Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Luton Council
Town Hall, George Street
Luton
LU1 2BQ
UK
Contact person: Mrs Caroline Sturman
E-mail: caroline.sturman@luton.gov.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.luton.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: http://www.luton.gov.uk
I.1) Name and addresses
HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
HERTFORD
UK
E-mail: matha.moroney@hertfordshire.gov.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/home.aspx
I.1) Name and addresses
CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL
SHEFFORD
UK
E-mail: sarah.preston@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/
I.1) Name and addresses
BEDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL
BEDFORD
UK
E-mail: lucy.munt@bedford.gov.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.bedford.gov.uk/
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract involves joint procurement
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
AT1487 Independent Foster Agencies Provision
Reference number: DN807169
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85300000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Luton Council are leading on the procurement on behalf of the four Local Authority
Partners, Central Bedfordshire Council, Bedford Borough Council and Hertfordshire
County Council (the Partnership Authorities).
Luton, Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Councils are working
collaboratively to re-open and expand the Approved Provider List (APL) for Independent
Fostering Agencies to serve all authorities. The APL will support the authorities to deliver
suitable foster care placements at the right time, in the right location and with the right
support, to improve the overall outcomes for children looked after.
We are seeking independent Foster Care provision must be in in Beds/Herts and
surrounding areas eg Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire,
Cambridgeshire. Providers must be Ofsted registered as Good or Outstanding and act in
accordance with the guidance contained in Working Together to Safeguard Children
(2018) and any subsequent guidance.
This is being procured under the Light Touch Regime under Public Contract Regulations
2015 as the original APL was procured before the Procurement Act 2023 came into force.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
118 000 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Luton Council are leading on the procurement on behalf of the four Local Authority
Partners, Central Bedfordshire Council, Bedford Borough Council and Hertfordshire
County Council (the Partnership Authorities).
Luton, Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Councils are working
collaboratively to re-open and expand the Approved Provider List (APL) for Independent
Fostering Agencies to serve all authorities. The APL will support the authorities to deliver
suitable foster care placements at the right time, in the right location and with the right
support, to improve the overall outcomes for children looked after.
We are seeking independent Foster Care provision must be in in Beds/Herts and
surrounding areas eg Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire,
Cambridgeshire. Providers must be Ofsted registered as Good or Outstanding and act in
accordance with the guidance contained in Working Together to Safeguard Children
(2018) and any subsequent guidance.
This is being procured under the Light Touch Regime under Public Contract Regulations
2015 as the original APL was procured before the Procurement Act 2023 came into force.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Price
/ Weighting: 100
Price
/ Weighting:
100
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2026/S 000-022666
Section V: Award of contract
Contract No: AT1487 Independent Foster Agencies Provision
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
23/06/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 6
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 6
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 6
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
FOSTER CARE LINK LIMITED
LONDON
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
Lowest offer:
115 000 000.00
GBP
/ Highest offer:
120 000 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section V: Award of contract
Contract No: AT1487 Independent Foster Agencies Provision
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
23/06/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 6
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 6
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 6
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
ST CHRISTOPHER'S FELLOWSHIP
LONDON
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
Lowest offer:
115 000 000.00
GBP
/ Highest offer:
120 000 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
LONDON
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
23/06/2026