Unplanned Rapid Response Night Sitting

Norfolk County Council has launched a procurement for an Unplanned Rapid Response Night Sitting service to support adults with urgent care and support needs outside standard office hours. The service forms part of Norfolk’s wider Rapid Response Service, providing timely, short-term, multidisciplinary support during evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays.

The service is designed to help prevent unnecessary hospital admissions, facilitate early hospital discharge and enable adults aged 18 and over to remain safely and independently in their own homes or usual place of residence following a sudden deterioration in health, functional ability or social circumstances.

Operating across Norfolk, the Rapid Response Service works alongside primary care, urgent and emergency care, ambulance services, acute trusts, adult social care, mental health services and the voluntary sector to provide coordinated, person-centred care when core services are less readily available.

The Council has confirmed that the contract has not been divided into lots as the value is not considered commercially viable if lotted and doing so would increase contract management costs.

The procurement documentation also notes that, should local government reorganisation in Norfolk proceed, the contract may be transferred, assigned or novated to successor authority or authorities, a joint body, or a future Mayoral Strategic Authority. Services may also be commissioned on behalf of other local authorities within Norfolk’s current geographical boundaries.

Contract Information

Buyer – Norfolk County Council

Deadline – 27 July 2026 – 11:00am

Contract Value – £1,850,000 excluding VAT (£2,220,000 including VAT)

Delivery Length – 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2029, with the option to extend by up to 24 months to 31 October 2031

Tender Link – Click Here

Evaluation Criteria

Tenders will be evaluated using the following criteria:

Quality – 70%

• Understanding the Service – 30%
• Performance and Monitoring – 25%
• Policies and Procedures – 15%

Price – 30%

Participation

The opportunity is identified as being particularly suitable for:

• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs)

Procurement Information

The procurement will be undertaken using the Open Procedure under the Light Touch Regime.

The enquiry deadline is 24 July 2026 at 11:00am, with an estimated contract award date of 3 September 2026.

The Council has indicated that this is a recurring procurement, with the next tender notice currently expected to be published on 31 October 2031.

This opportunity reflects Norfolk County Council’s continued investment in responsive community-based health and social care services that support adults with urgent care needs while helping reduce avoidable hospital admissions and enabling people to remain safely at home.

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