Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council ("the Lead Authority'') is acting as the Lead Authority on behalf of the North-East Procurement Organisation (NEPO) and its Member Authorities, in respect of a bespoke Flexible Procurement solution under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (as amended), within the Social and Other Specific Services Procurement Route. The bespoke flexible procurement solution will be known as the Flexible Procurement Agreement (Contract), for Independent Foster Care Services. This Contract commenced 01 July 2022 for an initial 3 years with 3 x 12-month options to extend. Newcastle City Council was the Lead Authority for the initial contract period, with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council becoming the Lead Authority for the contract from 01 July 2025. The Contract will be open at a frequency determined by the Council to maintain sufficient placement capacity on the solution and to allow Provider applications to join the solution. Please refer to the tender pack for the intended opening timetable.

Standard Support Placements

The Participating Local Authorities are seeking to appoint multiple Providers to deliver Services for the provision of Independent Foster Care Services on a non-exclusive basis. The Provider acknowledges that, in entering this Flexible Procurement Agreement (the Contract), no form of exclusivity or volume guarantee has been granted by the Participating Authorities for Services from the Provider and that the Participating Organisations are at all times entitled to enter into other contracts and agreements with other Providers for the provision of any of the Services. The Lead Authority are carrying out the procurement of this bespoke Flexible Procurement Agreement (Contract) under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (as amended), within the Social and Other Specific Services Procurement Route. This means that the Lead Authority will invite all interested parties to tender as a single stage.

Extra Support Placements

The Participating Local Authorities are seeking to appoint multiple Providers to deliver Services for the provision of Independent Foster Care Services on a non-exclusive basis. The Provider acknowledges that, in entering this Flexible Procurement Agreement (the Contract), no form of exclusivity or volume guarantee has been granted by the Participating Authorities for Services from the Provider and that the Participating Organisations are at all times entitled to enter into other contracts and agreements with other Providers for the provision of any of the Services. The Lead Authority are carrying out the Opening of this bespoke Flexible Procurement Agreement (Contract) under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (as amended), within the Social and Other Specific Services Procurement Route. This means that the Lead Authority will invite all interested parties to tender as a single stage.

Enhanced Support Placements

The Participating Local Authorities are seeking to appoint multiple Providers to deliver Services for the provision of Independent Foster Care Services on a non-exclusive basis. The Provider acknowledges that, in entering this Flexible Procurement Agreement (the Contract), no form of exclusivity or volume guarantee has been granted by the Participating Authorities for Services from the Provider and that the Participating Organisations are at all times entitled to enter into other contracts and agreements with other Providers for the provision of any of the Services. The Lead Authority are carrying out the Opening of this bespoke Flexible Procurement Agreement (Contract) under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (as amended), within the Social and Other Specific Services Procurement Route. This means that the Lead Authority will invite all interested parties to tender as a single stage.

Parent and Child / Baby Placements

The Participating Local Authorities are seeking to appoint multiple Providers to deliver Services for the provision of Independent Foster Care Services on a non-exclusive basis. The Provider acknowledges that, in entering this Flexible Procurement Agreement (the Contract), no form of exclusivity or volume guarantee has been granted by the Participating Authorities for Services from the Provider and that the Participating Organisations are at all times entitled to enter into other contracts and agreements with other Providers for the provision of any of the Services. The Lead Authority are carrying out the Opening of this bespoke Flexible Procurement Agreement (Contract) under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (as amended), within the Social and Other Specific Services Procurement Route. This means that the Lead Authority will invite all interested parties to tender as a single stage.

Parent and Child / Baby Assessment Placements

The Participating Local Authorities are seeking to appoint multiple Providers to deliver Services for the provision of Independent Foster Care Services on a non-exclusive basis. The Provider acknowledges that, in entering this Flexible Procurement Agreement (the Contract), no form of exclusivity or volume guarantee has been granted by the Participating Authorities for Services from the Provider and that the Participating Organisations are at all times entitled to enter into other contracts and agreements with other Providers for the provision of any of the Services. The Lead Authority are carrying out the Opening of this bespoke Flexible Procurement Agreement (Contract) under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (as amended), within the Social and Other Specific Services Procurement Route. This means that the Lead Authority will invite all interested parties to tender as a single stage.

Staying Put Arrangements

The Participating Local Authorities are seeking to appoint multiple Providers to deliver Services for the provision of Independent Foster Care Services on a non-exclusive basis. The Provider acknowledges that, in entering this Flexible Procurement Agreement (the Contract), no form of exclusivity or volume guarantee has been granted by the Participating Authorities for Services from the Provider and that the Participating Organisations are at all times entitled to enter into other contracts and agreements with other Providers for the provision of any of the Services. The Lead Authority are carrying out the Opening of this bespoke Flexible Procurement Agreement (Contract) under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (as amended), within the Social and Other Specific Services Procurement Route. This means that the Lead Authority will invite all interested parties to tender as a single stage.