Social and other specific services – public contracts
Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Scottish Borders Council
Council Headquarters
Newtown St Boswells
TD6 0SA
UK
Contact person: Ryan Douglas
Telephone: +44 1835824000
E-mail: procurement@scotborders.gov.uk
NUTS: UKM91
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.scotborders.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00394
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Care at Home Flexible Framework
Reference number: 1001434
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Provision of Care at Home services within the Scottish Borders
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
76 500 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85312000
85300000
85310000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM91
Main site or place of performance:
Scottish Borders local authority area
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Scottish Borders Council is seeking to establish a flexible framework agreement for the provision of care at home services and is inviting tenders from suitably qualified and experienced providers.
The anticipated start date of the framework is 19th May 2026 and it is expected to last 10 years, with the option to periodically admit new entrants.
No guarantee is given as to the volume or value of any business awarded to any provider admitted to the framework agreement.
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
76 500 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
19/05/2026
End:
18/05/2036
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
The services required fall within the scope of Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations and the procurement is carried out in accordance with Regulations 74-76.
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.4) Objective rules and criteria for participation
SPD 4A2A: Bidders must be registered with the Care Inspectorate to provide a care at home service with a minimum grade of 3 across all themes.
SPD 4B5b & 4B5c: Bidders must confirm that they have or can commit to obtain the follow types and levels of insurance cover.
-Employer's Liability Insurance: 5,000,000 GBP per claim
-Public/Third Party Liability Insurance: 5,000,000 GBP per claim
-Medical Malpractice OR Care & Treatment Extension to Public/Third Party Liability Insurance: 5,000,000 GBP per claim OR 10,000,000 GBP in the annual aggregate
- Motor Vehicle Insurance: 5,000,000 GBP in respect of third party property damage; unlimited in respect of personal injury
If motor vehicle insurance is not applicable, bidders must state how staff will get safely to the site of delivery of the services
This section is continued in Part V1.3 Additional Information of this Contract Notice.
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Justification for any framework agreement duration exceeding 4 years: The services required fall within Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 and is therefore subject to the Light Touch Regime. New entrants are permitted so there is no barrier to participation over the life of the framework.
IV.1.11) Main features of the award procedure:
Evaluation of the award criteria will be on the basis of Most Economically Advantageous Tender with a price/quality split of 40/60
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2025/S 000-034417
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
06/04/2026
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
SPD 4B6: A Creditsafe check will be carried out. Bidders failing to meet a min score of 30 will be required to provide further assurance of financial capability (e.g. audited accounts). The Council reserves the right to disqualify bidders unable to provide sufficiently robust financial assurance.
SPD 4C1.2: Bidders must provide at least one example of provision of a regulated care at home service in the last three years.
SPD 4D1: Bidders must provide a certificate of accreditation by a UKAS authorised body against either the OHSAS 18001 or ISO 45001 standards
OR
A documented health and safety policy or where applicable (less than 5 employees, self-employed etc.) provide a statement of Health and Safety Intent and similarly provide examples of risk assessments likely to be associated with carrying out this type of work (3 minimum). These should include safety of staff and others, members of the public, operation of vehicles, plant and equipment and include current major incident controls, for example a pandemic.
Bidders are strongly advised to consult the Supplier Journey in the preparation of their tenders.
Supplier Development Programme is providing additional support for bidders by delivering training to help you understand the process to bid for this opportunity. This Aligned Tender Training session will be delivered online on 12/03/2026 at 10:30am https://www.sdpscotland.co.uk/events/aligned-tender-training-scottish-borders-councils-care-at-home-framework-2019/
Bidders should note that when it is judged by the Council at its sole discretion to be appropriate the Council will collaborate with the relevant bodies, including Police Scotland, to actively share significant elements of information provided and detailed in this response to the Invitation to Tender.
Where misrepresentation of any type is discovered, the bidder who made such misrepresentation and their proposal will be excluded from any further consideration.
The bidder shall notify the Council of any enforcement action or prosecution that is taken against them by Health & Safety Executive (HSE), Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) or any other relevant agencies as soon as they become aware.
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=821312.
The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.
Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.
A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
Community benefits will be applicable where cumulative spend exceeds 25,000GBP. Framework providers will be obligated to deliver community benefits commensurate to the level of spend in accordance with Scottish Borders Council points-based system. Performance of community benefit obligations will be a key performance indicator.
(SC Ref:821312)
Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=821312
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Jedburgh Sherriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Castlegate
Jedburgh
TD8 6AR
UK
Telephone: +44 1835863231
E-mail: jedburgh@scotcourts.gov.uk
Internet address(es)
URL: https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/court-locations/jedburgh-sheriff-court-and-justice-of-the-peace-court
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
24/02/2026