Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Hertfordshire County Council
Pegs Lane
Hertford
SG13 8DE
Contact
Simon Hastings
simon.hastings@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKH23 - Hertfordshire
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
http://www.supplyhertfordshire.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
http://www.supplyhertfordshire.uk
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
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
HCC01/25- Provision of N H S Talking Therapies Counselling Services N H S Talking Therapies Counselling Services
Reference number
HCC2416429
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Hertfordshire County Council (the ‘Council’) wishes to establish a framework agreement for the provision of an N H S Talking Therapies Counselling. The aim of the Service is to deliver a countywide (Hertfordshire) talking therapies counselling for service users with common mental health problems, specifically depression, for those aged sixteen (16) and over. Further information in regards to this opportunity can be found in II.2.4 and VI.3 below. Organisations wishing to take part in this project are invited to ‘express interest’ which will give access to the full procurement documents in the e-tendering system. To be considered as a Bidder you must complete and submit a Bid by the deadline of 12:00 Noon on February 2025. Please allow sufficient time to make your return as late returns will not be permitted by the system. The estimated total value of all of the Contracts is stated in II.1.5 of this notice and is for initial term inclusive of the approximate value for extension.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £8,800,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
- 85312320 - Counselling services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH23 - Hertfordshire
Main site or place of performance
Hertfordshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Hertfordshire County Council (the ‘Council’) acting as lead commissioner on behalf of District funding partners wishes to procure a countywide Framework Agreement for the provision of an N H S Talking Therapies Counselling Services for Service Users living in Hertfordshire with common mental health problems, specifically depression, delivering Services for those aged sixteen (16) and over- to Improve the mental health and wellbeing of Service Users by providing them with an opportunity to explore, discover and clarify ways of living more resourcefully and with a greater sense of wellbeing using ‘Talking Therapies’.This Framework will support Service Users who are registered with their G P practice based on Hertfordshire’s two previous Clinical Commissioning Group footprints. The East and North Hertfordshire area and South and West Hertfordshire cover the registered G P populations of the two previous C C G areasThe N H S Talking Therapies Counselling Services must be delivered by professional qualified Counsellors, who are trained to deliver N H S Talking Therapies in the modalities of Counselling for Depression (C F D) before commencing any interventions for Hertfordshire Service Users under the Framework Agreement.Please Note: This procurement will be conducted in line with the Health Care Services Provider Selection Regime (P S R) Regulation 2023 and the Council's intends to award a contract in line with those Regulations. The Contract Period is for four (4) years. The Contract commencement date is 1st May 2025.This procurement is an open process. Organisations wishing to take part in this project are invited to ‘express an interest’ and also ‘opt in’ which will give access to the full procurement documents in the e-tendering system. To be considered as a Tenderer you must complete and submit a Tender by the deadline of 12 noon on 19th February 2025- Please allow sufficient time to make your return, as Tender submissions cannot be uploaded and submitted after this return deadline. Please ensure that where possible documents are uploaded as a P D F and that file names are succinct. Any questions relating to this procurement must be made via correspondence on the website, in accordance with the procurement documents, and can be addressed to the main contact as shown in the details above. Tenderers should be aware that due to the nature of the Services provided, any Contract formed as a result of this procurement process shall be executed as a deed. Tenderers should seek independent legal advice on the implications of this prior to submitting their Tender, where appropriate. Please note that the contract requirements will be subject to available financial resources, supplier performance and flexibility to meet changing demands. To access this opportunity please visit https://in-tendhost.co.uk/supplyhertfordshire/aspx/Home
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 100%
Price - Weighting: 0%
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £8,800,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
This Framework Agreement will be reviewed at the end of the 4 year period.
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: 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
As per the procurement documents
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
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.1) Information about a particular profession
Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Framework agreement with several operators
In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years:
Will not exceed 4 years
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
19 February 2025
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
19 February 2025
Local time
12:00pm
Place
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
This is a Provider Selection Regime (P S R) Contract Notice. The awarding of this Contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the Provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. Please note Hertfordshire County Council has worked closely with its districts and partners to create a joint procurement portal called supply Hertfordshire. This portal provides an e-Tendering system which is run by In-Tend. To access this procurement opportunity please visit https://in-tendhost.co.uk/supplyhertfordshire/aspx/Home and follow the on-screen guidance. The Council's procurement documents are available within the e-Tendering system. This is a one stage procurement process. Therefore, if you wish to be considered as a tenderer you must complete and submit a tender by the specified closing date and time. Tender submissions cannot be uploaded after this return deadline. Any clarifications regarding this opportunity must be raised through Correspondence area in the eTendering system. If you are experiencing problems In-Tend offer a help section which includes a dedicated UK support desk which can be contacted via email: support@in-tend.co.uk or Telephone: +44 1144070065 for any website/technical questions, Monday to Friday, 8:30-17:00.The Council reserves the right at any time to cease the procurement process and not award a Contract or to award only part of the opportunity described in this notice. If the Council takes up this right, then they will not be responsible for or pay the expenses or losses, which may be incurred by any organisation or tenderer as a result. The Council undertakes to hold confidential any information provided in the proposal submitted, subject to the Council's obligations under the law including the Freedom of Information Act 2000. If the organisation considers that any of the information submitted in the proposal should not be disclosed because of its sensitivity then this should be stated with the reason for considering it sensitive. The Council will then endeavour to consult with the applicant about such sensitive information when considering any request received under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 before replying to such a request. The Council reserves the right to carry out additional financial checks on all organisations bidding for this opportunity at any time during the procurement process. This is to ensure that they continue to meet theCouncil's requirements and remain financially viable to fulfil the requirements under the Contract. Organisations should be aware that due to the nature of the Services provided, any Contract formed as a result of this procurement process shall be executed as a deed. Organisations should seek independent legal advice on the implications of this prior to submitting their bid, where appropriate. The procurement process that will apply to the services is specified in the procurement documents accordingly. Please note that the Contract requirements will be subject to available financial resources, supplier performance and flexibility to meet changing demands.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Independent Choice and Procurement Panel
Wellington House
London
SE1 8UG
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Independent Choice and Procurement Panel
Wellington House
London
SE1 8UG
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The Council will incorporate a minimum 8 working day (when using electronic means) standstill period at the point information on the award of the Contract is communicated to tenderers.