Social and other specific services – public contracts
Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS Highland
Assynt House, Beechwood Park
Inverness
IV2 3BW
UK
Telephone: +44 1463704000
E-mail: nhsh.care-contracts@nhs.scot
NUTS: UKM6
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00302
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
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
I.5) Main activity
Health
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
HH108-27-HB Adult Social Care Commissioning Flexible Framework
Reference number: 14824
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
NHS Highland, acting as the Lead Agency for Integrated Health and Social Care for Adults on behalf of the Highland Health and Social Care Partnership (HHSCP), is reopening its established Flexible Framework Agreement for the provision of Adult Social Care Services across the Highland Council area.
This framework reopening will allow:
existing framework providers to apply for admission to additional service lots; and potential new providers to apply for admission to the flexible framework.
The services covered by the framework are:
Lot 1: Care at Home Services
Sub Lot 1A: Care at Home
Sub Lot 1B: Enhanced Responder Service
Sub Lot 1C: Specialist Overnight Service
Lot 2: Residential and Nursing Care Home Placements
Lot 3: Registered Day Care Services
Lot 4: Supported Living Services
Sub Lot 4A: Supported Living
Sub Lot 4B: Housing Support
Sub Lot 4C: Home-Based Respite
Sub Lot 4D: Waking Night Responder Service
New Contracts awarded under this existing flexible framework are expected to commence on 1 July 2027.
Admission to the flexible framework does not guarantee the award of any contract, nor any minimum volume or value of business to providers.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
2 421 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
The contracting authority reserves the right to award contracts combining the following lots or groups of lots:
Any combination of Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4 - Including Sub Lots.
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Care at Home
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM6
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 1: Care at Home Services
Sub Lot 1A - Care at Home
Provision of personal care and support services to adults living in their own homes, enabling individuals to maintain independence, achieve agreed outcomes and remain safely within their local community.
Sub Lot 1B - Enhanced Responder Service
A rapid, responsive and flexible short-term service supporting adults living in the community and individuals requiring support following hospital discharge. The service aims to facilitate timely discharge, reduce delays within the health and social care system, improve patient flow and support people to remain safely in their own homes pending longer-term care arrangements.
Sub Lot 1C - Specialist Overnight Service
A specialist overnight care service providing planned and responsive night-time support. Services may include personal care, continence support, welfare checks, reassurance visits, sitting services and urgent response interventions. The service supports individuals and carers to remain safely at home and seeks to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions whilst facilitating discharge where overnight support is required.
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
140 000 000.00
GBP
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Residential and Nursing Care Home Placements
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85144100
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM6
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 2 Residential and Nursing Care Home Placements
Provision of residential and nursing care home placements for adults who require accommodation and care within a regulated residential or nursing care setting. Providers must have access to and operate from appropriately registered care home premises capable of delivering residential care, nursing care, or both, in accordance with Care Inspectorate registration requirements.
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
595 000 000.00
GBP
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 3
II.2.1) Title
Registered Day Care
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85312100
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM6
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 3 Registered Day Care
Provision of registered day care services delivering social, wellbeing, support and community-based opportunities for adults who require structured daytime support. Providers must have access to and operate from appropriately registered premises suitable for the delivery of day care services in accordance with Care Inspectorate registration requirements.
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
16 000 000.00
GBP
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 4
II.2.1) Title
Supported Living
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
98000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM6
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 4: Supported Living Services
Sub Lot 4A - Supported Living
Provision of person-centred support enabling adults to live independently within their own tenancy or accommodation whilst achieving identified personal outcomes.
Sub Lot 4B - Housing Support
Provision of housing-related support to help individuals maintain accommodation, develop independent living skills and sustain successful tenancies.
Sub Lot 4C - Home Based Respite
Provision of respite support services delivered within an individual's home environment to provide planned relief and support to unpaid carers whilst maintaining continuity of care.
