If you’re a care provider looking to grow your business and secure stable, long-term income, a significant opportunity has just landed, and it could be a game-changer for your future.
NHS Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB) has launched a high-value framework, offering care providers the chance to deliver services across three specialist areas: Live-in Care, Complex Care, and Trusted Assessor services for therapy and clinical psychology for children and young people with SEND.
This new framework is open for bids until midday on the 1st of July 2025, and it’s worth paying attention, with an indicative budget of over £61 million across a four-year term, it represents one of the most significant regional care procurement exercises of the year.
Let’s break it down so you can understand what’s on offer, whether you’re eligible, and how to take the next steps.
What Is This Framework About?
The Devon ICB framework aims to secure trusted, high-quality providers to deliver:
- Lot 1: Live-in Care at Home for All Ages
- Lot 2: Complex Care for All Ages
- Lot 3: Trusted Assessors for Spot Therapy and Clinical Psychology Provision (SEND)
Each Lot will be evaluated independently, meaning you can bid for just one service area, or all three, depending on your expertise, registration, and capacity.
The Numbers You Need to Know
Here’s the annual breakdown of the framework budget:
- Lot 1 – Live-in Care: £689,306 per year
- Lot 2 – Complex Care: £14,022,960 per year
- Lot 3 – Trusted Assessors: £612,000 per year
This is a fantastic opportunity for both established and emerging providers to win NHS-backed contracts, even if you’re not based in Devon.
Who Can Apply?
This framework is open to providers that meet specific criteria, and the bar is high. But if you’re committed to excellence and ready to grow, you could absolutely be in the running.
For Lots 1 and 2, providers must:
- Be CQC registered for the relevant regulated activity (Personal Care for Lot 1; Nursing or Treatment of Disease, Disorder or Injury for Lot 2)
- Be operating above an ‘Inadequate’ rating
- Not be suspended due to quality, safeguarding, contract performance, or regulatory concerns
For Lot 3, CQC registration is not required, making this an attractive option for therapy providers or sole practitioners offering Speech & Language Therapy, OT, Physio, or Clinical Psychology.
Importantly, there is no requirement in the specification to have a local office in Devon, meaning providers from across the UK can apply, as long as they can mobilise effectively to meet the needs of the population.
This isn’t a quick application. Each lot requires a comprehensive and carefully crafted submission, including:
- A mobilisation plan
- A detailed organisational chart
- A service specific business continuity plan
- Up to 10,000 words of method statements for Lots 1 and 2 (approx. 45,500 characters)
- Up to 8,000 words for Lot 3 (approx. 36,750 characters)
- Three case studies per Lot
- CQC improvement plans (if applicable)
- Completed Financial Model Template
- Declarations and technical responses
Pricing must also be submitted at or above the minimum indicative rates specified in the Invitation to Tender. There is no cap on pricing, but the evaluation will assess both value for money and quality of service.
Why This Opportunity Matters
This is more than just another tender. Here’s why this framework stands out:
- Secure NHS income for up to 4 years
- No local office requirement, opening the door to regional and national providers
- Call-offs may last up to 5 years, depending on individual needs and care packages
- Future digital brokerage system to streamline referrals and provider visibility
Whether you’re a solo therapy provider, a growing care agency, or an established complex care company, this is a scalable opportunity to align your services with the NHS and build credibility with one of the UK’s largest commissioning bodies.
How We Can Help
At Big Sister, we support care businesses across the UK to navigate complex bidding processes like this one, and win.
Our team has broken down the 100+ page Invitation to Tender and created a clear, strategic pathway for providers who want to submit a standout bid. We understand the nuances, the scoring matrix, and what the evaluators are really looking for.
Our prices to support your bid start from:
- Lot 1 – £5,800 + VAT
- Lot 2 – £5,800 + VAT
- Lot 3 – £4,300 + VAT
Discounts apply for multiple lots.
We’ll guide you through every stage, from shaping your delivery model to final submission, and help you position your business as the trusted partner NHS Devon is looking for.
Key Dates to Remember
- Clarification deadline: Midday, 24th June 2025
- Final submission deadline: Midday, 1st July 2025
- Service start date: 1st December 2025
Final Thoughts
Opportunities like this don’t come along every day. With over £15 million a year in potential contracts, and long-term partnerships with the NHS on the table, this is your chance to grow with confidence and credibility.
If you’re serious about scaling your care business, don’t miss this.
Need help writing the bid? Let’s win it together.
Get in touch with Big Sister today.
