Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Kent County Council
Sessions House
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
Contact
Ms Madeline Bishop
Telephone
+44 3000415852
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ4 - Kent
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
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=44babbfb-75df-ed11-8121-005056b64545
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=44babbfb-75df-ed11-8121-005056b64545
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
Independent Adoption Support Services
Reference number
DN654291
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85300000 - Social work and related services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
APSE seeks to commission independent adoption support services which provides support for those affected by adoption by recognising that its effects extend to the entire family from the adoptee, adoptive families and birth families and acknowledging that its impact can last a lifetime.
APSE will fulfil its statutory requirements by:
1. Ensuring the provision of a high-quality adoption service which guarantees the best possible standards of care, safety and protection for children or young people who are looked after and who need adoptive placements
2. Ensuring that all those whose lives have been affected by adoption are helped to identify and receive appropriate services
3. Working in partnership with adoptive families and other agencies ensuring the service is based on statutory requirements and good practice within the principles of value for money for the agency.
These independent adoption support services are for those affected by adoption, specifically for the following:
• Support for birth parents
• Access to information and intermediary services for adult adoptees and birth relatives
• Staying in Touch (Contact) Services for adopted children.
The services to be delivered comprise of 4 distinct elements with each underpinned by a legislative framework:
A. An independent support service to Birth Parents
The provision of a support and counselling service to birth parents prior to an adoption taking place where a child is (or children are) in care and looked after by the local authority and for whom adoption has been identified as the plan.
B. An access to Birth Records and intermediary service for Adult Adoptees
This service assists adopted persons, either adopted through the local authority or who are resident within the areas covered by Adoption Partnership South East (APSE), and who are aged 18 years and over, to obtain information in relation to their adoption, and to facilitate contact between such persons and their adult birth relatives.
C. Access to information and an intermediary service for Birth Relatives and those with a Prescribed relationship
To provide access to non-identifying information regarding the adoption, advice and support to birth relatives aged 18 years and over, and those with a prescribed relationship who require intermediary services, when the adoptee has reached age 18 years and over.
D. Staying in Touch (Contact Services - Direct and Indirect)
The provision of a contact service for children under the age of 18 years who have been adopted and have contact with their birth relatives. The contact services include both an indirect letterbox service and a direct contact service (face to face).
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ4 - Kent
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Service A: An independent support service to Birth Parents
A maximum of 100 new referrals per year (eg every 12 month period from contract commencement). This total does not include existing cases being worked which may need to be handed over as part of any mobilisation of the contract.
Service B: An access to Birth Records and intermediary service for Adult Adoptees
A maximum of 150 new referrals per year (eg every 12-month period from contract commencement). This total does not include existing cases being worked which may need to be handed over as part of any mobilisation of the contract.
Service C: Access to information and an intermediary service for Birth Relatives and those with a Prescribed relationship
A maximum of 60 referrals per year for Intermediary Services for birth relatives (eg every 12 month period from contract commencement). This total does not include existing cases being worked which may need to be handed over as part of any mobilisation of the contract.
Service D: Staying In Touch (Direct Contact) 45 Staying in Touch (direct contact) cases per year for adopted children
Service D: Staying In Touch (Indirect Contact) 1850 individual children as active indirect Staying in Touch (contact) cases.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
96
This contract is subject to renewal
No
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 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
19 May 2023
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
19 May 2023
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Kent County Council
Maidstone
Country
United Kingdom