Tender

Independent Advocacy Service for Adults with Health and Social Care Needs

  • Westmorland and Furness Council

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-001911

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-042e79

Published 19 January 2024, 12:38pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Westmorland and Furness Council

South Lakeland House, Lowther Street

Kendal

LA9 4DQ

Contact

Mrs Alyson Delin

Email

Alyson.Delin@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 7423749646

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKD1 - Cumbria

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/

Buyer's address

https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/

one.3) Communication

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

https://www.the-chest.org.uk/

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

https://www.the-chest.org.uk/

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

Independent Advocacy Service for Adults with Health and Social Care Needs

Reference number

DN707694

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85000000 - Health and social work services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Local authorities have a responsibility to ensure the provision of professional independent advocacy under the terms of:

• The Care Act 2014 and the Care and Support Statutory Guidance for independent advocates for

people using social care services.

• The Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its Code of Practice for independent mental capacity act

advocates.

• Mental Health Act 1983 and its Code of Practice for independent mental capacity act advocates.

Best practice guidance (NICE 2022) states that advocacy providers should aim to support

continuity by offering people the same advocate for different types of Advocacy. If this is not possible, they should ensure that systems for handover are in place that are not reliant on a new referral.

Local authorities must make appropriate arrangements for independent advocacy services to provide assistant to people making or intending to make complaints as described in the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £858,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKD1 - Cumbria

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Westmorland and Furness Council came into being on 1st April 2023. It is England’s third largest unitary authority by geographical area, and it’s more sparsely populated this presents challenges in terms of sustaining and delivering services and requires innovating approaches and continuous improvement.

The Council cares and believes everyone matters and will strive to ensure that citizens can gain access to the right service, in the right place at the right time.

Local authorities have a responsibility to ensure the provision of professional independent advocacy under the terms of:

• The Care Act 2014 and the Care and Support Statutory Guidance for independent advocates for

people using social care services.

• The Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its Code of Practice for independent mental capacity act

advocates.

• Mental Health Act 1983 and its Code of Practice for independent mental capacity act advocates.

Best practice guidance (NICE 2022) states that advocacy providers should aim to support continuity by offering people the same advocate for different types of Advocacy. If this is not possible, they should ensure that systems for handover are in place that are not reliant on a new referral.

Local authorities must make appropriate arrangements for independent advocacy services to provide assistant to people making or intending to make complaints as described in the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70

Cost criterion - Name: Cost / Weighting: 30

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £858,000

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

Start date

1 June 2024

End date

31 May 2027

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: Yes

Description of options

2 optional extensions of up to 12 months each.

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 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: No

four.2) Administrative information

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

Date

16 February 2024

Local time

1:30pm

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

English

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

16 February 2024

Local time

1:30pm


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: No

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

HM Courts Service

London

Country

United Kingdom