financial standing
• Insurance
• Data protection
• Health and safety

Technical requirements include demonstrating relevant experience and ability to perform the contract, together with requirements concerning subcontractor management where applicable, Modern Slavery legislation, relevant policies and procedures and appropriate staff training.

Bidders must also provide details of each care home they are putting forward, including the relevant CQC registration details.

Tenderers will initially be required to confirm compliance with the Conditions of Participation. Further supporting evidence will only be required where a Framework Agreement is awarded.

CQC and Ofsted Requirements

The procurement specifically requires bidders to provide CQC registration details for each care home included within their submission.

The Framework can also potentially be used for young people aged 16 or 17. Where this occurs, the relevant home must satisfy all applicable registration, regulatory and policy requirements, including those of the Care Quality Commission and/or Ofsted.

Providers should review the full procurement documents for the detailed registration standards and evidence required for individual services and placements.

Future Provider Opportunities

The Council reserves the right to advertise further opportunities to admit additional providers during the life of the Framework, although no dates have currently been established.

An unsuccessful bidder may submit a new tender if a future admission opportunity is advertised. Existing successful providers would not need to reapply.

The Council makes clear that, despite this provision, the arrangement is not an Open Framework under the Procurement Act 2023.

Local Government Reorganisation

The procurement documentation highlights the potential impact of Local Government Reorganisation during the lengthy Framework period.

Changes to local government structures could result in the Framework or individual call-off contracts being transferred, assigned or novated, in whole or in part, to successor authorities or other relevant public bodies.

Bidders are required to tender on the basis that such changes may occur and that they will not create additional charges, price adjustments or termination rights solely because of the reorganisation.

With an estimated value approaching £1 billion and a potential ten-year duration, this Framework represents a substantial long-term opportunity for residential and nursing care providers serving adults with a broad range of support needs.

The unlimited provider structure and combination of direct awards and further competitions will provide Nottinghamshire County Council with a route for commissioning both planned and urgent placements, including specialist and complex provision.

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