Tender

Autism Support Services

  • Durham County Council

F21: Social and other specific services – public contracts (contract notice)

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-004303

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-04dd22

Published 10 February 2025, 11:02am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Durham County Council

County Hall

DURHAM

DH15UQ

Contact

Donna Iley

Email

donna.iley@durham.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKC14 - Durham CC

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.durham.gov.uk

Buyer's address

www.open-uk.org

one.3) Communication

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

www.open-uk.org

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

www.open-uk.org

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

Autism Support Services

Reference number

OPEN202574

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85000000 - Health and social work services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

This contract is for the provision of an Autism Support Service to people aged 16+ across County Durham.

The service will target people with a diagnosis of autism, or are on the waiting list for a diagnosis, but who do not meet the eligibility criteria to access social care services.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £2,000,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKC14 - Durham CC

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

This contract is for the provision of an Autism Support Service to people aged 16+.

The service will target people with a diagnosis of autism, or are on the waiting list for a diagnosis, but who do not meet the eligibility criteria to access social care services.

This procurement is issued under an Open Tender process in line with Public Contracts Regulation 2015, under Regulation 74 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 for contracts for social and other specific services (Light Touch Regime).

two.2.7) Duration of the contract or the framework agreement

Start date

1 June 2025

End date

31 May 2028

two.2.14) Additional information

The proposed 36month contract is to be let with an option to extend for a further 2 periods of 24 months each from the actual end date subject to Commissioner and Budget approval.

The service will be commissioned by Durham County Council and is funded by both Durham County Council and the Integrated Care Board. The Council's intention is that the full service, as detailed in the service specification, will continue for the initial contract period i.e. end date of 31/5/2028 however the Council is unable to confirm at the point of tender the full budget as the budget from the Integrated Care Board has only been made available until the 31/3/2026. The Council will liaise with the successful provider with regards to this should budget be reduced.

The Council believes that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) applies to this contract.


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Form of procedure

Open procedure

four.2) Administrative information

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

Date

10 March 2025

Local time

10:00am

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

English


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

The High Court of England & Wales

Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

Country

United Kingdom