Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Essex County Council
County Hall, Market Road
Chelmsford
CM1 1QH
Contact
Ms Rachel Horne
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH3 - Essex
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
https://procontract.due-north.com/Login
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://procontract.due-north.com/Login
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
Children’s Residential Personalised Block Contracts
Reference number
DN745245
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Essex County Council have an opportunity for providers within the children’s residential and fostering space to enter into a block contract agreement, this will be for registered provision for children and young people under the age of 18, currently in unregistered settings. Providers must have provision that is Ofsted registered and, either in Essex or within 20 miles from Essex County Council’s geographic coverage / boundaries.
Please be advised that the contracts for this service will be commissioned under an initial term of twelve (12) months (subject to the enactment of the break clause as detailed in the draft terms and conditions for this procurement). Thereafter, the Council may, at its sole discretion, enact the options to extend the contract. For the avoidance of any further doubt, please note that this service is being commissioned with two (2) optional extension periods, each of which provide an additional twelve (12) month term. Therefore, the maximum duration of each contract per lot is three (3) years. In addition, please note that the provider(s) will be required to report their delivery of Social Value in relation to this service as a condition of the enactment of the contractual extensions. The Council will provide further details regarding this requirement with the successful bidder(s) during the contract management of this service.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £19,656,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Young Person 1
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Please find below a summary of the Council’s key requirements for this lot:
The Council are not mandating precise details of how a provider should support a Child in Care, instead trusting in the specialisms, knowledge, and expertise of this market. This personalised specification approach allows providers (both fostering and residential) full autonomy and freedom around their individual model using their bids to detail how they will meet the individual needs of a Child in Care and the expected outcomes of this contract.
Exact details of Children in Care requiring a placement are individually outlined in each output specification, these each form a Lot. Each of these are anonymised referrals of a Young Person who is currently in an unregistered placement, or at risk of being in an unregistered placement, who requires a registered placement.
The Council will consider all registered children’s home/foster care placements so long as it is in accordance with the child or young person’s care plan, the Council are therefore able to consider solo, dual or group homes.
The Council are not mandating required minimum support hours (unless in accordance with a DoLS order) instead opting to hear from providers about how they best feel they can meet needs.
Placements for children and young people include those:
• With emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• With EHCP plans.
• With a history of disrupted familial relationships and/or have experienced break down of placements in foster care or children’s homes.
• Who have been at risk of harm.
• Who have experienced neglect.
• Who have experienced emotional abuse.
• Who have an identified or suspected neurodiversity.
Additional children and young people referred if / once the initial placement has ended are likely to include those aged 10-18 years old with behaviours including but not limited to:
• Self-harm, including suicidal thoughts.
• Offending
• Sexualised behaviours
• Fire setting
• Absconding
The placement is not required to accommodate children and young people with:
• Physical disabilities.
• Severe Learning disabilities.
• Acute mental health needs who require inpatient treatment.
• Clinical / nursing needs.
• Severe drug dependency not on a treatment support program.
In addition, the provider is to operate within Children’s homes / fostering regulations, Ofsted requirements, and ensure Regulation 44 visits are in place as applicable. Criteria For Providing the Provision include that the provider will have a registered children’s home vacancy or foster care placement which can be offered within the timescales detailed within the tender.
Furthermore, this service must be provided in accordance with the following conditions:
• The placement must be delivered in Essex or within 20 miles.
• The provider must aspire for an Ofsted rating of good or outstanding.
This service specification has been drafted in accordance with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 (“the Regulations”) and accompanying guidance. The provider must adhere to the quality standards as set out within the Regulations when delivering children’s residential placements under this provision. These requirements include but are not limited to the provision of appropriately trained staff.
The service specification has also been drafted in accordance with Children Act 1989, Guidance and Regulations Volume 4 Fostering Services, the Care Standards Act 2000, the Adoption and Children Act 2002, the Children Act 2004 and the Children and Young Persons Act 2008.
