Social and other specific services – public contracts
Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Scotland Excel
Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street
Paisley
PA1 1AR
UK
Contact person: Honor Kelly
Telephone: +44 1414888230
E-mail: socialcare@scotland-excel.org.uk
NUTS: UKM83
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.scotland-excel.org.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10383
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/guest/login.do
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/guest/login.do
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Fostering and Continuing Care Services 0924
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85300000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
This Contract Notice pertains to a Flexible Framework for Fostering and Continuing Care Services 0924. The Flexible Framework will support local authorities to access nurturing family homes for children and young people who are care experienced. For more detail- see CONTRACT NOTICE ATTACHMENT (per III.1.4).
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
345 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Standard Service
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85310000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
Main site or place of performance:
Various locations throughout the geographical boundaries of the participating councils within Scotland.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
As further detailed in the procurement documents Service Option 1 - Standard Service pertains to the provision of Fostering and Continuing Care Services for children and young people whose needs can be met within a stable family setting with routine support.
The anticipated value is estimated and may be subject to change. There is no guarantee of any business, use, level of use or continuity of business through the Flexible Framework.
The Award Criteria is Quality/Weighting 80
Price/Weighting 20.
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
244 950 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 72
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
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Regulations. Please see the Invitation to Tender contained on the PCS-Tender project relevant to this procurement and the other Procurement Documents for further information.
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Enhanced Services
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85310000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
Main site or place of performance:
Various locations throughout the geographical boundaries of the participating councils within Scotland.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
As further detailed in the procurement documents Service Option 2 "Enhanced Service" pertains to the provision of Fostering and Continuing Care Services where foster placements support children and young people who have been assessed as requiring additional health, emotional or psychological related support through increased level of carer skill and professional expertise.
The anticipated value is estimated and may be subject to change. There is no guarantee of any business, use, level of use or continuity of business through the Flexible Framework.
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
100 050 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 72
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
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Regulations. Please see the Invitation to Tender contained on the PCS-Tender project relevant to this procurement and the other Procurement Documents for further information.
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.4) Objective rules and criteria for participation
Providers must hold and maintain the necessary registration with the relevant regulatory body/ies including the Care Inspectorate according to the Services offered. The following minimum requirements apply: Care Inspectorate registration, Financial stability, Minimum insurance requirements as follows: (a)Public Liability,(b)Employers Liability,(c)Statutory Third-Party Motor Vehicle Liability(d)Professional Indemnity. The tenderer cannot rely on the capacities of others to meet this selection requirement. Failure to demonstrate these requirements are met may lead to exclusion.
Full details of the minimum requirements are in the Contract Notice Attachment titled "0924 Contract Notice Attachment" contained within the "Buyer Attachments" area of ITT 64506 (project 27566) on the Public Contracts Scotland Tender (PCS-T) website: https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.1) Information about a particular profession
Participation is reserved to a particular profession: Yes
Reference to the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision:
The Tenderer must hold the necessary Regulatory Registrations required in law. Registration number(s) and any supporting information provided at Section 4A.2 in the SPD.
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
Full details of the conditions relevant to the Flexible Framework and contracts to be awarded thereunder are in the Procurement Documents. Tenderers will be asked to confirm their acceptance of the contract conditions.
TENDERERS MADE SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED AND MAY BE REFUSED ON THE GROUNDS OF SUCH CONDITIONS ALONE.
Scotland Excel may require the members of any tendering group of entities (including, but not limited to consortium members, members of a group of economic operators and/or sub-contractors) to be jointly and severally liable for the performance of the contract and may require them to assume a specific legal form for the purposes of the appointment to the Flexible Framework. For further information relative to the submission of consortia tenders, tenders by groups of economic operators and sub-contracting, please refer to the tender documentation which is available in the relevant PCS-T project for this procurement exercise.
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: A longer duration is needed for continuity and sustainability. Flexibilities allow for changes during this period, such as permitted service variations, price review provisions, and re-opening for new entrants. As policy may require, an early termination option has been reserved.
IV.1.11) Main features of the award procedure:
The services to be provided are "Social and Other Specific Services" in Schedule 3 of the Regulations and the procurement process is subject to the requirements of section 7 of the Regulations. Applicable variations, specific requirements and evaluation approaches are set out in the Procurement Documents.
Tenders may be excluded from evaluation (in whole, or in part) if they do not meet the published requirements or include information in accordance with instructions given.
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2026/S 000-006303
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
18/11/2026
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
IMPORTANT NOTE: The specific requirements and evaluation approaches applicable to this process are set out in the Procurement Documents. Tenderers should note that their tender may be excluded in whole or in part if it does not meet the published selection requirements or Minimum Quality Threshold.
This Tender process is subject to the Law and Guidance applicable in Scotland relative to the award of public contracts (without limitation) as set out in the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
As such, this Notice relates to the use of a procedure based upon the Open Procedure to establish a Flexible Framework with variations as permitted under the Regulations. In particular, once established, subject to the terms of the Flexible Framework, there may be opportunities for admission of new entrants and existing providers may apply to vary their service offering (see the Procurement Documents for full details).
Reference within this Contract Notice to a "lot" or "lots" is a reference to a "Service Option" as further described in the Procurement Documents.
In line with the contract conditions, should any of the defined terms, procedures or any other regulated matter become subject to any change in the Law, resulting in any change to the defined terms, or to the manner in which such procedures or other matters require to be dealt with, then such changes shall take precedence over that contained in the Flexible Framework.
Scotland Excel, as a central purchasing body, is procuring this framework for the use and benefit of its members namely 32 local authorities in Scotland, Tayside Contracts, associate members, together with any Integration Authority, or other body, established pursuant to the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014.
Scotland Excel local authority members and associate members entitled to use this framework, are listed at
http://www.scotlandexcel.org.uk/home/Aboutus/Ourmembers/Our_members.aspx
Tenderers are advised that whether electronic ordering, invoicing and payment will be used or accepted is at the discretion of each contracting authority entitled to use this proposed framework agreement. This will be settled by them at point of use.
Scotland Excel have provided a webinar link providing tendering guidance for suppliers in relation to all Scotland Excel frameworks that are advertised on the PCS-T portal. Link (http://www.scotland-excel.org.uk/home/Suppliers/Tendering-process.aspx)
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 27566. For more information see:
http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 27566. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
The Contracting Authority does not intend to include a sub-contract clause as part of community benefits (as per Section 25 of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014) in this contract for the following reason:
Tenderers will be required to confirm whether they intend to subcontract any share of the contract to third parties and, if so, to complete relevant sections of the SPD for each subcontractor. Tenderers should note that the contract does not permit the Provider to sub-contract any part of the Service for which the Provider requires to hold a regulatory registration.
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:
In accordance with section 25(3) of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 note that, Scotland Excel intends to include community benefit requirements. As part of you response within the Technical Envelope, bidders will be requested to commit to delivery of community benefits in accordance with the methodology outlined in the tender documents.
(SC Ref:834291)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Court of Session
Parliament Square
Edinburgh
EH1 1RQ
UK
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
An economic operator that suffers, or risks suffering, loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 (SS1 2015/446) (as amended) may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
22/10/2026