Coming up· published 9 Jul 2025
Request for Information for Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs)
The North Yorkshire Council · North Yorkshire, Yorkshire and The Humber
The North Yorkshire Council is planning Request for Information for Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs). It is a framework for other health and social care in North Yorkshire.
Source: Find a Tender, published 9 Jul 2025. Details are refreshed every 30 minutes.
Key dates
2025
Pipeline notice published
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice · 14:00
View notice2026
Tender notice expected
Date given in the buyer's earlier notice
2026
Contract starts
Next
2031
Contract ends
5 years after it starts
About this tender
In brief
The North Yorkshire Council is planning Request for Information for Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs). It is a framework for other health and social care in North Yorkshire. The buyer has published an early notice. It gives providers time to prepare before the tender opens. The estimated value is £4,680,000. The contract runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031. It lasts 5 years.
The buyer marks it as suitable for SMEs and VCSEs. Find a Tender published it on 9 July 2025. The notice number is 038656-2025. The OCDS ID is ocds-h6vhtk-055c2a. Bids are made through the buyer's EU-Supply portal.
Summary of the contracting process
The North Yorkshire Council is initiating a procurement process under the planning stage for the provision of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs). The project, valued at £4,680,000, falls under the services category and aims to establish a framework to enhance foster placements across North Yorkshire. A market engagement notice has been published, with a due date for engagement set on 31st July 2025.
The procurement process will take place under the Light Touch Regime, targeting a framework agreement. The contract is expected to run from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2031, with a possible extension to 2036. Interested parties will have an opportunity to respond to a future notice anticipated by 5th January 2026.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) will find suitability in competing for a place on this framework, offering diverse solutions for independent fostering.
The notice in full
North Yorkshire Council (the Authority) is requesting information from providers to help determine the scope and feasibility of its requirement, to understand the range of potential solutions available in the market, and to assist with drafting a potential future tender specification for the provision of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs).
The Authority is seeking to procure a framework, under Light Touch Regime, of high-quality Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) to support the delivery of safe, stable and nurturing foster placements for children and young people across the county with the aim of ensuring that the Authority has access to a diverse and responsive pool of foster carers through external providers, complementing the Authority's in-house provision.
Lots: no lot details came through with this notice. The official notice and the tender pack have the full breakdown.
Key facts
Contract
- Service
- Other health and social care
- Procurement type
- Framework
- Category
- Services
- Contract period
- 1 Apr 2026 to 31 Mar 2031 (5 years)
- Suitable for
- Small and medium sized businesses (SMEs); Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs)
Procedure
- Notice type
- UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
- Current stage
- Planning
- Stages so far
- Planning
- Published on
- Find a Tender Service
- Buyer's portal
- EU-Supply
Not stated in the notice: procurement method, awardee scale.
Values
- Tender value
- £4,680,000
Not stated in the notice: lots value, awards value, contracts value.
Status
- Tender
- Planning
- Lots
- Planning
Not stated in the notice: awards, contracts.
References
- Find a Tender notice
- 038656-2025
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-055c2a
- CPV code
- 85300000 - Social work and related services
- CPV division
- 85 - Health and social work services
Location
- Local authority
- North Yorkshire
- Town
- Darlington
- Postcode
- DL7 8AD
- Electoral ward
- Romanby
- Constituency
- Richmond and Northallerton
- Delivery area
- North Yorkshire
- Region
- Yorkshire and The Humber
- Sub-region
- North Yorkshire
- Area
- North Yorkshire
- Country
- England
Buyer
Contracting authority
- Organisation
- The North Yorkshire Council
- Category
- Services
- Contact
- Laura Baxter
- Phone
- +44 1609780780
- Address
- Northallerton, DL7 8AD · Yorkshire and The Humber · England
Documents and links
- Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tenderfind-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038656-2025
- EU-Supply portal, to register and biduk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp
- Legislation.gov.uklegislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- OCDS record ocds-h6vhtk-055c2a (JSON)find-tender.service.gov.uk/api/1.0/ocdsReleasePackages/ocds-h…
Questions about Request for Information for Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs)
When will the Request for Information for Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) tender open?
The North Yorkshire Council has not yet given a date for the tender notice. An early notice is the time to answer any market engagement questions and gather the evidence a bid will need.
How much is the Request for Information for Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) contract worth?
The estimated value is £4,680,000. The contract runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031 (5 years).
Who is the buyer for Request for Information for Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs)?
The North Yorkshire Council, based in North Yorkshire, Yorkshire and The Humber. The named contact is Laura Baxter, on +44 1609780780.
How do I bid for Request for Information for Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs)?
Register on the buyer's EU-Supply portal, 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
- Read the early notice in full.
- Answer any market engagement questions.
- Gather your evidence and case studies now.
- Check your policies are up to date.
- Watch for the tender notice.
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