Specialist Residential Provision for Working Age Adults

Specialist Residential Provision for Working Age Adults Re-contract (Reference DN763294)

The current all age adult contract for care home services is planned to terminate on 31st March 2026. The Council will be replacing the current care homes services contract with two separate contracts for providers with existing care homes in Cornwall. There will be a contract focused on working age adults for those with a primary need of Learning disabilities , Autism, Mental Health needs and Complex Physical and/ or Sensory impairment. However, placements are based on primary need, not age, so some individuals over 65 may be supported in these homes. Interested providers should note that the Council is seeking to contract with providers which have current CQC registered care home accommodation within Cornwall.

There will be a separate contract for Older People. The Council will run two separate tender processes, one for each contract (Working Age Adults as described above and Older People 65 years plus).

The current overarching agreements for providers on the current contract will expire on 31 March 2026. Existing Individual Placement Agreements (IPAs) at contract termination will continue beyond that date, as provided for under the current overarching agreement. IPAs will continue as a spot purchase agreement.

The new contract for Specialist Residential Provision for Working Age Adults will operate differently to the current care homes contract. Providers should also note that the new contract will be different to the Council’s initial intention to adopt an Approved Provider Agreement, as outlined in our recent market engagement and the Preliminary Market Engagement Notice.

The contract will be led and managed by the Council, with an access agreement for the NHS. The new contract will be a Light Touch Contract under the new Procurement Act 2023 (PA23). The Council will be adopting the Open Framework option, which is defined by PA23. Framework Guidance: Guidance: Frameworks (HTML) - GOV.UK

An Open Framework is a series of successive frameworks. There will be 3 Frameworks in the series for the new contract, with an overall contract duration of 8 years. The Council will adopt 2 re-openings, to allow additional providers to access the Framework over the duration of the contract:
- Framework 1: commence 1st April 2026 - duration 3 years (initial ITT)
- Framework 2: commence 1st April 2029 - duration 3 years (1st re-opening)
- Framework 3: commence 1st April 2032 - duration 2 years (2nd re-opening)

Each Framework will have the same terms and selection criteria. Providers awarded to a Framework will have the opportunity to be re-admitted to the next Framework with a new / amended submission or based on their previous submission. However, re-admittance to the next framework will not be automatic. The Council will contact providers currently awarded on the Framework to notify them of a re-opening and advise what is required from providers to be re-admitted.

All new IPA’s will be commissioned under the new Framework Agreement from 1 April 2026. Where providers are awarded onto the Framework, current IPAs will be re-purchased under the terms of the new Framework. Providers will only be considered for award of new business if they are accepted onto the Framework. This will be the only opportunity to onboard, secure inflationary uplifts, access the vacancy tracker, and be prioritised for new business. New IPAs will be placed through competitive award, with option to direct award. The criteria for award will be consistent with Framework criteria. IPAs will be for the duration of the care package and can extend beyond the Framework duration on a spot purchase basis.

Full details of the contract operation and terms will be included with the Invitation To Tender (ITT) documents when the initial ITT is published in early October 2025.

Providers should note that the next opportunity to be considered for award onto the Framework will be at the 1st re-opening , with ITT running during 2028 for contract start 1st April 2029.

When the ITT is published, interested providers are advised to take time to understand the ITT process and evaluation / selection criteria to improve your chances of success (ITT document Part 1) and complete / submit all Part 4: Provider Response Forms.

Tender information and communications during the ITT process will be available via the Proactis portal http://www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk
Please express interest via the advert on Supplying the Southwest, which will also provide a link to the ITT when it is published.

Please use the following link to sign up for information and provider communications Cornwall Council | Integrated People Commissioning