Care tender writing in the East Midlands
We write care tenders for CQC and Ofsted registered providers across the East Midlands, from Nottingham and Leicester to Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire. We work remotely, run a free eligibility check before you pay, charge £795 for your first tender, and only take bids we believe you can win. Our win rate is 96 percent.
Care commissioning in East Midlands
The East Midlands mixes compact cities with large rural counties. The unitary city councils of Nottingham, Leicester and Derby buy home care and supported living for dense urban populations, while the two-tier county councils of Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire contract across wide rural patches where travel time and rural recruitment shape pricing. In the two-tier counties the county council holds adult social care, so that is your commissioning counterpart.
Lincolnshire in particular is one of the largest and most rural counties in England, so cover and continuity questions weigh heavily there, and providers need to show how they will reach dispersed villages and market towns. Rutland, England's smallest unitary, sits alongside, and Northamptonshire's two unitary authorities, North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire, added their own frameworks after the 2021 reorganisation that replaced the former county and district councils.
Several integrated care boards cover the region and shape joint commissioning for continuing healthcare, discharge and older people's services. NHS Continuing Healthcare and fast-track packages are often arranged jointly with councils, so providers able to mobilise safely and quickly across both city and rural geographies tend to score well.
A bid that suits Leicester city will read differently to one for rural Lincolnshire. We know these buyers and write each tender to match the lot structure, rate card and quality questions that the specific council or ICB scores.
What is different about bidding in East Midlands
How East Midlands councils tend to buy care
The unitary city councils of Nottingham, Leicester and Derby and the two-tier counties of Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire run frameworks, dynamic purchasing systems and approved provider lists for home care and supported living. Rural counties often lot by locality so providers cover defined patches, and the Northamptonshire unitaries run their own post-reorganisation arrangements. Confirm whether the route is a framework, a DPS or a block contract before you write.
What East Midlands commissioners emphasise locally
City councils emphasise safeguarding, recruitment and retention, and timely discharge, while Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and the rural counties score realistic travel time, rural recruitment and continuity heavily. Social value weightings of 10 to 20 percent often reward local employment. Quality to price ratios typically run from 60/40 to 80/20, so a credible rural delivery model matters.
NHS continuing healthcare and ICB joint commissioning
Several ICBs cover the region, including Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, Derby and Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire. They commission NHS Continuing Healthcare, fast-track and discharge packages, often jointly with councils. Providers able to mobilise complex packages safely and quickly across mixed urban and rural patches are well placed.
Councils we write bids for in East Midlands
- Nottingham City Council
- Leicester City Council
- Derby City Council
- Nottinghamshire County Council
- Leicestershire County Council
- Derbyshire County Council
- Lincolnshire County Council
- West Northamptonshire Council
NHS integrated care boards (ICBs)
- NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB
- NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB
- NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB
- NHS Lincolnshire ICB
- NHS Northamptonshire ICB
NHS and continuing healthcare work in East Midlands is commissioned through these ICBs.
Major East Midlands councils and their procurement portals
Portals change and some councils run more than one system, so treat this as indicative and confirm the live portal in the tender notice. Contracts above threshold also appear on the Find a Tender Service.
| Council | Type | Procurement portal |
|---|---|---|
| Nottingham City Council | Unitary authority | EastMidsTenders (ProContract) |
| Leicester City Council | Unitary authority | EastMidsTenders (ProContract) |
| Derby City Council | Unitary authority | EastMidsTenders (ProContract) |
| Nottinghamshire County Council | County council | EastMidsTenders (ProContract) |
| Leicestershire County Council | County council | EastMidsTenders (ProContract) |
| Derbyshire County Council | County council | EastMidsTenders (ProContract) |
| Lincolnshire County Council | County council | Council e-tendering portal |
Portals change. We confirm the live portal and registration steps for your specific tender before you commit.
What we write for East Midlands providers
Domiciliary care tender writing
Supported living tender writing
Residential care tender writing
Nursing home tender writing
Continuing healthcare tender writing
Mental health tender writing
New to this? Read how to find care tenders and how to win a care tender.
East Midlands: common questions
Which portal do East Midlands councils use for care tenders?
Many East Midlands authorities publish through EastMidsTenders, which runs on ProContract, while some run their own e-tendering systems. All contracts above threshold also appear on the national Find a Tender Service, with lower-value work on Contracts Finder. Confirm the exact portal in the tender notice.
Which East Midlands councils commission care?
The city councils of Nottingham, Leicester and Derby, the county councils of Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire, and the two Northamptonshire unitaries. Each runs its own frameworks and approved provider lists.
Why does Lincolnshire stand out for care tenders?
Lincolnshire is one of the largest and most rural counties in England, so realistic travel, rural recruitment and continuity of care weigh heavily in scoring. Bids that show genuine rural delivery tend to score better there, which we address head on.
Do I need a local office to win an East Midlands contract?
No. We work remotely with providers across the region. What matters is your ability to staff and reach both city and rural areas reliably, which can be evidenced without a local office. We write that into every bid.
What does a first tender cost?
Your first tender is £795, with a free eligibility check beforehand. We only take on bids we believe you can win, which is why our win rate is 96 percent.
Bidding for a East Midlands contract?
Send it over and we'll tell you free whether you'd qualify, before you spend a penny. £795 for your first tender.