Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL
County Hall
DURHAM
DH15UL
Contact
Donna Iley
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKC - North East (England)
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
Additional information can be obtained from 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
Regional Adoption Agency - Provider Panel for the Provision of Inter-agency Placements
Reference number
DN524413
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Durham County Council is acting as the Lead Authority on behalf of the Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) known as Adopt Coast to Coast.
Adopt Coast to Coast consists of:
• Cumbria County Council
• Durham County Council
• Together for Children
We are seeking to develop a Panel of Providers who are Voluntary Adoption Agencies that are registered with OFSTED to meet Adopt Coast to Coast's placement needs.
The Members of the Adopt Coast to Coast are subject to change in accordance with the membership of Adopt Coast to Coast. Any members of Adopt Coast to Coast will access this provider panel via an access agreement.
This will be an open and flexible arrangement where at the discretion of the Council(s) the Panel can be re-opened to allow additional Providers to join the Provider Panel.
On initial opening we wish to appoint a maximum of five Providers to the panel. During the lifetime of the contract the maximum number of providers on the panel is subject to change.
The procurement will be conducted by the County Council of Durham on behalf of the Contracting Bodies in the Adopt Coast to Coast.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £5,500,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Council wishes to seek a Panel of Providers that are registered with OFSTED and can undertake the following:
• To provide the details of prospective adopters at commencement of Stage 2 of the adoption process for RAA consideration as a suitable match for children of the members of Adopt Coast to Coast who have plans for adoption due to be considered by the respective LA Agency Decision Maker (ADM).
• These prospective adopters will be for the sole consideration of the RAA until such time as they are approved as prospective adopters by the respective Agency's ADM. Where a link has not been achieved by this time the details of the prospective adopters will be eligible to become available to other RAAs and LAs both regionally and nationally.
• Where a prospective adopter is willing to offer a home for children considered in the 'harder to place' categories for example large sibling groups (3 or more children), child with significant health or development needs, child from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) background, an older child ) aged (5 years or older) the details of this prospective adopter will be shared prior to the commencement of stage 2 at a time decided by the Adoption Manager of that provider. Where a link is not identified by a date two months after the commencement of stage 2 then the Voluntary Adoption Agency reserves the right to seek a link through other RAAs and LAs both regionally and nationally.
two.2.14) Additional information
This will be an open and flexible arrangement where at the discretion of the Council(s) the Panel can be re-opened to allow additional Providers to join the Provider Panel.
On initial opening we wish to appoint a maximum of five Providers to the panel. During the lifetime of the contract the maximum number of providers on the panel is subject to change.
The Provider Panel Agreement provides for no form of exclusivity or volume guarantee by the Council(s) for Services from the Provider and that the Council(s) is at all times entitled to enter into other contracts and agreements with other Providers for the provision of any Services.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
12 March 2021
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes