Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Tayside Procurement Consortium
Fairmuir Depot, 365 Clepington Road
Dundee
DD8 3DZ
Contact
Julie Thompson
julie.thompson@dundeecity.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 1382834024
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM7 - Eastern Scotland
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.taysideprocurement.gov.uk
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA12382
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
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
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
Flexible Framework Refresh - Counselling in Schools
Reference number
TPC/Counssch/20/11
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85300000 - Social work and related services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Scottish Government announced funding in August 2019 for qualified counsellors to be delivering counselling in schools. Counselling
should be available to secondary school pupils (primarily), and primary and special schools in communities for pupils aged 10 and over.
The focus will be on one:one direct counselling.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £2,652,984
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
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM7 - Eastern Scotland
Main site or place of performance
Schools throughout Angus Council, Dundee City Council and Perth and Kinross Council areas.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This procurement exercise is to facilitate the continuation of a 'Flexible Framework’ in accordance with Regulations 74-76 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 (further referred to as 'the Flexible Framework').
Counselling in schools in accordance with Scottish Government Guidance published March 2020.
Service delivery models should meet the requirements set out in the Scottish Government’s “Guidance for Education Authorities
Establishing Access to Counselling in Secondary Schools” (March 2020).
URL:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/guidance-education-authorities-establishing-access-counselling-secondary-schools/ (March 2020)
URL:
(May 2020)
The Framework is being refreshed as set out in the original Contract Notice.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £2,652,984
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 July 2022
End date
31 October 2023
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
12 months
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
two.2.14) Additional information
Completely New Bidding Organisations: Please navigate to ITT Number 42872 within PCST.
Existing Providers who received a place on the Framework in November 2020: Please navigate to ITT 42870 within PCST.
Please download the 'TPC2011 Instructions for Tenderers' document for details of tender requirements. This can be found in the Attachments Area of PCST.
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
ESPD 4C2
Counsellors/Counselling:
The counselling support provided should conform to agreed professional standards, such as those provided by COSCA and BACP (or
equivalent), and current best practice for school based counselling, specifically in respect of counsellors qualifications, supervision policy,
child protection policies and continuous professional development and learning.
Counsellors can be qualified in other therapies but must be competent to practice with children and young people they must be qualified in counselling and registered with BACP/COSCA (or equivalent).
All counsellors are expected to have supervision in line with their professional body’s recommendations.
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
To provide us with the confidence that the supplier can deliver the requirements of the contract, the following financial indicators will be
used based on your last 2 years audited accounts:
ESPD 4B.6/4B.6.1
To provide us with the confidence that the Provider can deliver the requirements of the contract, the following financial indicators will be
used based on your last 2 years audited accounts:
Tenderers will be required to provide/state the value(s) for the following financial ratio(s):
- Net profit for both financial years; if there has been a loss in any one year the tenderer must provide an explanation of the specific
circumstances leading to the loss.
- Current ratio equal to or greater than one in both financial years. Reasons for not meeting the required test to be disclosed by tenderers
together with appropriate supporting evidence to confirm the suitability of the tenderer for the contract.
- Positive Gearing Ratio for both financial years. i.e. an excess of shareholders funds/partners' capital accounts/owners equity over loan
finance in both of the financial years. Reasons for not meeting the required test to be disclosed by tenderers together with appropriate
supporting evidence to confirm the suitability of the tenderer for the contract.
- Positive shareholders funds/positive partners’ capital accounts/positive owners equity (whichever is applicable to the type of business) in
both of the financial years.
- Unqualified audit report (if an audit is required).
The Main Provider is responsible for ensuring the suitability of
sub-contractors, including financial standing, for the proposed services.
Where a Tenderer does not meet these requirements further details should be provided to confirm why, and TPC may undertake additional
financial checks and a qualitative judgement shall be made as to the financial capacity of the Tenderer.
