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Coming up· published 5 May 2026

New Foster Care Select List

Suffolk County Council · Ipswich, East

Suffolk County Council is planning New Foster Care Select List. It is a framework for other health and social care in Ipswich.

Get help with this bidView the official noticeOCDS data

Source: Find a Tender, published 5 May 2026. Details are refreshed every 30 minutes.

Key dates

  1. 2025

    Pipeline notice published

    UK1 - Pipeline Notice · 11:49

    View notice

  2. 2026

    Pipeline notice updated

    UK1 - Pipeline Notice · 11:25

    View notice

  3. Next

    2027

    Tender notice expected

    Date given in the buyer's earlier notice

  4. 2028

    Contract starts

  5. 2030

    Contract ends

    2 years after it starts

01

About this tender

In brief

Suffolk County Council is planning New Foster Care Select List. It is a framework for other health and social care in Ipswich. The buyer has published an early notice. It gives providers time to prepare before the tender opens. The estimated value is £40,000,000. The contract runs from 31 March 2028 to 31 March 2030. It lasts 2 years. The tender notice is expected around 1 November 2027.

The buyer marks it as suitable for SMEs and VCSEs. Find a Tender published it on 5 May 2026. The notice number is 040960-2026. The OCDS ID is ocds-h6vhtk-0515c6.

Summary of the contracting process

Suffolk County Council is initiating a procurement process under the planning stage for a framework related to fostering services titled "New Foster Care Select List." This endeavour falls under the health and social work services category and is located in Ipswich, United Kingdom, within the UKH14 region. The procurement is guided by the UKPGA 2023/54 legal framework and is considered a light-touch regime.

The contract period is planned to start on 1st April 2027 and end on 31st March 2029, with a potential extension to 31st March 2031. Key dates to note include a planned future notice date on 15th April 2026, providing businesses time to prepare for participation. The estimated gross value of the project is £33,600,000, indicating a substantial engagement for eligible vendors.

The suitability criteria highlight opportunities for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises, suggesting an inclusive approach to industry participation.

The notice in full

A Framework, Open Framework or Dynamic Market (to be determined) for the provision of Foster Care services on behalf of Suffolk County Council

Lots: no lot details came through with this notice. The official notice and the tender pack have the full breakdown.

02

Key facts

Every field the notice carries. Anything it leaves blank is listed under its table.

Contract

Service
Other health and social care
Procurement type
Framework
Category
Services
Contract period
31 Mar 2028 to 31 Mar 2030 (2 years)
Suitable for
Small and medium sized businesses (SMEs); Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs)

Procedure

Notice type
UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Current stage
Planning
Stages so far
Planning
Published on
Find a Tender Service

Not stated in the notice: procurement method, awardee scale.

Values

Tender value
£40,000,000

Not stated in the notice: lots value, awards value, contracts value.

Status

Tender
Planned
Lots
Planned

Not stated in the notice: awards, contracts.

References

Find a Tender notice
040960-2026
Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0515c6
CPV code
85000000 - Health and social work services
CPV division
85 - Health and social work services
03

Location

Suffolk County Council is based in Ipswich. The area the service covers can be wider, so check the notice and the lots.
Local authority
Ipswich
Town
Ipswich
Postcode
IP1 2BX
Electoral ward
Gipping
Constituency
Ipswich
Delivery area
Suffolk CC
Region
East
Sub-region
Ipswich
Area
Suffolk
Country
England
04

Buyer

Contracting authority

Organisation
Suffolk County Council
Category
Services
Address
Ipswich, IP1 2BX · East · England

Not stated in the notice: contact, phone.

05

Documents and links

Official sources for this notice. The tender pack itself sits on the buyer's portal.
06

Questions about New Foster Care Select List

When will the New Foster Care Select List tender open?

Suffolk County Council's notice expects the tender to be published around 1 November 2027. An early notice is the time to answer any market engagement questions and gather the evidence a bid will need.

How much is the New Foster Care Select List contract worth?

The estimated value is £40,000,000. The contract runs from 31 March 2028 to 31 March 2030 (2 years).

Who is the buyer for New Foster Care Select List?

Suffolk County Council, based in Ipswich, East.

How do I bid for New Foster Care Select List?

Register on the buyer's portal named in the notice, download the tender pack and check every condition of participation before you start writing. The buyer has marked it as suitable for SMEs and VCSEs. Care Sync Experts writes and reviews care tender bids from £1,500 + VAT.

Want help winning this tender?

We write and review care tender bids: quality answers, case studies and social value, checked against how the buyer scores before you submit.

What to do next

  1. Read the early notice in full.
  2. Answer any market engagement questions.
  3. Gather your evidence and case studies now.
  4. Check your policies are up to date.
  5. Watch for the tender notice.
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