The planned CN250238 Homecare procurement from Kent County Council is a substantial upcoming opportunity for CQC-registered homecare service providers. The notice sets out an estimated total value of £688,000,000 including VAT and confirms that the Council is establishing a Homecare Light Touch Open Framework to deliver support for adults and children across Kent.
This is not a generic care framework. The Council is seeking providers that can deliver safe, high-quality, personalised and flexible care in home and community environments, including support for people who may require services while in prison settings. If you are considering whether this framework could be the right fit for your organisation, contact Thornton & Lowe for an early review of lot fit and likely competitiveness.
Understanding the scope of CN250238 Homecare
The notice sets out a clear structure built around two main lots and one additional linked service:
- Lot 1: Homecare for Adult Services
- Lot 1 Additional Service: Care and Support in the Prison Setting
- Lot 2: Community Support Services for Children
That matters because the prison-based service is not a fully separate standalone route in the same way as the two main lots. Only providers that are successful on Lot 1 and express an interest in delivering the additional prison service will be able to tender for it.
What each part of the framework covers
Lot 1 - Homecare for Adult Services is by far the largest part of the framework, with an estimated value of £656,591,376 including VAT. It covers day-to-day care and support for adults aged 18 and over, including personal care, meal support, light domestic tasks, safeguarding awareness, community access, manual handling and identifying early signs of deterioration for referral to health professionals.
Lot 1 Additional Service - Care and Support in the Prison Setting is valued at £1,002,152 including VAT and relates to social care provision within the Sheppey Prison Cluster. The notice makes clear that this service is expected to be delivered as a single block contract by one supplier, either through mini competition or direct award. It also requires prison-specific vetting, training and close coordination with the KCC Social Care Prison Team and the onsite healthcare supplier.
Lot 2 - Community Support Services for Children is valued at £30,080,000 including VAT and covers flexible care and community-based support for disabled children and young people aged 0 to 18. The service includes personal care, delegated health tasks, behaviour support, daily routines and support accessing education, leisure and community life, delivered across standard, complex and crisis levels.
Why this framework matters
This is an open framework, which is one of the most important features in the notice. That means awarded suppliers are carried over and new suppliers can bid when the framework reopens. The notice also states that the maximum number of suppliers is unlimited, which could make this particularly relevant for providers that may not always target more closed or capped frameworks.
For Kent, the framework is designed to create a flexible route for a broad range of homecare and support needs. For providers, it offers the potential for longer-term access to call-off opportunities across adult and children’s services, provided the lot fit is right and the delivery model is strong.
What providers should focus on now
Before the formal tender opens, providers should use this stage to assess whether their service model matches the actual requirements of the framework.
- Check lot fit carefully - adult homecare, children’s community support and prison-based care are very different delivery environments.
- Review regulatory readiness - the notice is specifically aimed at CQC-registered homecare service providers.
- Prepare relevant evidence - case studies should reflect the real support model for the lot you want to pursue, not just general care provision.
- Plan for long-term delivery - the framework structure is built on an initial 2-year term with possible extensions up to a total of 8 years.
- Think about specialist requirements - the prison service, in particular, brings extra operational and safeguarding expectations.
Framework term and procurement timing
The contract dates vary slightly by lot, but the framework is structured around an initial 2-year contract period with potential extensions of 2 years + 2 years + final 2 years, creating a total possible term of 8 years.
- Lot 1: 8 April 2027 to 7 April 2029, extendable to 7 April 2035
- Lot 1 Additional Service: 1 August 2027 to 31 July 2029, extendable to 31 July 2035
- Lot 2: 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029, extendable to 31 March 2035
The notice is currently at planned procurement stage. The estimated publication date of the tender notice is 18 May 2026, with an estimated tender submission deadline of 26 June 2026 at 11:59pm and an estimated award decision date of 9 November 2026.
Quick facts
- Contracting authority: Kent County Council
- Reference: CN250238
- Total value: £688,000,000 including VAT
- Framework type: Homecare Light Touch Open Framework
- Main service areas: Adult homecare and children’s community support
- Additional linked service: Care and support in the prison setting
- Maximum suppliers: Unlimited
- Location: Kent
Key dates
- Planned procurement notice published: 8 April 2026
- Estimated tender notice publication: 18 May 2026
- Estimated tender submission deadline: 26 June 2026 at 11:59pm
- Estimated award decision date: 9 November 2026
How to approach this opportunity
This framework is likely to be most relevant for established homecare providers that can demonstrate strong regulated care delivery, local authority readiness and a service model that matches the actual lot requirements. The adult and children’s elements are substantial in their own right, and the prison-based service should only be approached where providers have the right operational confidence and safeguarding capability.
If you want an honest view on whether CN250238 is worth preparing for, and which route may suit your organisation best, contact Thornton & Lowe’s team.