Please be advised that the full scope of the Council’s requirements for this service are detailed in the overarching service specification which needs to be read in conjunction with the anonymised personal profile for this lot. These documents form part of the tender pack for this procurement which will be published on ProContract and can be accessed via:
https://procontract.due-north.com/
Please be advised that interested parties must register for a user account to access this opportunity via ProContract. If your organisation does not already hold a ProContract user account, please use the above link and follow the onscreen instructions to register for a user account.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical Response / Weighting: 30
Price - Weighting: 70
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £2,184,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
12
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Two further 12 month extensions available.
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
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Young Person 2
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Please find below a summary of the Council’s key requirements for this lot:
The Council are not mandating precise details of how a provider should support a Child in Care, instead trusting in the specialisms, knowledge, and expertise of this market. This personalised specification approach allows providers (both fostering and residential) full autonomy and freedom around their individual model using their bids to detail how they will meet the individual needs of a Child in Care and the expected outcomes of this contract.
Exact details of Children in Care requiring a placement are individually outlined in each output specification, these each form a Lot. Each of these are anonymised referrals of a Young Person who is currently in an unregistered placement, or at risk of being in an unregistered placement, who requires a registered placement.
The Council will consider all registered children’s home/foster care placements so long as it is in accordance with the child or young person’s care plan, the Council are therefore able to consider solo, dual or group homes.
The Council are not mandating required minimum support hours (unless in accordance with a DoLS order) instead opting to hear from providers about how they best feel they can meet needs.
Placements for children and young people include those:
• With emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• With EHCP plans.
• With a history of disrupted familial relationships and/or have experienced break down of placements in foster care or children’s homes.
• Who have been at risk of harm.
• Who have experienced neglect.
• Who have experienced emotional abuse.
• Who have an identified or suspected neurodiversity.
Additional children and young people referred if / once the initial placement has ended are likely to include those aged 10-18 years old with behaviours including but not limited to:
• Self-harm, including suicidal thoughts.
• Offending
• Sexualised behaviours
• Fire setting
• Absconding
The placement is not required to accommodate children and young people with:
• Physical disabilities.
• Severe Learning disabilities.
• Acute mental health needs who require inpatient treatment.
• Clinical / nursing needs.
• Severe drug dependency not on a treatment support program.
In addition, the provider is to operate within Children’s homes / fostering regulations, Ofsted requirements, and ensure Regulation 44 visits are in place as applicable. Criteria For Providing the Provision include that the provider will have a registered children’s home vacancy or foster care placement which can be offered within the timescales detailed within the tender.
Furthermore, this service must be provided in accordance with the following conditions:
• The placement must be delivered in Essex or within 20 miles.
• The provider must aspire for an Ofsted rating of good or outstanding.
This service specification has been drafted in accordance with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 (“the Regulations”) and accompanying guidance. The provider must adhere to the quality standards as set out within the Regulations when delivering children’s residential placements under this provision. These requirements include but are not limited to the provision of appropriately trained staff.
The service specification has also been drafted in accordance with Children Act 1989, Guidance and Regulations Volume 4 Fostering Services, the Care Standards Act 2000, the Adoption and Children Act 2002, the Children Act 2004 and the Children and Young Persons Act 2008.
Please be advised that the full scope of the Council’s requirements for this service are detailed in the overarching service specification which needs to be read in conjunction with the anonymised personal profile for this lot. These documents form part of the tender pack for this procurement which will be published on ProContract and can be accessed via:
https://procontract.due-north.com/
Please be advised that interested parties must register for a user account to access this opportunity via ProContract. If your organisation does not already hold a ProContract user account, please use the above link and follow the onscreen instructions to register for a user account.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 30
Price - Weighting: 70
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £2,184,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
12
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Two further 12 month extensions are available.
