The UK Government has announced an additional £50 million cash injection for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) for 2025-26, which will enable thousands more older and disabled people to live independently in their own homes.
This extra investment will be allocated to local authorities in February 2026 and brings total DFG funding for 2025-26 to £761 million.
For BHTA members installing essential adaptation equipment, this extra DFG cash injection will come as a welcome announcement, as it means there is more money available in local communities to facilitate these life-changing installations and improve individuals’ quality of life.
DFGs enable vital home adaptations such as stairlifts, ramps, accessible bathrooms and kitchens, and assistive technologies. This includes mobility and daily living aid equipment like grab rails, ceiling track hoists, homelifts, and wetrooms. It means that people can live at home safely, independently, and comfortably.
Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, said:“Everyone deserves to feel safe and independent in their own home. A stairlift or an accessible bathroom might seem like a small change, but for thousands of older and disabled people these adaptations can be life changing. They help people move around freely, stay close to family and friends, and live with dignity.
“This £50 million boost could support around 5,000 more people to make these vital changes to their homes so they can remain independent and comfortable rather than face a hospital stay or a move into residential care.
“Home adaptations also play a crucial role in easing pressure on our NHS – preventing falls, speeding up hospital discharges and reducing admissions. This investment is part of our commitment to shift more care out of hospital and into the community, where people want to be.”
The DFG supports around 60,000 older people and people with disabilities each year, with an average grant of around £10,000.
Home adaptations also play a crucial role in supporting the NHS by preventing falls and other accidents in the home, speeding up hospital discharges and reducing admissions – easing pressure on the health service and helping to shift care out of hospital and into the community.
A new tender opportunity covering the supply of community equipment and assistive technology across four local authorities in West Yorkshire has become available. The framework aims to support independent living and improve wellbeing for residents in Leeds, Bradford, Calderdale & Kirklees, and Wakefield.
The contracting authorities intend to establish an open framework to source a wide range of daily living equipment for both adults and children, along with specialist and bespoke items.
This opportunity is relevant to BHTA members operating in mobility, bathing and toileting equipment, postural management, beds and accessories, pressure care, seating, moving and handling, paediatrics, and specialist solutions.
Estimated value:
£59,631,453.12 (excluding VAT)
£71,557,743.74 (including VAT)
Framework duration:
1 April 2026 – 31 March 2031 (5 years)
Possible extension: Up to 36 months (to a maximum end date of March 2034)
This open framework has no maximum limit on the number of suppliers and will allow companies to join or update their product ranges at scheduled refresh points (approximately every two years) in line with the Procurement Act 2023.
The framework is being established on behalf of the following councils: Leeds City Council, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Borough Council of Calderdale, and Wakefield Council.
Only these establishing authorities may use the framework.
The framework consists of three lots. Suppliers may apply for one, two, or all three, but may only be awarded a maximum of one lot.
Includes individual items and replacement parts across categories such as bathing, beds, showering, medical devices, moving and handling, mobility, pressure care, seating, toileting, and visual aids.
Covers individual items relating to bathing, beds, postural management, moving and handling, seating, and toileting.
Covers specialist or bespoke products, including bathing, bed packages and accessories, medical equipment, toileting, pressure relief, visual aids, mobility, dressing, and kitchen products.
Suppliers applying for Lot 1 and/or Lot 2 will automatically be considered for Lot 3 (unless they opt out), subject to meeting the Conditions of Participation.
Orders under Lot 3 will be placed following mini competitions.
Lots 1 and 2 will be awarded on a product line-by-line basis, subject to the following four-stage evaluation:
Products must meet specification requirements to pass.
Lot 3 does not include tender-stage evaluation; instead, suppliers meeting COP requirements will be added to the lot, and orders will be competed as needed.
The award criteria for Lots 1 and 2 are based on:
There are no qualitative scored criteria.
For Lot 3:
Legal, financial, and technical checks will apply across all three lots. These must be passed for a supplier to be appointed to any part of the framework. Specifics are provided in the COP documentation available on YORtender.
Enquiry deadline: 12pm, 22 December 2025
Tender submission deadline: 12pm, 7 January 2026
Estimated award date: 16 March 2026
Next anticipated tender re-advertisement: July 2028
Tenders must be submitted electronically via YORtender.
Documentation, tender details, appendices, pricing schedules, Conditions of Participation, technical specifications, and instructions are also available through the YORtender portal.