Tender: Children’s External Placements DPS – Independent Fostering, Residential Homes, Independent Schools & Out-of-School Tuition in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

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Cambridgeshire County Council is seeking providers to join their Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the supply of children’s external placement services across four lots: Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA), residential children’s homes, independent schools and education providers (ISEP), and out of school tuition (OoST). Services are for children and young people aged 0–18 (up to 19 for children and adults with Special Educational Needs and Disability - SEND) in Cambridgeshire, neighbouring authorities and, where directed by specific care plans, nationally. Successful providers will deliver the services and liaise closely with the Contract Manager identified by the Authority. The DPS operates under the Light Touch Regime and will be open in rounds; the initial round will be open for 30 calendar days, with applications able to be submitted throughout the DPS but processed when each round closes. The DPS is led by Cambridgeshire County Council with Peterborough City Council having access and shared management arrangements. The initial term runs from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2024 with extension options totalling up to 10 years (5+2+2+1). The anticipated combined spend across the two local authorities for the duration of the DPS is £470,184,791 and the authorities intend to reduce this spend through the new DPS and use of mini-competitions to improve outcomes for individual children.