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
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Young Person 3
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Please find below a summary of the Council’s key requirements for this lot:
The Council are not mandating precise details of how a provider should support a Child in Care, instead trusting in the specialisms, knowledge, and expertise of this market. This personalised specification approach allows providers (both fostering and residential) full autonomy and freedom around their individual model using their bids to detail how they will meet the individual needs of a Child in Care and the expected outcomes of this contract.
Exact details of Children in Care requiring a placement are individually outlined in each output specification, these each form a Lot. Each of these are anonymised referrals of a Young Person who is currently in an unregistered placement, or at risk of being in an unregistered placement, who requires a registered placement.
The Council will consider all registered children’s home/foster care placements so long as it is in accordance with the child or young person’s care plan, the Council are therefore able to consider solo, dual or group homes.
The Council are not mandating required minimum support hours (unless in accordance with a DoLS order) instead opting to hear from providers about how they best feel they can meet needs.
Placements for children and young people include those:
• With emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• With EHCP plans.
• With a history of disrupted familial relationships and/or have experienced break down of placements in foster care or children’s homes.
• Who have been at risk of harm.
• Who have experienced neglect.
• Who have experienced emotional abuse.
• Who have an identified or suspected neurodiversity.
Additional children and young people referred if / once the initial placement has ended are likely to include those aged 10-18 years old with behaviours including but not limited to:
• Self-harm, including suicidal thoughts.
• Offending
• Sexualised behaviours
• Fire setting
• Absconding
The placement is not required to accommodate children and young people with:
• Physical disabilities.
• Severe Learning disabilities.
• Acute mental health needs who require inpatient treatment.
• Clinical / nursing needs.
• Severe drug dependency not on a treatment support program.
In addition, the provider is to operate within Children’s homes / fostering regulations, Ofsted requirements, and ensure Regulation 44 visits are in place as applicable. Criteria For Providing the Provision include that the provider will have a registered children’s home vacancy or foster care placement which can be offered within the timescales detailed within the tender.
Furthermore, this service must be provided in accordance with the following conditions:
• The placement must be delivered in Essex or within 20 miles.
• The provider must aspire for an Ofsted rating of good or outstanding.
This service specification has been drafted in accordance with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 (“the Regulations”) and accompanying guidance. The provider must adhere to the quality standards as set out within the Regulations when delivering children’s residential placements under this provision. These requirements include but are not limited to the provision of appropriately trained staff.
The service specification has also been drafted in accordance with Children Act 1989, Guidance and Regulations Volume 4 Fostering Services, the Care Standards Act 2000, the Adoption and Children Act 2002, the Children Act 2004 and the Children and Young Persons Act 2008.
Please be advised that the full scope of the Council’s requirements for this service are detailed in the overarching service specification which needs to be read in conjunction with the anonymised personal profile for this lot. These documents form part of the tender pack for this procurement which will be published on ProContract and can be accessed via:
https://procontract.due-north.com/
Please be advised that interested parties must register for a user account to access this opportunity via ProContract. If your organisation does not already hold a ProContract user account, please use the above link and follow the onscreen instructions to register for a user account.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 30
Price - Weighting: 70
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £2,184,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
12
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Two optional 12 month extensions available
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
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Young Person 4
Lot No
4
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Please find below a summary of the Council’s key requirements for this lot:
The Council are not mandating precise details of how a provider should support a Child in Care, instead trusting in the specialisms, knowledge, and expertise of this market. This personalised specification approach allows providers (both fostering and residential) full autonomy and freedom around their individual model using their bids to detail how they will meet the individual needs of a Child in Care and the expected outcomes of this contract.
Exact details of Children in Care requiring a placement are individually outlined in each output specification, these each form a Lot. Each of these are anonymised referrals of a Young Person who is currently in an unregistered placement, or at risk of being in an unregistered placement, who requires a registered placement.
The Council will consider all registered children’s home/foster care placements so long as it is in accordance with the child or young person’s care plan, the Council are therefore able to consider solo, dual or group homes.
The Council are not mandating required minimum support hours (unless in accordance with a DoLS order) instead opting to hear from providers about how they best feel they can meet needs.
