Contract Continuity in a New Era: Beyond Winning to Keeping Health & Social Care Contracts

November 11, 2025

The Procurement Act 2023 (now live) has changed public procurement — and with it, how health and social care providers define success. Writing a great bid gets you through the door; keeping the contract long term now depends on how well you evidence delivery, outcomes and social value. If you want a practical way to turn ongoing performance into commissioner-ready proof, see our Contract Continuity & Outcomes Evidence Support.

Why this shift matters for care providers

For years, the typical cycle looked like this: bid → win → deliver → re-tender. Even excellent providers could lose services to cheaper bids at re-procurement. Under the new regime, commissioners can justify continuity where providers demonstrate the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) in practice — sustained quality, workforce stability, governance and social impact. That requires a systematic way to present evidence at reviews, framework call-offs and renewal points. If you need a ready-made structure for this, explore our continuity and outcomes evidence service.

From MEAT to MAT — what’s really changed

Beyond price: MAT puts outcome evidence and public benefit alongside cost. Providers who measure and communicate impact are advantaged.
Transparency by default: Commissioners will publish performance and change notices. Your quality story must stand up publicly.
Continuity is credible: If you can show consistent evidence, authorities have clear grounds to retain you. Practical help: KPI dashboards & assurance narratives.
Framework-first: More call-offs and fewer open mini-competitions — which raises the bar for in-contract evidence.

Why frameworks are the new battleground

Expect more emphasis on frameworks, approved lists and direct call-offs. That means fewer large open competitions, but more evidence-led continuity for trusted providers. The winners will be those who can present a clear, auditable line of sight from inputs → activities → outcomes — and show it quarter after quarter. If you’re short on time or tools, our Contract Continuity & Outcomes Evidence Support provides ready-to-use reporting templates and renewal packs.

Build a retention-ready evidence model

Define meaningful KPIs: Prioritise outcome measures, service timeliness, workforce stability, safeguarding and satisfaction. Keep a tight set you can sustain.
Document governance: Supervision, audits, escalation logs and lessons learned are as important as KPIs — they prove control.
Track social value: Jobs, apprenticeships, inclusion, community partnerships, environmental gains — quantify them and align with local priorities.
Create an evidence library: Standardised case studies, performance graphs and testimonials with consent trails. A library speeds up reviews and call-offs.
Adopt a quarterly cadence: Don’t wait for renewal year; produce a rolling Quarterly Performance Report. If you want a head start, we offer templates and a narrative pack.

A practical example

A domiciliary care provider joins a framework in 2025. Over 12 months they implement a disciplined reporting rhythm: concise KPI dashboards, two outcome-led case studies per quarter, a supervision matrix with escalation logs, and a short social value update. At the 18-month review, they present a single, coherent pack. The authority uses the evidence to justify a call-off and later an extension. The difference wasn’t “better promises” — it was better proof. You can replicate this model with our renewal-ready documentation service.

Commissioners’ 2025–26 wish list

Simple KPI frameworks with definitions and reliable data trails.
Outcome-based case studies — measurable progress, not anecdotes.
Governance evidence — training, supervision, incident learning, audits.
Social value quantified and mapped to the local plan.
Language that mirrors MAT and transparency duties.

If any of these are missing or ad hoc, build a 90-day plan to close the gaps. Our Outcome Evidence Audit pinpoints exactly what to fix first.

Common pitfalls to avoid

Generic narrative: Commissioners can spot “filler”. Anchor every claim to data or documents.
Data without meaning: Add short analysis (“what, so what, now what”).
Missing attachments: If the text references audits or training compliance, attach them.
Weak social value: Replace statements with metrics (e.g., “12 apprenticeships; 250 volunteering hours; 18 ESG projects”).
Year-end panic: Quarterly cadence beats last-minute compilation — or outsource cadence to our MAT assurance support.

Action checklist (print and pin)

Audit one live contract against MAT (KPIs, governance, social value, case studies).
Set a 90-day plan to fix two evidence gaps with the highest commissioning impact.
Standardise a one-page KPI dashboard and a two-page narrative template.
Collect two new, consented case studies with measurable outcomes each quarter.
Embed a social value log; report quarterly against local priorities.
Book a commissioner touchpoint to walk through the evidence — don’t wait for renewal.

Want help implementing this quickly? See Contract Continuity & Outcomes Evidence Support.

Start small if you're time-poor

If you’re a smaller provider without a performance team, begin with five KPIs: service stability, outcomes achieved, satisfaction, staff retention, safeguarding incidents. Add two case studies per quarter, one-page dashboard, and a simple social value log. This minimal set — kept consistent — will dramatically improve review conversations. We can supply the dashboard and narrative templates so you only slot in your data.

Looking ahead — fewer tenders, more continuity

As frameworks mature, expect fewer open tenders and more evidence-led extensions. Commissioners prefer stability when providers demonstrate impact and control. That’s good news for teams who can produce clear, triangulated assurance — and a warning for those who rely on generic text.

Turn delivery into proof

In this environment, your competitive edge is not louder promises; it’s cleaner evidence. Link CQC findings, audits, training, supervision and lived experience to a stable KPI set. Then present it in a format that’s quick to read and easy to verify — the essence of a Most Advantageous Tender in practice. If you want an “assemble-and-go” route, our continuity & outcomes evidence service was designed for exactly this.

How Impact Guru supports this change

We help providers transform delivery into credible, audit-ready evidence. The Contract Continuity & Outcomes Evidence Support offer includes:

Outcome Evidence Audits — independent review of delivery and documentation.
KPI & Governance Reporting — dashboards, narrative assurance, risk and learning loops.
Social Value Impact Reports — quantified workforce and community benefits.
Renewal Readiness Packs — commissioner-facing evidence bundles for reviews and refreshes.

Bottom line: deliver well, evidence consistently, stay longer.

Key takeaway

The Procurement Act 2023 rewards transparency and proof. Providers who invest in outcomes evidence and governance can expect fewer disruptive re-tenders and more continuity. If you need a shortcut to a workable system, start here: Contract Continuity & Outcomes Evidence Support.