Sub Lot 4D - Waking Night Responder Service
A specialist overnight responder service delivering planned and responsive waking night support to individuals living within community and supported living environments. The service provides overnight monitoring, welfare checks, personal support, emergency response and reassurance to enable individuals to remain safely in their own accommodation and reduce the risk of crisis interventions.
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
460 000 000.00
GBP
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 III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.4) Objective rules and criteria for participation
Participation is open to existing providers seeking admission to additional lots, and new providers seeking admission to the flexible framework. Applicants must meet the minimum selection criteria and requirements set out in the procurement documents for their chosen Lot(s). Admission to the flexible framework does not guarantee the award of any contract or any minimum volume or value of business.
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Procedure involving negotiations
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 covered by this procurement fall within Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 and are subject to the Light Touch Regime. The Flexible Framework will permit the periodic admission of new providers and the admission of existing providers to additional lots throughout its duration of 10 years.
IV.1.10) Identification of the national rules applicable to the procedure:
Information about national procedures is available at: (URL)
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2015/446/part/2/chapter/3/crossheading/social-and-other-specific-services/made
IV.1.11) Main features of the award procedure:
Applications will be assessed using the SPD. Applicants meeting the selection criteria and minimum requirements will be admitted to the relevant lot(s). The Flexible Framework will run for 10 years, with new providers able to join and existing providers able to apply for additional lots at reopening points. Individual call-offs may be for shorter periods and subject to review/extension. No guarantee is given as to the volume or value of services awarded.
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2024/S 000-041410
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
31/12/2026
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
All awarded contracts are subject to acceptance of the attached NHSH Sample Contract and Specification.
Lot 1: Care at Home Services
1A Care at Home, 1B Enhanced Responder Service, 1C Specialist Overnight Service
Lot 2: Residential and Nursing Care Home Placements
Lot 3: Registered Day Care Services
Lot 4: Supported Living Services
4A Supported Living, 4B Housing Support, 4C Home-Based Respite, 4D Waking Night Responder Service
Following evaluation of the SPD, applicants meeting the required criteria will be admitted to the relevant lot(s)/sub-lot(s). Providers will be tiered according to Care Inspectorate registration, operational readiness and Highland experience:
Tier 1: Registered providers operating in Highland.
Tier 2: Registered providers not operating in Highland.
Tier 3: Organisations not registered to deliver the relevant service in Highland.
Existing providers applying for additional lots, or invited to renew their SPD, may also be assessed.
Due diligence, induction, commissioning limits, oversight and monitoring may vary by lot and tier. Admission to the Flexible Framework does not guarantee referrals or commissioned activity. NHS Highland may apply risk-based commissioning limits and enhanced oversight during induction and assessment.NHS Highland reserves the right to request updated SPD information and supporting evidence where circumstances materially change.Providers must confirm compliance with Safer Staffing requirements, Fair Work First principles and payment of the Real Living Wage for Scotland, and maintain compliance throughout the contract term.
Applicants should allow sufficient time for SPD submission. Late submissions may not be accepted.
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=842653.
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:
Bidders must register on NHS Scotland’s Community Benefits Gateway (CBG).
The Community Benefit Gateway (CBG) is a free and easy to use online service that connects NHS Scotland suppliers with third sector community organisations within Scotland.
It supports community initiatives such as:
- Work placement opportunities
- Volunteering projects
- The provision of professional advice
- Assistance with building/maintaining/improving community facilities
- Environmental initiatives
- Improving and promoting biodiversity
- Lifelong learning projects (this list is not exhaustive)
In collaboration with Public Health Scotland, the CBG helps improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of local areas and assists in the reduction of health inequalities across Scotland. CBGs purpose is to establish a positive relationship between appropriate suppliers and third sector community organisations through the fulfilment of community needs.
For further information please visit https://www.nss.nhs.scot/procurement-and-logistics/governance-and-sustainability-services/access-our-community-benefit-gateway/
(SC Ref:842653)
Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=842653
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Inverness Justice Centre
Inverness
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
02/10/2026