Placements for children and young people include those:
• With emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• With EHCP plans.
• With a history of disrupted familial relationships and/or have experienced break down of placements in foster care or children’s homes.
• Who have been at risk of harm.
• Who have experienced neglect.
• Who have experienced emotional abuse.
• Who have an identified or suspected neurodiversity.
Additional children and young people referred if / once the initial placement has ended are likely to include those aged 10-18 years old with behaviours including but not limited to:
• Self-harm, including suicidal thoughts.
• Offending
• Sexualised behaviours
• Fire setting
• Absconding
The placement is not required to accommodate children and young people with:
• Physical disabilities.
• Severe Learning disabilities.
• Acute mental health needs who require inpatient treatment.
• Clinical / nursing needs.
• Severe drug dependency not on a treatment support program.
In addition, the provider is to operate within Children’s homes / fostering regulations, Ofsted requirements, and ensure Regulation 44 visits are in place as applicable. Criteria For Providing the Provision include that the provider will have a registered children’s home vacancy or foster care placement which can be offered within the timescales detailed within the tender.
Furthermore, this service must be provided in accordance with the following conditions:
• The placement must be delivered in Essex or within 20 miles.
• The provider must aspire for an Ofsted rating of good or outstanding.
This service specification has been drafted in accordance with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 (“the Regulations”) and accompanying guidance. The provider must adhere to the quality standards as set out within the Regulations when delivering children’s residential placements under this provision. These requirements include but are not limited to the provision of appropriately trained staff.
The service specification has also been drafted in accordance with Children Act 1989, Guidance and Regulations Volume 4 Fostering Services, the Care Standards Act 2000, the Adoption and Children Act 2002, the Children Act 2004 and the Children and Young Persons Act 2008.
Please be advised that the full scope of the Council’s requirements for this service are detailed in the overarching service specification which needs to be read in conjunction with the anonymised personal profile for this lot. These documents form part of the tender pack for this procurement which will be published on ProContract and can be accessed via:
https://procontract.due-north.com/
Please be advised that interested parties must register for a user account to access this opportunity via ProContract. If your organisation does not already hold a ProContract user account, please use the above link and follow the onscreen instructions to register for a user account.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 30
Price - Weighting: 70
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £2,184,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
12
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Two optional 12 month extensions available.
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
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Young Person 5
Lot No
5
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Please find below a summary of the Council’s key requirements for this lot:
The Council are not mandating precise details of how a provider should support a Child in Care, instead trusting in the specialisms, knowledge, and expertise of this market. This personalised specification approach allows providers (both fostering and residential) full autonomy and freedom around their individual model using their bids to detail how they will meet the individual needs of a Child in Care and the expected outcomes of this contract.
Exact details of Children in Care requiring a placement are individually outlined in each output specification, these each form a Lot. Each of these are anonymised referrals of a Young Person who is currently in an unregistered placement, or at risk of being in an unregistered placement, who requires a registered placement.
The Council will consider all registered children’s home/foster care placements so long as it is in accordance with the child or young person’s care plan, the Council are therefore able to consider solo, dual or group homes.
The Council are not mandating required minimum support hours (unless in accordance with a DoLS order) instead opting to hear from providers about how they best feel they can meet needs.
Placements for children and young people include those:
• With emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• With EHCP plans.
• With a history of disrupted familial relationships and/or have experienced break down of placements in foster care or children’s homes.
• Who have been at risk of harm.
• Who have experienced neglect.
• Who have experienced emotional abuse.
• Who have an identified or suspected neurodiversity.
Additional children and young people referred if / once the initial placement has ended are likely to include those aged 10-18 years old with behaviours including but not limited to:
• Self-harm, including suicidal thoughts.
• Offending
• Sexualised behaviours
• Fire setting
• Absconding
The placement is not required to accommodate children and young people with:
• Physical disabilities.
• Severe Learning disabilities.
• Acute mental health needs who require inpatient treatment.
