How to apply for a domiciliary care framework
Applying to a domiciliary care framework usually means passing a selection stage on eligibility and insurance, then scoring on quality questions about staffing, call continuity and missed-call escalation. Most councils run home care through a framework or a dynamic purchasing system, so a place on the list is what lets them refer packages to you. We check you qualify for free before you write a word.
How the application is structured
Councils almost always split the process into two parts. A selection questionnaire screens you on basics like CQC registration, insurance, turnover and grounds for exclusion, and is usually pass or fail. The scored quality stage follows, where written method statements decide who gets a place. Since the Procurement Act 2023 took effect on 24 February 2025, awards are made on the most advantageous tender, so price is weighed against quality and social value rather than judged alone. For home care the quality weighting is commonly 60 to 70%, so the words you write carry most of the marks. Read the instructions and the marking scheme before you draft anything.
Checking you are eligible before you start
The selection stage is where avoidable losses happen, so confirm you clear every gate first. Typical requirements are current CQC registration for personal care, employer and public liability insurance at the stated levels, professional indemnity cover, a minimum annual turnover, and no exclusion grounds such as unresolved tax issues or a relevant conviction. Many councils also want a local base or a credible plan to recruit and supervise carers in the area. If you cannot meet a pass-or-fail term, the bid fails however good the writing is. We map your business against the exact tender first so you never pay to write a bid you cannot pass on eligibility.
What the quality questions cover
The scored questions are where places are won. Expect method statements on rostering, electronic call monitoring, how a missed or late call is flagged and escalated, travel time between visits, and how you recruit and keep carers in a tight market. Commissioners want the specifics of how your service runs, with names, timings and escalation routes. They look for continuity of carer, contingency for sickness, and how you cover early mornings, evenings and weekends. A vague staffing plan that does not add up is the most common reason a strong provider scores poorly, so anchor every claim to how your service really operates day to day.
Evidencing social value and safeguarding
Social value is a scored, contractual part of most care frameworks, often weighted between 10 and 30%, and frequently mapped to the National TOMs framework. Generic pledges score badly. Commit to specific, local, deliverable actions such as local recruitment, the real Living Wage, training routes and reducing carbon from travel, then state how you will measure and report them. Safeguarding answers should describe your real reporting routes, how staff raise concerns, how you work with the local authority safeguarding team, and what you have learned from past cases. Worked examples from your own service score far better than restating policy.
Submitting through the portal
Home care tenders are advertised on the council portal, often ProContract or Due North, In-Tend or Jaggaer, and listed on Find a Tender or Contracts Finder above the relevant value threshold. Register early, because you cannot submit through a portal you only found on the closing day. Upload in the exact format and order requested, keep within word and character limits, and attach every policy and certificate named in the document checklist. Submit a day ahead, since portals slow under deadline load and a late upload is normally rejected with no appeal. A clean, complete submission protects the marks your answers have already earned.
Common pitfalls
The two that cost most places are missing the eligibility gate (no local base, turnover too low, wrong CQC status) and answering a related but different question to the one asked. Other frequent misses are ignoring the word count, leaving the social value section thin, and submitting late. We mirror the scoring criteria and put your best evidence where the evaluator reads it first. See our domiciliary care tender writing page for the full approach.
Domiciliary care framework readiness checklist
What most councils check at selection before any quality answer is read. Confirm each before you commit time to a bid.
| Requirement | What it usually means | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| CQC registration | Registered for personal care; some frameworks require Good or above, others accept newly registered | Pass or fail |
| Insurance | Employer, public liability and professional indemnity at the stated levels | Pass or fail |
| Turnover | A minimum annual figure, sometimes a multiple of the contract value | Pass or fail |
| Local capacity | A base in the area or a credible plan to recruit and supervise carers | Pass or fail or scored |
| Quality method statements | Rostering, call monitoring, missed-call escalation, recruitment and retention | Scored |
| Social value | Specific, local, deliverable commitments, often mapped to National TOMs | Scored |
Not sure if you qualify for a tender? We check it for free, before you pay anything, and we only take bids we believe you can win. See our domiciliary care tender writing or text TENDER to get started.
Common questions
How long does a domiciliary care framework application take?
Most councils give four to six weeks from publication to the deadline, though some run as tight as three. The quality questions are the slow part, so it pays to start as soon as the tender opens rather than waiting. We can usually turn a first draft around inside that window.
Can I apply if I am a new domiciliary care provider?
Sometimes. Some frameworks set a minimum trading period or turnover, others accept newly registered providers. We check the specific tender against your business in a free eligibility check before you commit, so you do not write a bid you cannot pass on eligibility.
Do I need a local office to win a home care framework place?
Often, yes. Many councils want a base or registered office in the area, or a credible plan to recruit and supervise carers locally. We flag this against the specific tender before you write anything.
Is a domiciliary care framework the same as a DPS?
Not quite. A framework is a closed list awarded for a fixed period; a dynamic purchasing system stays open so new providers can join at intervals. Many councils run home care as a DPS to keep adding capacity. We confirm which your target uses in your free eligibility check.
How important is social value in the score?
More than most providers expect. Social value is commonly weighted between 10 and 30% and is contractual once you win, so it has to be deliverable. We help you commit to specific, local actions you can actually measure and report.
What does it cost to have a framework application written?
Your first tender with us is £795. We only take bids we believe you can win, and if a loss is clearly down to our writing error we rewrite the next one free. Our overall win rate is 96%.
Keep reading
Service
Domiciliary care tender writing
Home care contract bidding
Care frameworks explained
What is a DPS in care
Browse all care tender guides, or see care tender writing by service.
Got a tender to check?
Text TENDER to +44 7822 030677and we'll tell you free whether you'd qualify, before you spend a penny.