Parent company guarantee - With reference to the economic and financial standing criteria above, the Purchaser reserves the right in its sole
discretion to waive these minimum requirements in the case of Bidders who are able to offer the Purchaser adequate substitute surety to our
entire satisfaction. By way of example only (but without limitation), adequate substitute surety may be an unqualified guarantee for the
performance of the Bidder’s entire obligations under the contract to follow on this process by a parent or associated company established in
the UK and which parent or associated company does meet the minimum requirements set out in these criteria.
The Parent Company will be required to satisfy the same criteria detailed above.
New Businesses: Please see Tender documentation for full details.
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
Employer's Liability Insurance: 10,000,000 GBP in respect of each claim..
Public Liability Insurance: 5,000,000 GBP in respect of each claim.
Professional Indemnity/Medical Malpractice Insurance: where Tenderer’s Insurers assess that this is required - 150,000 GBP in the
aggregate.
Vehicle Insurance Cover: Provider responsible for ensuring that motor insurance if staff or volunteers who use their own vehicles have
business use insurance covered. If carrying service users includes, includes business use and personal accident cover for passengers.
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria
ESPD 4C.1.2
Scottish Government publication, “Guidance for Education Authorities Establishing Access to Counselling in Secondary Schools” which
was published in March 2020
“The counselling service is a universally accessible service and should be available to all secondary school pupils and primary, ASN school
pupils aged 10 and over.”
“Formal counselling should be undertaken by a professional counsellor, acting in their specialist role, and in accordance with a strict code
of ethics, which requires confidentially, accountability and clinical supervision.”
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
Providers must be experienced in delivering Counselling Requirements.
Providers must be experienced in recruiting qualified counsellors.
The Provider organisation must have familiarity/experience of the assessment process, method of assessment, multi-agency working,
organisation of clinical supervision and evaluating service provision.
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.1) Information about a particular profession
Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession
Reference to the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision
Qualified Counsellors:
Formal counselling follows the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapy (BACP) definition of counselling which is: ‘a
professional activity delivered by qualified practitioners in schools. Counsellors offer troubled and/or distressed children and young people
an opportunity to talk about their difficulties, within a relationship of agreed confidentiality.’
- Counsellors can be qualified in other therapies but must be competent to practice with children and young people they must be qualified in counselling and registered with BACP/COSCA (or equivalent).
All counsellors are expected to have supervision in line with their professional body’s recommendations.
Counselling organisations do not need to be registered – it is individual counsellors that need the appropriate accreditation and qualifications.
- The postholders will be PVG Scheme checked
three.2.2) Contract performance conditions
As stated throughout this Notice and in the Tender documentation.
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.1.3) 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: 15
In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years:
NA
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: 2020/S 148-364156
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
25 April 2022
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Tender must be valid until: 1 July 2022
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
25 April 2022
Local time
12:00pm
Place
PCS-T Electronic Postbox
Information about authorised persons and opening procedure
Tayside Procurement Consortium
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: July 2023 or July 2024
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
EXISTING PROVIDERS ADMITTED TO FRAMEWORK IN NOV 2020 MUST: Submit any new information in the Technical Envelope (Quality Questions)
Submit Commercial Response (Pricing Schedule)
COMPLETELY NEW BIDDING ORGANISATIONS MUST:
Submit SPD (Qualification) Response
Answer all Technical Envelope (Quality Questions)
Submit Commercial Response (Pricing Schedule.
Bidder Exclusion: Economic Operators may be excluded from this competition if there are in any of the situations referred to in
Regulations 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Tender Evaluation: The Tender Evaluation methodology including scoring range, detailing the criteria and weightings can be found in the
PCS-Tender Project (Attachments Area). Project Number 20547.
Bidders will require to complete a GDPR Compliance Statement and Cloud Security Matrix (if applicable) as part of their bid submission.
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 20547. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363
The Contracting Authority does not intend to include any community benefit requirements in this contract for the following reason:
This is a social care procurement
(SC Ref:687795)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Dundee Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Sheriff Court House, 6 West Bell Street
Dundee
DD1 9AD
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Scottish Courts Service
Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive
Edinburgh
EH11 3XD
Country
United Kingdom