Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Social Care Wales
South Gate House, Wood Street
Cardiff
CF10 1EW
Telephone
+44 3003033444
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKL - Wales
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0289
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
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Other type
Welsh Government Sponsored Body
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Social Care Regulation
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Fitness to Practise Wellbeing Assistance Programme
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Social Care Wales are seeking to appoint a supplier to deliver a pilot Fitness to Practise Wellbeing Assistance Programme for those involved in and impacted by the Fitness to Practise process. This non-exhaustive list will consist of registered persons, referrers, complainants, witnesses and panel members, across Wales.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £125,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
- 85312310 - Guidance services
- 85312320 - Counselling services
- 75122000 - Administrative healthcare services
- 72253000 - Helpdesk and support services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKL - Wales
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
For the purposes of this commission, the aim is to provide a comprehensive and flexible service to promote and contribute to the good wellbeing of those (non-employees of Social Care Wales) who are impacted by the Fitness to Practise and Hearing process. The Wellbeing Assistance Programme is expected to be accessed by 500 people during the 12 month pilot. There are on average 300 open Fitness to Practise investigations going through the process at any one time. The service will be offered to registered persons three months after their case has been closed, to ensure they have continued support during an appeals process.
The supplier shall operate a friendly, efficient, autonomous and confidential service, delivered, by flexible, committed and professional staff.
The Wellbeing Assistance Programme must principally support those impacted by the process by supporting and promoting positive wellbeing. A fully functional Wellbeing Assistance Programme should be a valuable tool in helping to achieve this, whether the presenting issue is work related or otherwise.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £125,000
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
The contract will initially run for 12 months, commencing no later than 1 May 2022.
There is the possibility of being extended for a further 24 months, up to a total period of 36 months (3 years). A break clause will be in place after each 12 month milestone to review service continuation to include budget allocation and costing models.
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
No element of the service should be chargeable and must be in line with the HMRC’s exemption for welfare counselling https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/employment-income-manual/eim21845 and must also take account of HMRC’s rules in relation to 3rd party gifts https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/employment-income-manual/eim21715
Any provision should be delivered in line with the financial and legal elements of a core Assistance Programme with further guidance available at https://www.eapa.org.uk/eap-resources/
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
The service will be based on the following principles:
- the Supplier holds the relevant accreditations to deliver the programme
- the Supplier employees delivering services as part of the programme are qualified and competent including up to date knowledge and skills, with on-going support and supervision to maintain the required level of competence
- support offered is confidential
- there is appropriate access for those with a disabilities
- support is appropriate for the geographical needs of the referral and takes in-to account the ability of the referral’s ability to travel
- an appropriate response is given in relation to the presenting issue
- counselling support is offered in a fully bi-lingual manner that affords lan-guage choice
- notes or records kept are done so in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Data Protection Act and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) standards
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
25 March 2022
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: 2 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
25 March 2022
Local time
12:00pm
Place
Social Care Wales Procurement Team - Remote
Information about authorised persons and opening procedure
Social Care Wales's Procurement Officer to open electronic PostBox
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
See Tender Pack documents
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=118959.
The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.
Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.
(WA Ref:118959)
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