Open tenders / Health & social care
Open tender · Notice 096982-2026
Short Breaks Services Framework (CSC25128)
- Value
- £14.5m
- Closes
- 16 Nov 2026 (8 days)
- Where
- West Midlands
- Lots
- 4
- Suitable for SMEs
- Yes, says the buyer
- Contract
- 1 Mar 2027 – 31 Oct 2034
Framework: winning a place puts you on an approved list for future work. It's the entry ticket, not guaranteed work.
In plain English
Worcestershire County Council is setting up an open framework of approved suppliers to deliver short breaks services for children with disabilities, covering overnight fostering, overnight residential care, domiciliary care and support workers, from 1 March 2027 to 31 October 2034. A place on the framework is an entry ticket to future work, not a guarantee of any, with call-off contracts awarded as needed and new suppliers able to join each year.
Good fit for: Care providers and support worker agencies experienced in fostering, residential short breaks, domiciliary care or support work for disabled children.
- No limit on number of suppliers but ongoing annual reapplication needed
All Lots will reopen at least annually in the autumn.
Written with AI from the official notice. Check the notice before relying on it.
What the buyer says
Worcestershire County Council is seeking qualified and experienced suppliers to deliver services that support the Council to fulfil its Sufficiency Duty in relation to short breaks for Children with Disabilities and to improve the overall outcomes for these children. The framework agreement will assist the Council to improve the availability of suitable short breaks at the right time and right location, delivering the right support, ensuring that the Council’s Children in Care: • Receive the best care possible to meet their needs. • Are effectively supported to improve their individual outcomes. • Have their welfare promoted and are effectively safeguarded. The open framework is divided into four (4) Lots: • Lot 1 – Overnight Fostering Short Breaks • Lot 2 – Overnight Residential Short Breaks • Lot 3 – Domiciliary Care • Lot 4 – Short Breaks Support Workers The Council is seeking to put in place an open framework to establish the initial framework and appoint one or more Suppliers to deliver services. This Procurement is intended to set up a list of approved Suppliers. There is no limit to the number of Suppliers who can join the framework. Call-off Award Procedures will then be conducted, and Call-off contracts will then be awarded. The initial open framework was for Lot 1 – Overnight Fostering Short Breaks and Lot 2 – Overnight Residential Short Breaks only, with new open framework start date of 1st November 2026. Lot 3 – Domiciliary Care and Lot 4 – Short Breaks Support Workers 4 will continue on the existing Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) until 28th February 2027. The framework for Lot 3 – Domiciliary Care and Lot 4 – Short Breaks Support Workers is now open with a start date of 1st March 2027. Lot 1– Overnight Fostering Short Breaks and Lot 2 – Overnight Reside…
Getting the documents
in-tendhost.co.uk (the buyer's own site, usually free to register).
Procedure: Open procedure (Open: anyone can bid, in one stage). Published 14 Oct 2026.
What similar contracts went for
Similar contracts went for £3.6m to £7.6m (6 since 2025; 4 won by small firms).
| Contract | Won by | Value | Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight Short Break Respite and Residential Accommodation and Support for Disabled/SEND Children Swindon Borough Council | John Edwards Care Homes LTD | £7m | 9 Sep |
| Overnight Short Breaks with Outreach Support for Children in Herefordshire Herefordshire Council | PCA Dom 1 SME | £7.6m | 11 Jun |
| Lot 1: Targeted Short Breaks and Brokerage service Birmingham Children's Trust Community Interest Company | Childrens Quarter Limited SME | £5.5m | 15 Jan |
| Lot 2A: Short breaks for children with Autism Birmingham Children's Trust Community Interest Company | Resources for Autism SME | £4.6m | 15 Jan |
| WCC Short Breaks - Residential Overnight Respite Provision for Children with Disabilities Warwickshire County Council | Living Waters Services Ltd SME | £3.6m | 11 Dec |
| CMCV 112 - Overnight Short Breaks for Children and Young People With a Disability Shropshire Council | Shaftesbury (Livability) | £5.8m | 21 Oct |
From the award notices on Find a Tender and Public Contracts Scotland. Values are as each notice states them and cover the contract's whole term: most notices give the value before VAT, but about one in seven gives only a figure including VAT. AI picked these as the same kind of work and can be wrong, so check what each one included before you price.
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