Procurement Trends in 2025: What Social Care Providers Need to Know

July 16, 2025

Procurement in social care is evolving faster than many providers realise. With the Procurement Act 2023 now shaping tendering processes, alongside increased emphasis on social value, transparency, and AI-driven evaluation, organisations must adapt if they want to stay competitive.

🚨 Key Trends Impacting Providers

Here’s what’s changing — and what you need to know to stay ahead:

Transparency and Simplicity: The new regulations aim to make procurement more open and accessible — but this also means more scrutiny of your submissions.
AI in Evaluation: More commissioners are using AI to assist with initial scoring — favouring clear, structured, evidence-led responses over narrative waffle.
Social Value is Non-Negotiable: With NHS and LA tenders routinely weighting social value at 10% or more, your evidence must go beyond policy statements to practical impact.
Focus on Outcomes: Commissioners are looking for providers who can deliver measurable results — not just outputs, but meaningful improvements for people supported.

💡 How to Respond Proactively

To stay ahead, review and update:

Your bid library — are method statements current, clear, and aligned with commissioning priorities?
Your approach to social value — does it reflect Net Zero, community impact, and workforce wellbeing?
Your policies — are they ready for submission and aligned with CQC’s new framework?
Your bid process — does your team understand the shift towards AI-readable, evidence-based bids?

💼 Rapid Support Products (fast turnaround options)

⚡ 48-Hour Tender Triage
🆘 Bid Rescue Session – 60 minutes
✍️ Score Booster – Tender Answer Rewrite
🧩 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

📄 Request a Bid Writing Quote →

🔁 Prefer Flexible Monthly Support?

If you regularly handle tenders, frameworks or call-offs, a Monthly Bid Support Retainer may be a better fit.

Guaranteed hours each month (1, 2, 4 or 8 days)
Discounted day rates vs ad-hoc consultancy
Use time flexibly across bids, triage, library updates, renewals
One-month rollover (fair-use rules applied)
Cancel anytime before next billing date

Explore Monthly Retainers →

🚀 Ready to Win Your Next Bid?

Chat on WhatsApp or email Mike.Harrison@impact-guru.co.uk

Updated for Procurement Act 2023 • CQC-aligned • BASE-aligned (where relevant)