UK Public Sector Contracts & Tenders

Somerset Council is developing future options for its housing and homelessness provision. The aim is to establish a more flexible, person‑centred, and solutions‑focused offer that can better meet the diverse and changing needs of residents. This includes strengthening our homelessness prevention approach and expanding opportunities for social prescribing into appropriate accommodation and support pathways. As part of this work, the Council intends to establish a Countywide Framework that brings together previously fragmented services into a more coherent, consistent, and coordinated system. This new model will support improved accessibility, clearer pathways, and more equitable provision across Somerset. We want to move toward a model that enables tailored interventions, promotes independence, and provides responsive support at the right time. Through this market engagement activity, the Council is seeking insight and feedback from providers to help shape a more effective and collaborative system. This engagement also forms part of the wider re‑commissioning programme, where joint ownership, partnership working, and co‑production with providers and stakeholders - including Somerset Council, commissioned service providers, housing partners & referral agencies, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Public Health, VCFSE partners, and people with lived experience - will be key elements of the future design (this list is not exhaustive). It is anticipated that any new arrangements would commence on 1st April 2028

This is a flexible framework, procured under the light touch regime. The framework is open throughout it's life for suppliers of care homes within a specified radios of the BANES Boundary to join. The flexible framework will be used to purchase individual and block contracts from registered care home for adults which fall into the following specialisms: a. Residential & Nursing within 3 miles of B&NES Border b. Dementia within 3 miles of B&NES Border c. Discharge to Assess & Intermediate Care Funding within 3 miles of B&NES Border d. Learning Disability, Autism, Physical, Cognitive impairment (acquired brain injury), and Sensory Impairment within 9 miles of B&NES Border The Council is limiting the application process for homes which fall within the above radius of BANES. In order to be successful in getting onto the framework, your organisation will be required to evidence the conditions of participation detailed in the Invitation to Tender. The Council will be closing & re-opening the framework for evaluation on the following dates: 23rd October 2026 - 12:00pm - Midday Closing date for initial applications (Round 1) (Specialisms - Residential & Nursing, Dementia, Discharge to Assess). Round 2 Opens. 5th February 2027 - 12:00pm - Midday Closing date for initial applications (Round 2) (Specialisms - Residential & Nursing, Dementia, Discharge to Assess). Round 3 opens - All specialisms to apply. 5th May 2027 12:00pm - Midday Round 3 Closes (All Specialisms). June 2027 Results of Round 3 issued. Round 4 closes & Round 5 opens. The Flexible Framework will not be closed to new entrants. Requests to Participate will be invited periodically. It is anticipated that this will take place at least 6 monthly but may be more frequent at the Council's discretion. As and when the Flexible Framework is re-opened to new entrants a message will be issued through Pro-Contract advising registered organisations that a new "Acceptance Round" has been released. The system will create a new acceptance round with a revised deadline date. Once organisations have been accepted onto the Flexible Framework, they do not need to concern themselves with a new acceptance rounds.

A dynamic purchasing system for the provision of Education, Social Care and Related Passenger Transport.

The Council is looking to establish a flexible framework, for the provision of homecare to people within the Bath & North East Somerset Region. This will include long term social care and short term care to support hospital discharge and admission avoidance to people in their own homes. As of October 2027, we anticipate the provision of home care to be an estimated, 8,000 hours per week, across all funding streams and that this will grow in line with population growth and change over time. We require the care providers' registered office to be within a certain distance from the B&NES boundary - provisionally, this has been set at 30 minutes' drive from the border but this is open to consultation with providers and is not set. This is to ensure that there is sufficient management oversight available within an appropriate timeframe in the event of an emergency or any incident that requires escalation and further support.

Early market engagement with the children's residential market Organisations that take part will not be advantaged or disadvantaged in any way in any potential future formal procurement. Commercial confidentiality will be respected. This notice does not represent a formal commitment by Somerset Council to undertake a procurement procedure.

For the purpose of this model the term 'intermediate care' is used to describe services in the community that provide short term period of stabilisation, assessment, and reablement with the view to maximising a person's independence and, where possible, keep them at home. The Pathway 2 model is supported within a Nursing Home setting. Intermediate care services can either: a) provide support to people who are medically optimised following an acute episode of care: or b) provide support to people in the community who are in danger of needing an acute episode of care if an intermediate health or reablement intervention is not provided. This is referred to in this document as 'diversion', as it diverts people away from needing an acute hospital.

This recommissioning is for care and support for adults in B&NES with learning disabilities and autism and physical, cognitive (brain injury) and sensory impairment. The services this framework will cover are accommodation with care and support (supported living and respite), non-accommodation based supported living (outreach), and day services, within a 9 mile radius.

This is not a call for competition and is not yet a contract opportunity. ** Please follow the instructions below to reserve your place. Venue details will be shared with respondents who submit the form and provide contact information ** Background Somerset Council is introducing a new retrofit installer framework as part of its ongoing work to enhance housing services and outcomes. This framework is intended to create a flexible, high quality, and resident focused approach to retrofit delivery, ensuring homes are upgraded efficiently and to a high standard in compliance to PAS 2035:2023. It will support improved coordination between contractors, strengthen quality assurance, and expand the Council's ability to deliver energy efficiency and sustainability improvements that respond to the varied needs of residents and the evolving demands of the housing sector. As part of this work, the Council proposes a new retrofit framework model that brings together a range of services delivered under retrofit schemes, creating a strong and coordinated provider base of installers. This approach will improve clarity for partners and residents, enable more streamlined delivery pathways, and help ensure a more equitable and accessible retrofit offer across Somerset. Through this market engagement activity, the Council is seeking insight and feedback from installers to help shape a more effective and collaborative delivery system.[YW1.1] This engagement also forms part of the wider procurement programme, where joint ownership, partnership working, and co‑production with installers and stakeholders - including Somerset Council, The Centre for Sustainable Energy, The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, Turner and Townsend, Public Health, Village Agents, Charitable organisations, - will be key elements of the future design (this list is not exhaustive). It is anticipated that any new arrangements would commence on 1st April 2027 Supporting Strategies: • Somerset's Climate Emergency Strategy - https://www.somerset.gov.uk/climate-and-ecological-emergency/somersets-climate-emergency-strategy/ • Housing Strategy Housing Strategies and Policies - https://www.somerset.gov.uk/housing-support/housing-strategies-and-policies/ • Low Carbon Retrofit Strategy - https://democracy.somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk/documents/s20548/Strategy