Expression of Interest (EOI): Soft Block Contract for Independent Fostering

Bristol City Council
South West
1 January 2027 to 31 December 2028

Partnership with an independent fostering agency to increase foster carer sufficiency across Bristol and surrounding areas, aiming to prevent inappropriate residential care placements through priority utilisation of external carers.

Open the official notice

Closed· 9 October 2026

Estimated value: £3m; Buyer estimate
Published: 21 September 2026
Deadline: 9 October 2026; Closed
Contract length: 24 months; Ends 31 December 2028

What the contract covers

Soft block contract

Provision of independent fostering services and foster carer sufficiency partnerships for children in care.

Increase the sufficiency of foster carers for our children in care in Bristol and the surrounding areas (BANES / Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire and North Somerset)
Innovative partnership with an independent fostering agency (IFA) offering priority utilisation in regard to foster carers managed by the same IFA that reside outside of Bristol

Terms and requirements

Contract type: Soft block contract
Initial term: 24 months
Extensions: 12 months
Longest it can run: 36 months
Contract dates: 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2028
Certifications asked for: None stated
Lots: 1
Suitable for SMEs: Not stated
Category: Services
CPV codes: 85000000

Services in this tender

Independent fostering agency placementsMain service£84k typicalSoft block contract with an independent fostering agency

Lifecycle

Published
21 September 2026
Deadline for bidsClosed
9 October 2026
Contract awardedUsually published within a few months
Contract starts
1 January 2027

The buyer

Bristol City Council

Type: Locked
Contracts, 24 months: Locked
Recorded value: Locked
Typical contract: Locked
Independent fostering agency contracts, 24 months: Locked

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Contact details

Email: Locked
Website: Locked
Address: Locked

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Cite this tender

Link: https://bidskim.com/tender/3869321/expression-of-interest-eoi-soft-block-contract-for-independent-fostering
Buyer reference: DN829993
Open contracting ID: ocds-h6vhtk-077681
Last checked: 5 November 2026

Bristol City Council. Expression of Interest (EOI): Soft Block Contract for Independent Fostering. Tender, 21 September 2026. BidSkim, https://bidskim.com/tender/3869321/expression-of-interest-eoi-soft-block-contract-for-independent-fostering (accessed 5 November 2026).