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Home Based Care Services - Open Framework
Overview
Summary, notice description and lot information
Portsmouth City Council is currently in the tender stage for its Home Based Care Services - Open Framework, which aims to provide domiciliary care services primarily within Portsmouth but also occasionally in the surrounding areas. The procurement process, administered under a Competitive Flexible Procedure, is an opportunity for suppliers to join an open framework that is set to commence on 1st July 2026 and operate initially over 8 years. The framework is divided into three lots: Standard Home-Based Care, Complex Home-Based Care, and a Take a Break service.
The procurement process involves a two-stage assessment including a series of pass/fail questions and quality evaluations to ensure suitable supplier selection. Key upcoming deadlines include a deadline for requests for clarification on 12th December 2025 and the tender return deadline for Stage 1 by 22nd December 2025. The procurement falls under the 'services' category and has a total estimated value of approximately £206 million over the contract duration.
The process is managed through the Council's e-sourcing system InTend. This tender presents significant opportunities for business growth for suppliers capable of delivering high-quality domiciliary care services. Businesses with capabilities in healthcare services, particularly those that can handle a high volume of varied care needs, will find substantial prospects in joining this framework.
Suppliers have the flexibility to apply for multiple lots, and the opportunity to adjust pricing within specified limits, enabling competitive bids. The framework expects to appoint a maximum of 40 suppliers per lot, with the uncertainty surrounding demand due to local government reorganisation pointing towards a likely increase in service requirements. Suppliers should be prepared to demonstrate strong financial stability, CQC registration within specified postcodes, and the ability to deliver services from a local office to ensure responsiveness and quality compliance.
This is a valuable opportunity for SMEs and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs), with the Council emphasising the importance of local business engagement and service delivery tailored to community needs.
Full details are included within the Home Based Services - Specification document included within the procurement documents accessible via the Council's e-sourcing solution In-tend. SUMMARY OVERVIEW The provision of standard care services to individuals within their own homes. In accordance with the Care Act 2014 the Service Purchasers and the Providers will be working to achieve the following: * Personal Care- Washing, bathing, hair care including beard care, shaving, denture and mouth care, hand and fingernail care, foot care (but not toenail cutting or any other aspect of foot care which requires a registered podiatrist), support with dressing and undressing, assistance to get up or go to bed. * Managing and maintaining nutrition - Food and drink preparation, including associated kitchen cleaning and hygiene and assistance with eating and drinking and assistance with using the on-site facilities. * Managing toilet needs- including necessary bathroom cleaning and safe disposal of waste; * Maintaining a habitable home environment- Supporting people to be able to maintain a clean and habitable home environment. * Social Inclusion-Supporting people to maintain and strengthen their links to community and assistance to pursue activities in the community. * Support to strengthen and develop family or other personal relationships. * Health Needs-Prompting residents to take prescribed medication, collection of medicines, monitoring general safety and welfare. * Support to make use of the home safely * Emotional Support- Supporting residents with their emotional state to promote positive mental health and wellbeing. The Council currently commissions approx. 60,000 - 65,000 hours of home care per month across 1,000 - 1,200 clients. Approximately 68% of these hours are for Lot 1 Standard Home-Based Care services. The Council spend on year to date (November 24 - November 2025) comes to approx. PS22.8M on home-based care services over financial year 2025-26. Spend on Lot 1 - Standard Home-Based Care services over this period equates to PS15.9M / 69.6%. Year on year spend over term of the framework for Lot 1 services cannot be accurately estimated to precise figures but is likely to increase year on year due to predicted increases in inflation, employee wage increases and increases in demand due to changing population demographics, increased life expectancies, continuing strategic focus on increasing home based care delivery and impacts of Local Government Reorganization. A maximum of 40 suppliers will be appointed onto Lot 1. For Lot 1 - Standard Home-Based Care a minimum rate of PS21.00 and maximum rate of PS24.40 will apply. Rates may be submitted below the minimum rate but will be subject to additional scrutiny around sustainability and may be rejected.
