Doncaster’s Flexible Procurement System For Supported Living Services

Case Study

Doncaster’s Flexible Procurement System for Supported Living Services

Tender Overview

The City of Doncaster Council commissions supported living services for adults whose disabilities and/or long-term health conditions mean they may require support to live as independently as possible. Its Flexible Procurement System (FPS) for Supported Living Services is intended to establish a list of providers capable of meeting these needs within the City of Doncaster.

Our client, Cura Care, identified the opportunity and sought AssuredBID’s support in pursuing it. We guided the organisation through the initial assessment, tender preparation and submission process. On 1 October 2026, the City of Doncaster Council confirmed its provisional decision to select Cura-Care Yorkshire Ltd to participate in the Flexible Purchasing System for the Provision of Supported Living Services.

The Brief

Commissioner: City of Doncaster Council

Procurement: Flexible Procurement System for Supported Living Services

Reference: 76012

Notification date: 1 October 2026

Result: Provisionally selected to participate

Key Challenges

Securing a place on a local authority procurement system requires providers to understand the requirements of the opportunity, establish their eligibility and submit the information requested by the commissioner. In supported living, this takes place within a service environment where providers must understand the importance of individual independence, appropriate support and community participation.

For Cura Care, the first step was to establish the suitability of the Doncaster opportunity and clarify what would be required to pursue it. Following an initial consultation, we assessed the organisation against the relevant eligibility criteria and explained the tender document and information needed to progress.

There was also an important consideration around confidence in the tendering process. During the initial engagement, Cura Care’s director expressed concerns about whether we had the professional experience and capability to prepare a strong response that could help the organisation secure selection.

Addressing those concerns required a clear explanation of the process, the responsibilities involved and the support that would be provided throughout preparation. The client needed to understand how its information and supporting evidence would be gathered, reviewed and used to develop a response aligned with the procurement requirements.

Our Approach

Before proceeding, we confirmed the precise opportunity Cura Care wanted to pursue. The tender details were shared with the client for confirmation, ensuring that the application would relate to the intended procurement rather than another available opportunity.

We then held a consultation to explain the eligibility requirements, documentation expectations and stages involved in the application. A compliance review followed to assess Cura Care against the relevant criteria and establish its suitability to proceed.

Developing the Tender Response

Following the initial assessment, we coordinated the tender preparation process, guiding Cura Care on the company information, supporting evidence and documentation required for the application.

The tender response was developed against the questions and requirements set out in the procurement documentation. Supporting evidence and company policies were gathered and reviewed for their relevance, currency and suitability in relation to the requirements.

This structured approach brought the key elements of preparation together, helping ensure that the response was developed around the information requested by the commissioner rather than relying on a generic submission.

Working Through the Process with the Client

The engagement also involved helping Cura Care understand how the application would be prepared and managed. Consultation meetings provided opportunities to clarify expectations, explain responsibilities and address the client’s concerns about the process.

As preparation progressed, we worked with Cura Care to obtain the necessary information and develop responses that reflected the organisation’s operations and the requirements of the opportunity.

Results

On 1 October 2026, the City of Doncaster Council confirmed that it had evaluated Cura-Care Yorkshire Ltd’s Request to Participate and made a provisional decision to select the organisation for the Flexible Purchasing System for the Provision of Supported Living Services.

The notification marked an important milestone in Cura Care’s progress through the procurement process. The Council clarified, however, that provisional selection did not constitute a commitment to award a contract. Four outstanding documents must be provided before electronic tendering and opportunities to bid for individual service routes can commence.

Outcome Summary

Category	Details
Commissioner	City of Doncaster Council
Procurement	Flexible Purchasing System for Supported Living Services
Outcome	Provisionally selected to participate
Notification	1 October 2026

Conclusion

Cura Care’s provisional selection demonstrates progress through the initial stage of the Doncaster Council supported living procurement process.

The case highlights the importance of structured preparation and coordinated support when helping care providers navigate local authority procurement and progress towards potential new commissioning opportunities.

Working with AssuredBID

If you deliver services for children and families and want support getting onto a children’s trust or local authority framework, visit www.assuredbid.co.uk or take a look at our case studies to see what we have helped other providers achieve. If you are ready to talk about a specific tender, our contact page is the quickest way to reach us.

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