• Clinical / nursing needs.
• Severe drug dependency not on a treatment support program.
In addition, the provider is to operate within Children’s homes / fostering regulations, Ofsted requirements, and ensure Regulation 44 visits are in place as applicable. Criteria For Providing the Provision include that the provider will have a registered children’s home vacancy or foster care placement which can be offered within the timescales detailed within the tender.
Furthermore, this service must be provided in accordance with the following conditions:
• The placement must be delivered in Essex or within 20 miles.
• The provider must aspire for an Ofsted rating of good or outstanding.
This service specification has been drafted in accordance with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 (“the Regulations”) and accompanying guidance. The provider must adhere to the quality standards as set out within the Regulations when delivering children’s residential placements under this provision. These requirements include but are not limited to the provision of appropriately trained staff.
The service specification has also been drafted in accordance with Children Act 1989, Guidance and Regulations Volume 4 Fostering Services, the Care Standards Act 2000, the Adoption and Children Act 2002, the Children Act 2004 and the Children and Young Persons Act 2008.
Please be advised that the full scope of the Council’s requirements for this service are detailed in the overarching service specification which needs to be read in conjunction with the anonymised personal profile for this lot. These documents form part of the tender pack for this procurement which will be published on ProContract and can be accessed via:
https://procontract.due-north.com/
Please be advised that interested parties must register for a user account to access this opportunity via ProContract. If your organisation does not already hold a ProContract user account, please use the above link and follow the onscreen instructions to register for a user account.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 30
Price - Weighting: 70
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £2,184,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
12
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Two optional 12 month extensions available.
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
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Young Person 6
Lot No
6
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Please find below a summary of the Council’s key requirements for this lot:
The Council are not mandating precise details of how a provider should support a Child in Care, instead trusting in the specialisms, knowledge, and expertise of this market. This personalised specification approach allows providers (both fostering and residential) full autonomy and freedom around their individual model using their bids to detail how they will meet the individual needs of a Child in Care and the expected outcomes of this contract.
Exact details of Children in Care requiring a placement are individually outlined in each output specification, these each form a Lot. Each of these are anonymised referrals of a Young Person who is currently in an unregistered placement, or at risk of being in an unregistered placement, who requires a registered placement.
The Council will consider all registered children’s home/foster care placements so long as it is in accordance with the child or young person’s care plan, the Council are therefore able to consider solo, dual or group homes.
The Council are not mandating required minimum support hours (unless in accordance with a DoLS order) instead opting to hear from providers about how they best feel they can meet needs.
Placements for children and young people include those:
• With emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• With EHCP plans.
• With a history of disrupted familial relationships and/or have experienced break down of placements in foster care or children’s homes.
• Who have been at risk of harm.
• Who have experienced neglect.
• Who have experienced emotional abuse.
• Who have an identified or suspected neurodiversity.
Additional children and young people referred if / once the initial placement has ended are likely to include those aged 10-18 years old with behaviours including but not limited to:
• Self-harm, including suicidal thoughts.
• Offending
• Sexualised behaviours
• Fire setting
• Absconding
The placement is not required to accommodate children and young people with:
• Physical disabilities.
• Severe Learning disabilities.
• Acute mental health needs who require inpatient treatment.
• Clinical / nursing needs.
• Severe drug dependency not on a treatment support program.
In addition, the provider is to operate within Children’s homes / fostering regulations, Ofsted requirements, and ensure Regulation 44 visits are in place as applicable. Criteria For Providing the Provision include that the provider will have a registered children’s home vacancy or foster care placement which can be offered within the timescales detailed within the tender.
Furthermore, this service must be provided in accordance with the following conditions:
• The placement must be delivered in Essex or within 20 miles.
• The provider must aspire for an Ofsted rating of good or outstanding.
This service specification has been drafted in accordance with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 (“the Regulations”) and accompanying guidance. The provider must adhere to the quality standards as set out within the Regulations when delivering children’s residential placements under this provision. These requirements include but are not limited to the provision of appropriately trained staff.
