How Commissioners Are Preparing for the 2026–2027 Social Care Recommissioning Cycle
Share
With so many adult social care tenders expected in 2026–2027, commissioners across England are already preparing internally. This blog takes you “behind the scenes” to explore what councils and ICS commissioning teams are doing now — and how providers can use that insight to prepare and align early.
While each authority works differently, the same themes are emerging nationally. Understanding these early will help you write tenders that match the new commissioning direction.
1. Councils are mapping contracts expiring in 2025–2027
Commissioning teams are conducting internal “contract horizon scans” to identify services expiring after years of Covid-related extensions. Many councils now have:
- A 2025–2029 recommissioning schedule
- A list of priority service areas (e.g., Supported Living, home care, complex needs, MH, autism)
- A risk scoring matrix to identify where delays are unsafe
This means providers can expect clusters of tenders in:
- Supported Living (LD, autism, complex needs)
- Home care (all-age and older people)
- Specialist residential & respite
- Mental health and accommodation-based support
The England Adult Social Care Tender Pipeline reflects these patterns and is updated regularly.
2. Procurement Act 2023 is reshaping evaluation planning
While operationally phased in through 2025, the Procurement Act is already influencing 2026–2027 planning. Councils are adjusting:
- Evaluation models — clearer weighting, transparency, simplified criteria
- Market engagement requirements — earlier soft market testing
- Social value measurement aligned to local needs
- Standstill and challenge processes (tighter documentation)
Providers should expect:
- More structured quality criteria
- Greater scrutiny on mobilisation risk
- Sharper due diligence around finances and governance
- Clearer reasons why bidders win or lose
In short: tenders will be more transparent, but also more demanding in evidence.
3. “Deliverability risk” will be a central evaluation theme
The biggest commissioning concern nationally is whether providers can mobilise safely and sustainably. Many councils have experienced:
- Service failures shortly after award
- Unsafe transitions
- Housing delays in Supported Living
- Recruitment issues for home care and complex packages
As a result, 2026–2027 tenders will place new emphasis on:
- Workforce planning evidence
- Local recruitment strategies
- Housing partnership arrangements
- PBS clinical oversight models
- Safeguarding governance and learning loops
Providers who show realism, not “best-case optimism”, will score highest.
4. Councils are rewriting service models for 2026–2027
Many authorities are using this recommissioning window to update their models of care. You’ll increasingly see tenders requiring:
- Trauma-informed practice as standard
- Stronger PBS frameworks
- Greater focus on outcomes and progression
- Digital expectations (eMAR, digital care planning, dashboards)
- Reduced reliance on 1:1 staffing where safe
- Integrated MDT approaches
Service models written in 2020–2022 won’t score as well in 2026.
Now is the time to update your:
- Core service model narrative
- PBS and clinical oversight model
- Safeguarding and governance frameworks
- Progression/outcomes pathways
5. Market engagement activity is increasing dramatically
Councils are already beginning:
- Soft market testing events
- Provider engagement webinars
- Draft specification consultations
- Market-position statement updates
Attending these early gives you:
- Advance warning of upcoming frameworks
- Insight into commissioner priorities
- Opportunities to influence specifications
- Relationship building with commissioning leads
These sessions often reveal more than the tender documents.
6. Councils are tightening financial sustainability checks
With provider failures increasing, authorities are strengthening due diligence. Expect clearer expectations around:
- Financial ratios and viability
- Insurance and indemnity cover
- Cashflow for mobilisation
- Workforce retention and absence levels
- Audit findings and learning loops
Providers must be prepared to demonstrate financial and operational resilience earlier in the process.
7. Commissioning teams are segmenting providers by capability
Some authorities are introducing capability tiers to:
- Identify which providers can deliver complex pathways
- Maintain separate rosters for high-risk packages
- Support progression-based models
Providers with:
- robust PBS and clinical oversight
- strong governance
- consistent outcomes data
…will be prioritised for advanced pathways in 2026–2027.
8. What this means for providers preparing for the surge
Understanding commissioner priorities early gives you a competitive advantage. Between now and early 2026, providers should focus on:
- Refreshing service models to reflect updated commissioning language
- Building evidence around outcomes, safety and improvement
- Strengthening governance and clinical/PBS oversight
- Developing realistic workforce plans and local pipelines
- Keeping bid libraries up to date
- Using the tender pipeline to prioritise regions early
The key is to prepare before demand peaks — not during it.
To track upcoming tenders, you can bookmark the:
🔗 England Adult Social Care Tender Pipeline (2026–2029)
And if you’d like support ahead of the recommissioning cycle, you can:
- ✍️ Request a Bid Writing Quote
- 📚 Explore the 850+ article Knowledge Hub
💼 Rapid Support Products (fast turnaround options)
- ⚡ 48-Hour Tender Triage
- 🆘 Bid Rescue Session – 60 minutes
- ✍️ Score Booster – Tender Answer Rewrite (500–2000 words)
- 🧩 Tender Answer Blueprint
- 📝 Tender Proofreading & Light Editing
- 🔍 Pre-Tender Readiness Audit
- 📁 Tender Document Review
🚀 Need a Bid Writing Quote?
If you’re exploring support for an upcoming tender or framework, request a quick, no-obligation quote. I’ll review your documents and respond with:
- A clear scope of work
- Estimated days required
- A fixed fee quote
- Any risks, considerations or quick wins