A new adult social care framework is on the horizon in Hampshire, and it looks set to be one of the more significant day opportunities procurements currently in the pipeline. The Hampshire Day Opportunities Framework (HDOF) is being developed by Hampshire County Council as the successor to its current Hampshire Disabilities Day Opportunities Model. The council describes the new framework as an updated model aligned with the Care Act 2014, designed to support adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health needs and older adults through meaningful daytime activities and structured support. The estimated value is £300 million excluding VAT.
Because this is a preliminary market engagement notice, providers still have time to prepare before the formal tender stage. That makes it an especially useful opportunity to feature. Instead of reacting to a live tender under pressure, providers can use this stage to understand the likely direction of the framework, review readiness and identify any gaps in evidence, compliance or delivery planning.
What the framework is expected to cover
The proposed HDOF model is designed to provide daytime activities and support across several service types, including:
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traditional day care centres
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vocational training
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community-based services
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specialist services for complex needs
That broad scope means the framework may be relevant to a wide range of providers, from established day service organisations to VCSEs and specialist providers supporting people with more complex needs. The Find a Tender notice also makes clear that Hampshire sees these services as important for promoting independence, providing respite for carers and helping prevent deterioration in mental and physical health. In other words, this is not positioned as a simple daytime occupancy model. It is being framed as part of a wider preventative and wellbeing-based adult social care offer.
Key dates
At this stage, the main dates to note are:
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Engagement deadline: 30 April 2026
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Estimated tender notice publication date: 3 June 2026
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Estimated contract term: 30 August 2026 to 29 August 2029
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Possible extension: to 29 August 2035
Those dates give providers a useful preparation window. That matters, because the council has already signalled that suppliers will need to meet specific business-to-business and cyber security expectations as part of the application process.
Why this opportunity stands out
There are a few reasons HDOF looks particularly worthwhile.
First, the scale is significant. A framework valued at £300 million over the planned term is large enough to attract attention from both existing care providers and organisations looking to expand their place within local authority-commissioned support.
Second, the framework is clearly tied to changing patterns of need in adult social care. Hampshire describes the service model as a response to growing and evolving demand, with an emphasis on wellbeing, inclusion, structured support and better contract management. That gives providers some useful insight into the likely themes evaluators may focus on later. They are likely to want evidence not just of safe delivery, but also of outcomes, flexibility, person-centred support and an understanding of preventative care.
Third, the notice is explicitly suitable for SMEs and VCSEs, which is an important signal for smaller and community-based providers. For businesses that are capable of strong delivery but need help turning that capability into a clear tender response, this could be a very relevant opportunity.
What providers should be doing now
The market engagement notice gives a good indication of the sort of preparation that will matter. Hampshire is encouraging providers to complete a practice B2B Assessment linked to cyber security standards, and it has stated that suppliers who do not meet the required security standards will not be accepted to the framework. That is a useful reminder that quality and compliance in public sector bids are about more than service descriptions alone.
This is a good point for providers to review:
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whether their current service model clearly matches the likely scope of the framework
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whether they can evidence outcomes, safeguarding and quality assurance
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whether policies and cyber security arrangements are fully up to date
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whether case studies and mobilisation plans are ready for a formal tender process
For many providers, the challenge is not the service itself. It is presenting that service in a way that aligns with what commissioners need to see.
How Thornton & Lowe can support providers
Thornton & Lowe supports organisations bidding for social care contracts and frameworks, helping providers strengthen responses, improve bid strategy and prepare earlier for opportunities like this. We also support clients with framework applications, including decisions around fit, positioning and how to build a stronger route onto public sector frameworks.
For a framework like HDOF, that support could include helping you assess whether the opportunity is right for your organisation, identifying likely evidence gaps, developing stronger written responses and improving how you present service quality, safeguarding, outcomes and contract management. Early-stage preparation is often what makes the difference between a rushed bid and a well-structured one.
Final thoughts
The Hampshire Day Opportunities Framework looks like a substantial upcoming opportunity for social care providers delivering structured daytime support, community-based services and specialist provision. Its scale, long potential term and early market engagement stage make it one of the more notable care framework opportunities currently developing.
For providers that want to grow their work with local authorities, now is the right time to get ready. Early preparation should make it easier to respond with confidence when the tender is published.