The service specification has also been drafted in accordance with Children Act 1989, Guidance and Regulations Volume 4 Fostering Services, the Care Standards Act 2000, the Adoption and Children Act 2002, the Children Act 2004 and the Children and Young Persons Act 2008.
Please be advised that the full scope of the Council’s requirements for this service are detailed in the overarching service specification which needs to be read in conjunction with the anonymised personal profile for this lot. These documents form part of the tender pack for this procurement which will be published on ProContract and can be accessed via:
https://procontract.due-north.com/
Please be advised that interested parties must register for a user account to access this opportunity via ProContract. If your organisation does not already hold a ProContract user account, please use the above link and follow the onscreen instructions to register for a user account.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 30
Price - Weighting: 70
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £2,184,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
12
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Two 12 month extensions available.
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
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Young Person 7
Lot No
7
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Please find below a summary of the Council’s key requirements for this lot:
The Council are not mandating precise details of how a provider should support a Child in Care, instead trusting in the specialisms, knowledge, and expertise of this market. This personalised specification approach allows providers (both fostering and residential) full autonomy and freedom around their individual model using their bids to detail how they will meet the individual needs of a Child in Care and the expected outcomes of this contract.
Exact details of Children in Care requiring a placement are individually outlined in each output specification, these each form a Lot. Each of these are anonymised referrals of a Young Person who is currently in an unregistered placement, or at risk of being in an unregistered placement, who requires a registered placement.
The Council will consider all registered children’s home/foster care placements so long as it is in accordance with the child or young person’s care plan, the Council are therefore able to consider solo, dual or group homes.
The Council are not mandating required minimum support hours (unless in accordance with a DoLS order) instead opting to hear from providers about how they best feel they can meet needs.
Placements for children and young people include those:
• With emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• With EHCP plans.
• With a history of disrupted familial relationships and/or have experienced break down of placements in foster care or children’s homes.
• Who have been at risk of harm.
• Who have experienced neglect.
• Who have experienced emotional abuse.
• Who have an identified or suspected neurodiversity.
Additional children and young people referred if / once the initial placement has ended are likely to include those aged 10-18 years old with behaviours including but not limited to:
• Self-harm, including suicidal thoughts.
• Offending
• Sexualised behaviours
• Fire setting
• Absconding
The placement is not required to accommodate children and young people with:
• Physical disabilities.
• Severe Learning disabilities.
• Acute mental health needs who require inpatient treatment.
• Clinical / nursing needs.
• Severe drug dependency not on a treatment support program.
In addition, the provider is to operate within Children’s homes / fostering regulations, Ofsted requirements, and ensure Regulation 44 visits are in place as applicable. Criteria For Providing the Provision include that the provider will have a registered children’s home vacancy or foster care placement which can be offered within the timescales detailed within the tender.
Furthermore, this service must be provided in accordance with the following conditions:
• The placement must be delivered in Essex or within 20 miles.
• The provider must aspire for an Ofsted rating of good or outstanding.
This service specification has been drafted in accordance with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 (“the Regulations”) and accompanying guidance. The provider must adhere to the quality standards as set out within the Regulations when delivering children’s residential placements under this provision. These requirements include but are not limited to the provision of appropriately trained staff.
The service specification has also been drafted in accordance with Children Act 1989, Guidance and Regulations Volume 4 Fostering Services, the Care Standards Act 2000, the Adoption and Children Act 2002, the Children Act 2004 and the Children and Young Persons Act 2008.
Please be advised that the full scope of the Council’s requirements for this service are detailed in the overarching service specification which needs to be read in conjunction with the anonymised personal profile for this lot. These documents form part of the tender pack for this procurement which will be published on ProContract and can be accessed via:
https://procontract.due-north.com/
Please be advised that interested parties must register for a user account to access this opportunity via ProContract. If your organisation does not already hold a ProContract user account, please use the above link and follow the onscreen instructions to register for a user account.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 30
Price - Weighting: 70
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £2,184,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
12
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Two 12 month extensions available.
