Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Procurement and Logistics Service on behalf of HSC Trusts Northern Ireland
73 Loughgall Road
Armagh
BT61 7PR
PaLSSocialcare.Sourcing@hscni.net
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - UNITED KINGDOM
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
Buyer's address
https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Market Engagement Notice for The Provision of Foster Care Placements from the Independent Sector for Looked After Children in Northern Ireland
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
HSC wish to inform the market that they are planning to procure the provision of independent sector foster placements for looked after children in Northern Ireland.
The vast majority of looked after children are cared for in foster care placements and this is consistent with the strategic direction of looked after children services in Northern Ireland.
In the main these foster care placements are delivered via the health and social care (HSC) Trust’s fostering services and this is set to continue.
Within Northern Ireland there are also fostering placements delivered via the independent sector.
The purpose of this market engagement is to prepare for this procurement, gauge the level of interest in the provision of such services and discuss the procurement plan and envisaged timelines in advance of any formal tender process.
HSC considers engagement with interested providers as an important step in this procurement.
To make an expression of interest please email PaLSSocialcare.Sourcing@hscni.net providing the following information:
— organisation name,
— brief description of services you provide,
— web address if applicable,
Please email by close of play Monday 22nd March 2021.
How HSC plan to hold market engagement is still to be determined but all interested providers will be included.
Note: A Prior Information Notice (PIN) was previously dispatched on 25 October 2019 - 2019/S 210-514297. Any providers who expressed interest to the previous PIN need not express interest again since they will be included in market engagement.
Note: This is not a call for tender. Market engagement is for information purposes only. Any interest shown does not constitute a commitment to participate in a procurement exercise. Failure to show interest does not restrict providers from participating in any procurement exercise. There is no guarantee a procurement process will run. Any procurement opportunity will be advertised on eTendersni.gov.uk website.
Note: The Public Contract Regulations (PCR 2015) have changed the way HSC are required to procure social and other specific services ‘to the person’ with the introduction of the light touch regime (LTR) — (Regulation 74– 77 applies).
A decision with regards to lots is close to being finalised.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85300000 - Social work and related services
- 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKN - NORTHERN IRELAND
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
HSC wish to inform the market that they are planning to procure the provision of independent sector foster placements for looked after children in Northern Ireland.
The vast majority of looked after children are cared for in foster care placements and this is consistent with the strategic direction of looked after children services in Northern Ireland.
In the main these foster care placements are delivered via the health and social care (HSC) Trust’s fostering services and this is set to continue.
Within Northern Ireland there are also fostering placements delivered via the independent sector.
The purpose of this market engagement is to prepare for this procurement, gauge the level of interest in the provision of such services and discuss the procurement plan and envisaged timelines in advance of any formal tender process.
HSC considers engagement with interested providers as an important step in this procurement.
To make an expression of interest please email PaLSSocialcare.Sourcing@hscni.net providing the following information:
— organisation name,
— brief description of services you provide,
— web address if applicable,
Please email by close of play Monday 22nd March 2021.
How HSC plan to hold market engagement is still to be determined but all interested providers will be included.
Note: A Prior Information Notice (PIN) was previously dispatched on 25 October 2019 - 2019/S 210-514297. Any providers who expressed interest to the previous PIN need not express interest again since they will be included in market engagement.
Note: This is not a call for tender. Market engagement is for information purposes only. Any interest shown does not constitute a commitment to participate in a procurement exercise. Failure to show interest does not restrict providers from participating in any procurement exercise. There is no guarantee a procurement process will run. Any procurement opportunity will be advertised on eTendersni.gov.uk website.
Note: The Public Contract Regulations (PCR 2015) have changed the way HSC are required to procure social and other specific services ‘to the person’ with the introduction of the light touch regime (LTR) — (Regulation 74– 77 applies).
A decision with regards to lots is close to being finalised.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
1 July 2021