Independent Foster Care: Local Homes for Local Children
Overview
Summary, notice description and lot information
Milton Keynes City Council is currently in the planning stage for a procurement process titled "Independent Foster Care: Local Homes for Local Children," under the services category, specifically health and social work services. The initiative aims to collaborate with Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) to develop quality local homes for children in care. Located in Milton Keynes, the focus is on creating sustainable commissioning by developing block or soft-block contracts.
A market engagement is scheduled, with responses to be submitted by 5pm on 25th July 2025. The contract period is planned from 2nd November 2026 to 1st November 2031, with a gross value of £9.5 million. This tender presents significant opportunities for independent fostering agencies, particularly those capable of offering or expanding placements suitable for children who might otherwise need residential care.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to participate. The collaboration seeks to establish long-term partnerships with local providers, fostering competitive advantage through sustainable and innovative service solutions. The tender process promises engagement that could significantly influence service provision and foster business growth in the social care sector.
Milton Keynes City Council ('the Council') is keen to explore how we can best work with Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) to develop sufficient, good-quality local homes for children in our care. We are a growing city, experiencing rapid expansion of our population and an increase in the number of children looked after by the local authority. We want to look beyond the traditional 'framework' model of contracting to build closer relationships with fostering providers operating locally, guarantee sustainable commissioning and work in partnership to recruit and retain foster carers.
We are particularly keen to engage with IFAs around the possibility of developing block or soft-block contracts for foster care placements to ensure the needs of our children can be met long-term. These are likely to be 'enhanced' placements, intended for children who could live in a foster home but who might otherwise enter residential care due if sufficient fostering placements are not available. We are keen to hear from providers on the questions given in the market engagement document.
The responses to the questions will help the Council in developing the specification and the tender. Please respond to the questions within the attached document by latest 5pm on 25th July 2025 via In-Tend Correspondence section/market engagement stage. If there is sufficient interest in a scoping event to explore the proposal in more detail, this will be held w/c 11th August, please indicate in the attached document if you would like to receive an invitation.
The Market Engagement document can be accessed on our e-tendering portal: in-tendhost.co.uk/milton-keynes/aspx/Home
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Procurement Classification
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Contract Values
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The contract period is five years.
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