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
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Young Person 8
Lot No
8
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Please find below a summary of the Council’s key requirements for this lot:
The Council are not mandating precise details of how a provider should support a Child in Care, instead trusting in the specialisms, knowledge, and expertise of this market. This personalised specification approach allows providers (both fostering and residential) full autonomy and freedom around their individual model using their bids to detail how they will meet the individual needs of a Child in Care and the expected outcomes of this contract.
Exact details of Children in Care requiring a placement are individually outlined in each output specification, these each form a Lot. Each of these are anonymised referrals of a Young Person who is currently in an unregistered placement, or at risk of being in an unregistered placement, who requires a registered placement.
The Council will consider all registered children’s home/foster care placements so long as it is in accordance with the child or young person’s care plan, the Council are therefore able to consider solo, dual or group homes.
The Council are not mandating required minimum support hours (unless in accordance with a DoLS order) instead opting to hear from providers about how they best feel they can meet needs.
Placements for children and young people include those:
• With emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• With EHCP plans.
• With a history of disrupted familial relationships and/or have experienced break down of placements in foster care or children’s homes.
• Who have been at risk of harm.
• Who have experienced neglect.
• Who have experienced emotional abuse.
• Who have an identified or suspected neurodiversity.
Additional children and young people referred if / once the initial placement has ended are likely to include those aged 10-18 years old with behaviours including but not limited to:
• Self-harm, including suicidal thoughts.
• Offending
• Sexualised behaviours
• Fire setting
• Absconding
The placement is not required to accommodate children and young people with:
• Physical disabilities.
• Severe Learning disabilities.
• Acute mental health needs who require inpatient treatment.
• Clinical / nursing needs.
• Severe drug dependency not on a treatment support program.
In addition, the provider is to operate within Children’s homes / fostering regulations, Ofsted requirements, and ensure Regulation 44 visits are in place as applicable. Criteria For Providing the Provision include that the provider will have a registered children’s home vacancy or foster care placement which can be offered within the timescales detailed within the tender.
Furthermore, this service must be provided in accordance with the following conditions:
• The placement must be delivered in Essex or within 20 miles.
• The provider must aspire for an Ofsted rating of good or outstanding.
This service specification has been drafted in accordance with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 (“the Regulations”) and accompanying guidance. The provider must adhere to the quality standards as set out within the Regulations when delivering children’s residential placements under this provision. These requirements include but are not limited to the provision of appropriately trained staff.
The service specification has also been drafted in accordance with Children Act 1989, Guidance and Regulations Volume 4 Fostering Services, the Care Standards Act 2000, the Adoption and Children Act 2002, the Children Act 2004 and the Children and Young Persons Act 2008.
Please be advised that the full scope of the Council’s requirements for this service are detailed in the overarching service specification which needs to be read in conjunction with the anonymised personal profile for this lot. These documents form part of the tender pack for this procurement which will be published on ProContract and can be accessed via:
https://procontract.due-north.com/
Please be advised that interested parties must register for a user account to access this opportunity via ProContract. If your organisation does not already hold a ProContract user account, please use the above link and follow the onscreen instructions to register for a user account.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 30
Price - Weighting: 70
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £2,184,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
12
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Two 12 month extensions available.
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
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Young Person 9
Lot No
9
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Please find below a summary of the Council’s key requirements for this lot:
The Council are not mandating precise details of how a provider should support a Child in Care, instead trusting in the specialisms, knowledge, and expertise of this market. This personalised specification approach allows providers (both fostering and residential) full autonomy and freedom around their individual model using their bids to detail how they will meet the individual needs of a Child in Care and the expected outcomes of this contract.
Exact details of Children in Care requiring a placement are individually outlined in each output specification, these each form a Lot. Each of these are anonymised referrals of a Young Person who is currently in an unregistered placement, or at risk of being in an unregistered placement, who requires a registered placement.
