Tender

Framework Agreement for the Provision of Agency Social Workers and Adult Services Support Lots 1 & 2

  • City & County of Swansea

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-003405

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-04b4e6

Published 3 February 2025, 8:58am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

City & County of Swansea

Civic Centre

Swansea

SA1 3SN

Contact

Sam Wilkes

Email

procurement@swansea.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKL18 - Swansea

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.swansea.gov.uk/dobusiness

Buyer's address

https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0254

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

one.3) Communication

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

https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/

Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at

https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.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

Framework Agreement for the Provision of Agency Social Workers and Adult Services Support Lots 1 & 2

Reference number

CCS/24/236

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 79600000 - Recruitment services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Swansea Council intends on establishing a framework agreement to fulfil Social Worker and Adult Services residential requirements and to fill vacancies that arise within various teams across its Child & Family Services and Adult Services teams. It is often necessary to temp fill vacancies in teams, and also to cover short/long-term staff sickness, or any other reason for varying lengths of times.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £3,000,000

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

Provision of Agency Social Workers

Lot No

1

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85000000 - Health and social work services
  • 85300000 - Social work and related services
  • 85310000 - Social work services
  • 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation
  • 79600000 - Recruitment services
  • 85312000 - Social work services without accommodation

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKL18 - Swansea
Main site or place of performance

Locations will vary depending on the needs of the service, this will generally be within the boundaries of Swansea Council but there may be occasions when support is required out of the county.

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Council has a need to recruit ad-hoc agency social worker staff to fill vacancies that arise within various teams across Child and Family Services and Adult Services within Swansea Council. This could be due to a vacancy in the team, short- or long-term staff sickness or any other reason for varying lengths of times, typically 3 to 6 months but will vary, and can be extended.

It is the intention of the Council that the agency provider will be given adequate time to source suitable CVs from potential candidates for the vacancy and to forward onto the councils various hiring managers for consideration.

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

12

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Option to extend for up to 36 months in 12 month extensions

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

See tender docs

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.2.14) Additional information

This tender has been developed considering input from preliminary market engagement.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Provision of Agency Adult Services Support

Lot No

2

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 79600000 - Recruitment services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKL18 - Swansea
Main site or place of performance

Various locations in Swansea.

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Swansea Council requires access to the provision of temporary agency Workers in Adult Services, within the Social Services Directorate. The agency providers will provide qualified and experienced agency staff from their own resource pool to meet the needs of the service as and when the need arises.

Temporary Workers are an important part of our workforce, they are needed to meet service demand when there is high demand from service users or when there is a vacancy in a team. They will be sourced through contracts with agency suppliers.

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

12

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Option to extend up to 36 months in 12 month extensions

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

See Tender Docs

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

See tender 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.2.2) Contract performance conditions

See tender 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 several operators

Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement: 11

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 000-036188

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

Date

3 March 2025

Local time

12:00pm

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

English, Welsh

four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

Duration in months: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

3 March 2025

Local time

12:30pm

Place

eTenderWales


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: Yes

Estimated timing for further notices to be published: 24 to 48 months

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

Register your company on the eTenderWales portal (this is only required once):

— Navigate to the portal: http://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk

— Click the “Suppliers register here” link.

— Enter your correct business and user details.

— Note the username you chose and click “Save” when complete.

— You will shortly receive an e-mail with your unique password (please keep this secure).

— Agree to the terms and conditions and click “continue”.

2. Express an interest in the project:

— Login to the portal with your username/password.

— Click the “ITTs Open to All Suppliers” link (these are the ITTs open to any registered supplier).

— Click on the relevant ITT to access the content.

— Click the “Express Interest” button in the “Actions” box on the left-hand side of the page.

— This will move the ITT into your “My ITTs” page (this is a secure area reserved for your projects only).

— Click on the ITT code. You can now access any attachments by clicking the “Settings and Buyer Attachments” in the “Actions” box.

3. Responding to the invitation to tender:

— You can now choose to “Reply” or “Reject” (please give a reason if rejecting).

— You can now use the “Messages” function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification.

— Note the deadline for completion, then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the ITT.

— There may be a mixture of online and offline actions for you to perform (there is detailed online help available).

If you require any further assistance use the online help. Alternatively, the BravoSolution helpdesk can be contacted (Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 18:00) on:

— E-mail: help@bravosolution.co.uk

— Phone: +44 8003684850

NOTE: The authority is using eTenderwales to carry out this procurement process. To obtain further information record your interest on Sell2Wales at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/search_switch.aspx?ID=147806

(WA Ref:147806)

The buyer considers that this contract is suitable for consortia.

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

High Court

Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

Telephone

+44 2079477501

Country

United Kingdom

six.4.3) Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures

The Council will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. This period will extend to 15 calendar days for communication by non-electronic means. Applicants who are unsuccessful shall be informed by the Council as soon as possible after the decision has been made. Should additional information be required it should be requested of the addressee in section I.1). If an appeal regarding the award of the contract has not been successfully resolved, The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales, and Northern Ireland). Any such action must be brought promptly (generally within 30 days). Where a contract has not been entered into, the Court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the Council to amend any document and may award damages. If the contract has been entered into the Court may, depending on the circumstances, award damages, make a declaration of ineffectiveness, order the Council to pay a civil financial penalty, and/or order that the duration of the contract be shortened. If a declaration of ineffectiveness is sought, any such action must be brought within 30 days where the Council has communicated the award of the contract and a summary of reasons to tenderers, or otherwise within 6 months. The purpose of the standstill period referred to above is to allow the parties to apply to the Courts to set aside the award decision before the contract is entered into.

six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained

The City & County of Swansea- Legal, Democratic Services & Business Intelligence

Oystermouth Road

Swansea

SA1 3SN

Country

United Kingdom