Northamptonshire Children's Trust: Provision of Independent Fostering Arrangements and Children's Homes for Children and Young People in our Care DPS (Reopening)

Northamptonshire Children’s Trust is reopening its existing Dynamic Purchasing System for independent fostering arrangements and children’s homes for children and young people in its care across North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. The notice gives an estimated total value of £252 million excluding VAT and applies the Light Touch Regime under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The DPS has two lots.

Lot 1 covers Independent Fostering Agency placements, with categories for Standard, Enhanced, Complex Needs, Emergency, Transition to Family Care from Children’s Homes, and Parent and Child placements. Lot 2 covers Children’s Homes placements, with categories for Standard Homes, Specialist Homes, Complex Needs and Emergency placements. Potential providers may apply for one or more lots and categories.

The DPS originally started on 1 February 2024. Its initial term runs until 31 March 2028, with an option to extend for up to three additional years, potentially to 31 March 2031. This notice reopens the existing arrangement rather than starting a separate new DPS.

The submission deadline is 12:00 noon on Friday 27 November 2026. The public notice does not state a separate clarification deadline. Procurement documents, communications and electronic submissions are managed through ProContract.

Suppliers should register or sign in at procontract.due-north.com/Login, search for reference DN831815, review the procurement documents and submit through that portal before the deadline. The Find a Tender notice reference is 103203-2026 and the OCID is ocds-h6vhtk-0794a3. The public notice identifies potential providers for the relevant fostering and children’s homes lots but does not publish detailed provider registration, selection or evidence requirements.

Those conditions must be checked in the ProContract documents before deciding whether to apply. Care Sync’s advice is to confirm that your organisation’s current registrations, service scope and evidence match every selected lot and category, and to raise any procurement questions through the portal rather than relying on third-party listings.