The Council will consider all registered children’s home/foster care placements so long as it is in accordance with the child or young person’s care plan, the Council are therefore able to consider solo, dual or group homes.
The Council are not mandating required minimum support hours (unless in accordance with a DoLS order) instead opting to hear from providers about how they best feel they can meet needs.
Placements for children and young people include those:
• With emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• With EHCP plans.
• With a history of disrupted familial relationships and/or have experienced break down of placements in foster care or children’s homes.
• Who have been at risk of harm.
• Who have experienced neglect.
• Who have experienced emotional abuse.
• Who have an identified or suspected neurodiversity.
Additional children and young people referred if / once the initial placement has ended are likely to include those aged 10-18 years old with behaviours including but not limited to:
• Self-harm, including suicidal thoughts.
• Offending
• Sexualised behaviours
• Fire setting
• Absconding
The placement is not required to accommodate children and young people with:
• Physical disabilities.
• Severe Learning disabilities.
• Acute mental health needs who require inpatient treatment.
• Clinical / nursing needs.
• Severe drug dependency not on a treatment support program.
In addition, the provider is to operate within Children’s homes / fostering regulations, Ofsted requirements, and ensure Regulation 44 visits are in place as applicable. Criteria For Providing the Provision include that the provider will have a registered children’s home vacancy or foster care placement which can be offered within the timescales detailed within the tender.
Furthermore, this service must be provided in accordance with the following conditions:
• The placement must be delivered in Essex or within 20 miles.
• The provider must aspire for an Ofsted rating of good or outstanding.
This service specification has been drafted in accordance with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 (“the Regulations”) and accompanying guidance. The provider must adhere to the quality standards as set out within the Regulations when delivering children’s residential placements under this provision. These requirements include but are not limited to the provision of appropriately trained staff.
The service specification has also been drafted in accordance with Children Act 1989, Guidance and Regulations Volume 4 Fostering Services, the Care Standards Act 2000, the Adoption and Children Act 2002, the Children Act 2004 and the Children and Young Persons Act 2008.
Please be advised that the full scope of the Council’s requirements for this service are detailed in the overarching service specification which needs to be read in conjunction with the anonymised personal profile for this lot. These documents form part of the tender pack for this procurement which will be published on ProContract and can be accessed via:
https://procontract.due-north.com/
Please be advised that interested parties must register for a user account to access this opportunity via ProContract. If your organisation does not already hold a ProContract user account, please use the above link and follow the onscreen instructions to register for a user account.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 30
Price - Weighting: 70
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £2,184,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
12
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Two optional 12 month extensions available.
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 detailed within the tender 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
three.2.2) Contract performance conditions
The provider is to operate within Children’s homes / fostering regulations, Ofsted requirements, and ensure Regulation 44 visits are in place as applicable. Criteria for providing the provision include, but are not limited to, the following conditions:
• The successful bidder(s) must have a registered children’s home vacancy or foster care placement which can be offered within the timescales as detailed within the specification.
• The placement is in Essex or within 20 miles.
• The provider must aspire for an Ofsted rating of good or outstanding.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
Accelerated procedure
Justification:
Please note that this procurement will be open for a minimum of 15 calendar days, in line with the previously published PIN which was designed to alert tenderers of the upcoming opportunity. The justification for invoking shorter response period for this procurement is due to needing the successful provider(s) to have a vacancy, both at the point of submitting their tender response and still holding the vacancy at time of the contract award.
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: 2024/S 000-030995
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
11 February 2025
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 4 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
11 February 2025
Local time
12:00pm
Place
Electronically via the inbuilt functionality within the Council's e-sender, ProContract.
Information about authorised persons and opening procedure
Electronic process - the commercial officer will conduct the opening process via the inbuilt functionality within the Council's e-sender, ProContract. The Council is unable to accept any submissions which are issued outside the e-sender and does not have any discretion to accept any late submissions.
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
The High Court
The Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom