Residential and Nursing Care Homes for Ageing Well People in the Borough of Gateshead

Gateshead Borough Council is inviting applications to establish a Light Touch Framework (LTF) for the provision of residential and nursing care home services for Ageing Well people within the Borough of Gateshead.

The framework will cover residential and nursing care for a range of resident groups, including people with general care needs, learning and physical disabilities, mental health conditions, autism, neurological needs, and those requiring palliative or end of life care funded by the Council.

The Council has confirmed that the framework is only open to residential and nursing care homes that are located within the Borough of Gateshead and are fully operational and registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) at the point of bid submission.

Lots Available

The Light Touch Framework has been divided into the following lots:

• Lot 1: General Residential, Dual Registered
• Lot 2: EMI Residential, Dual Registered
• Lot 3: General Nursing, Dual Registered
• Lot 4: EMI Nursing, Dual Registered
• Lot 5: General Residential
• Lot 6: EMI Residential

The Council has advised that additional lots may be introduced during the lifetime of the framework.

Contract Information

• Buyer: Gateshead Borough Council
• Deadline: 27 July 2026, 11:59pm
• Contract Value: £250,000,000
• Delivery Length: 5 October 2026 to 5 October 2031
• Tender Link: Click here

Framework Information

The framework will be used by Gateshead Borough Council to commission individual residential placements through Residence Agreements.

Only providers successfully appointed to the framework will be eligible to receive future placements. Individual placements will be awarded without further competition in accordance with the admission process detailed within the procurement documentation.

Following the initial procurement exercise, the framework will close to new applications. The Council intends to re-open the framework at least annually to allow new or previously unsuccessful care homes to apply for admission.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be assessed on a Pass/Fail basis against the following requirements:

• CQC Registration
• Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Registration
• Complaints Policy
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
• Confirmation of Right to Work
• Registered NMC Nurses (Dual Registered Providers only)
• Business Continuity
• Social Value

The Council has stated that further details of the Social Value requirements are contained within the Social Value Toolkit and Invitation to Tender documentation.

CQC Requirements

Care homes applying to the framework must:

• Be situated within the Borough of Gateshead
• Be fully operational
• Hold Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration at the point of bid submission

The opportunity represents a significant long-term commissioning arrangement for residential and nursing care providers within Gateshead, supporting the delivery of care for adults with a broad range of health and social care needs across the borough.

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If you want to advertise your opportunity, please contact Jamie Peacock, Tender Specialist at advertising@dailyround.news