Full details are included within the Home Based Services - Specification document included within the procurement documents accessible via the Council's e-sourcing solution In-tend. SUMMARY OVERVIEW The provision of complex care services to individuals within their own homes. This Service is for people requiring support who are assessed by the Service Purchaser as having complex and/or challenging needs. Complex needs are defined as an Individual assessed as having a Learning Disability, Mental Health condition or neurodiversity, and presenting with multiple conditions that require specialised care, where standardised approaches are insufficient. The care requires a multidisciplinary approach to create a bespoke package of care with specific expertise. Factors may include, but not be limited to; * Associated co-occurring conditions including vision impairment, hearing impairment and movement of the body, as well as conditions such as epilepsy * Inability to walk unaided, or require support with complex health needs that require extensive support, whereby staff are required to complete additional competency-based training and assessments to carry out such tasks * Profound intellectual and multiple disabilities causing significant difficulties with communication, including limited understanding or being non-verbal (or expressing themselves at most using a few words or symbols) * Inability to understand or anticipate risk, impacting the safety of the individual and others around them * Requiring support to make choices or contribute towards decision making in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) * Behaviours that challenge, including self-injurious behaviour. This refers to; * Behaviours of such intensity, duration or frequency that the physical safety of the individual or others is likely to be at serious risk * Behaviours which are likely to significantly delay or limit access to or the use of community facilities. The Council currently commissions approx. 60,000 - 65,000 hours of home care per month across 1,000 - 1,200 clients. Approximately 28% of these hours are for Lot 2 Complex Home-Based Care services. The Council spend on year to date (November 24 - November 2025) comes to approx. PS22.8M on home-based care services over financial year 2025-26. Spend on Lot 2 - Complex Home-Based Care services over this period equates to PS6.3M / 27.8%. Year on year spend over term of the framework for Lot 2 services cannot be accurately estimated to precise figures but is likely to increase year on year due to predicted increases in inflation, employee wage increases and increases in demand due to changing population demographics, increased life expectancies, continuing strategic focus on increasing home based care delivery and impacts of Local Government Reorganization. A maximum of 40 suppliers will be appointed onto Lot 2.
Full details are included within the Home Based Services - Specification document included within the procurement documents accessible via the Council's e-sourcing solution In-tend. SUMMARY OVERVIEW Take a Break Services are the provision of support for informal carers to provide day, evening or night respite and can be regular or one-off services. The Take a Break Service must be delivered in accordance with this Individuals support plan, ensuring it meets the Individual's assessed needs. Take a Break Services are offered as a means of allowing for a break for the informal carer and as such they should replicate the role of the informal carer. The time must be used to enable and engage the Individual either in their own home or out in the community in a Strength Based way. For example, the Provider may take the individual out (e.g., to the park, shops, clubs, religious meetings) and/or engage in home-based activities (e.g., games, reading, crafts, conversation). The service should include elements of personal care where required. Take a Break services are generally required for between two and six hours, but may be shorter or longer periods. The Council currently commissions approx. 60,000 - 65,000 hours of home care per month across 1,000 - 1,200 clients. Approximately 4% of these hours are for Lot 3 Take a Break services. The Council spend on year to date (November 24 - November 2025) comes to approx. PS22.8M on home-based care services over financial year 2025-26. Spend on Lot 3 - Take a Break services over this period equates to PS600k / 2.6%. Year on year spend over term of the framework for Lot 3 services cannot be accurately estimated to precise figures but is likely to increase year on year due to predicted increases in inflation, employee wage increases and increases in demand due to changing population demographics, increased life expectancies, continuing strategic focus on increasing home based care delivery and impacts of Local Government Reorganization. A maximum of 40 suppliers will be appointed onto Lot 3.
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The contract period is three years.
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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector.
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