Opportunity

Flexible Agreement for the provision of Fostering Agency Placements

  • Lancashire County Council

F02: Contract notice

Notice reference: 2022/S 000-001202

Published 14 January 2022, 3:12pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Lancashire County Council

Fishergate

Preston

PR18XJ

Contact

Procurement Care-Health

Email

caphprocurement@lancashire.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 1772538079

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKD4 - Lancashire

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.lancashire.gov.uk

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and-procurement/tenders/flexible-agreement-for-the-provision-of-fostering-agency-placements/

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

www.lancashire.gov.uk/isupplier

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Regional or local authority

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Flexible Agreement for the provision of Fostering Agency Placements

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85000000 - Health and social work services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Lancashire County Council (the Council) are leading on the procurement of an open Flexible Agreement for the Provision of Fostering Agency Placements.

Since 2019 Blackburn with Darwen Council, Blackpool Council, Cumbria County Council and Lancashire County Council (BBLC) have been collaborating as part of a Department of Education funded project to improve the sufficiency of foster care placements across the authorities. By working together, the four Contracting Bodies have developed the Flexible Agreement which this procurement intends to establish, with the aim to influence the behaviour of these agencies in order to prioritise the Children from the four Contracting Bodies within the combined authorities' geographical footprint.

The Flexible Agreement will be a list of approved Independent Foster Care Providers.

It is intended that the Flexible Agreement will remain effect for 9 years, Service Contracts can be awarded as call-off contracts as detailed within the Invitation to Participate (ITP).

This procurement procedure is considered to be subject to the Light Touch Regime under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

Providers can apply to join the Flexible Agreement, if Applicants satisfy the required criteria. The Flexible Agreement will be open for new Applications during the initial Application phase. Once the initial Application deadline has passed (see ITP for dates), Providers can apply to join every three years throughout the term. (See the Council's eTendering portal iSupplier and ITP for dates). Following an evaluation process, applicants will receive an outcome notification. Successful Applicants will be required to sign a Flexible Agreement and will be appointed as a provider.

Lancashire County Council's Flexible Agreement may be used by Contracting Authorities listed below and any successor council as defined in The Local Government (Structural Changes) (Transfer of Functions, Property, Rights and Liabilities) Regulations 2008 to the Contracting Authorities.

• Cumbria County Council

• Blackpool Council

• Blackburn with Darwen Council

Please note that Cumbria County Council is currently undergoing a local government reorganisation and Government has announced that Cumbria County Council is to be replaced by two unitary authorities with effect form 01 April 2023. Therefore, Cumbria County Council will be entitled to novate the Flexible Agreement for the provision of Fostering Agency Placements to any successor council.

The Flexible Agreement will be split into the following Lots:

• Lot 1 Mainstream Foster Care

• Lot 2 Enhanced Foster Care

• Lot 3 Step Down Foster Care

Applicants must be successful in Lot 1 to be eligible for Lot 2 and/or Lot 3.

Estimated total value up to £375,000,000 - £415,000,000.

See invitation to participate for full requirements, particularly in regard to requirements concerning: insurance, financial ratios, consortia requirements, mandatory and discretionary exclusion criteria, references, past performance/experience, registered households and quality and price criteria.

How to Apply

To participate and join the Flexible Agreement, please read all documents listed below. Applicants must complete all the required documents (as stated in the ITP) and must be returned via the iSupplier portal: www.lancashire.gov.uk/isupplier under RFQ 15314114.

All aspects (documents/attachments/responses) of the application can and must be submitted via the iSupplier portal. The Council will not accept email or hard copy/paper applications in relation to this process and you must submit your application electronically via the iSupplier portal.

All instructions on how to apply to join the Flexible Agreement, evaluation criteria terms and conditions and documents to be returned can be found on following webpage: https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and-procurement/tenders/flexible-agreement-for-the-provision-of-fostering-agency-placements/

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £415,000,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: Yes

Tenders may be submitted for all lots

The contracting authority reserves the right to award contracts combining the following lots or groups of lots:

Applicants must be successful in Lot 1 to be eligible for Lot 2 and/or Lot 3.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 1 Standard Foster Care.

Lot No

1

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85000000 - Health and social work services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKC2 - Northumberland and Tyne and Wear
  • UKD1 - Cumbria
  • UKD4 - Lancashire
  • UKE2 - North Yorkshire
  • UKM9 - Southern Scotland
Main site or place of performance

Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool , Cumbria and Lancashire

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Lot 1 Standard Foster Care. The provision of foster care placements for children and young people aged 0-4, 5-10, 11-15, 16+ and Parent and Child placements

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

108

This contract is subject to renewal

No

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 2 Enhanced Foster Care.

Lot No

2

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85000000 - Health and social work services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKC2 - Northumberland and Tyne and Wear
  • UKD1 - Cumbria
  • UKD4 - Lancashire
  • UKE2 - North Yorkshire
  • UKM9 - Southern Scotland
Main site or place of performance

Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool , Cumbria and Lancashire

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Lot 2 Enhanced Foster Care. The provision of foster care placements and support services for children and young people with enhanced needs

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

108

This contract is subject to renewal

No

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 3 Step Down into Foster Care

Lot No

3

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85000000 - Health and social work services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKC2 - Northumberland and Tyne and Wear
  • UKD1 - Cumbria
  • UKD4 - Lancashire
  • UKE2 - North Yorkshire
  • UKM9 - Southern Scotland
Main site or place of performance

Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool , Cumbria and Lancashire

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Lot 3 Step Down into Foster Care. The provision of foster care placements and support services for children and young people who are placed within Residential Care or on a trajectory to be placed within Residential Care.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

108

This contract is subject to renewal

No

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No


Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information

three.1) Conditions for participation

three.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers

List and brief description of conditions

The Council requires Applicants to be registered with Ofsted or Care Inspectorate for regulated activity. Nominated locations put forward must not be rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted or 'weak' or 'unsatisfactory' by Care Inspectorate.

See invitation to participate for full requirements, particularly in regard to requirements concerning: insurance, financial ratios, consortia requirements, mandatory and discretionary exclusion criteria, references, past performance/experience, registered households, and quality and price criteria.

three.1.2) Economic and financial standing

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents

three.1.3) Technical and professional ability

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Open procedure

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2020/S 129-318142

four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date

4 May 2031

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

5 May 2031

Local time

10:00am

Information about authorised persons and opening procedure

The Flexible Agreement is now open for Applications and is anticipated to be open until the initial Application Return Deadline (See the Council's eTendering portal iSupplier portal and ITP for date).

Once the initial Application Return deadline has passed (see ITP for dates), Applicants can apply to join every three years throughout the term, dates of deadlines and evaluation will be published on the iSupplier portal.


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: No

six.3) Additional information

Requests to participate (Applications) are required and must be submitted via the Authority's tendering system, only. no hard copy or email applications will be accepted: www.lancashire.gov.uk/isupplier

Use of this system does not require high specification IT equipment or connections, nor high level personal IT skills/capabilities. Access to the system/software and advice is free of charge.

Registration is necessary in order to submit requests to participate in the Flexible Agreement.

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Royal Courts of Justice - The High Court

London

WC2A 2LL

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/royal-courts-of-justice