Opportunity

Recruitment and Management of Children’s Agency Social Workers

  • Sandwell Childrens Trust

F02: Contract notice

Notice reference: 2023/S 000-002953

Published 31 January 2023, 2:56pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Sandwell Childrens Trust

The Wellman Building, Dudley Road

Oldbury

B69 3DL

Contact

Neil Whitehouse

Email

neil_whitehouse@sandwell.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKG37 - Sandwell

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.sandwell.gov.uk

Buyer's address

www.sandwell.gov.uk

one.3) Communication

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

https://in-tendhost.co.uk/sandwellmbc

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

https://in-tendhost.co.uk/sandwellmbc

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

Recruitment and Management of Children’s Agency Social Workers

Reference number

SMBC 23010

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 79600000 - Recruitment services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

A key priority of the Trust’s workforce strategy is to stabilise the workforce and build sustainable capacity for the future. A critical part of this is the Trust’s ability to utilise Children’s Agency Social Workers in an efficient and effective manner to meet any shortfalls in permanent staffing, and to deal with specific peaks in caseloads. The recruitment of children social workers is constantly challenging, with a shortage of sufficiently experienced candidates, a limited pipeline into the sector and it operates in a crowded geographical area. Within this it is acknowledged that agency workers play a critical part of the social care workforce to enable it to ‘flex’ to meet changing priorities and to fill resourcing gaps. In December 2019, the Trust applied the two-year extension option within the Agreement. Following a procurement process in 2021, an 18-month contract was awarded which expires at 31 May 2023.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £21,250,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 79600000 - Recruitment services
  • 85310000 - Social work services
  • 85300000 - Social work and related services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKG37 - Sandwell

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Please refer to ITT Documents

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

Start date

1 June 2023

End date

30 November 2024

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.2.13) 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

Please refer to ITT Documents

three.1.2) Economic and financial standing

List and brief description of selection criteria

Please refer to ITT Documents

Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required

Please refer to ITT Documents

three.1.3) Technical and professional ability

List and brief description of selection criteria

Please refer to ITT Documents

Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required

Please refer to ITT Documents


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 a single operator

In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years:

Not Applicable

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

Date

27 February 2023

Local time

3:00pm

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

English

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

27 February 2023

Local time

3:00pm


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: Yes

six.3) Additional information

The Council will be using the In-tend e-Tendering System for this Procurement exercise, please visit https://in-tendhost.co.uk/sandwellmbc to access the Sandwell MBC In-tend Supplier Portal. From here you will be able to register your company, express an interest in the opportunity, and gain immediate access to the ITT and other related documents. In Order to View the On-Line Questionnaire and Submit a Tender, you will be required to` Opt-In`. For a Step by Step user guide to the Sandwell MBC In-tend Supplier Portal please click on the `Guidance for Suppliers` section of the website. All procurement responses must be carried out via the Sandwell MBC In-tend Supplier Portal. If you require further assistance in respect of the system, please contact the In-tend support team on 0844 272 8810.

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

The High Court of England

Royal Court of Justice the Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

Country

United Kingdom