Tender

Aberdeen City Advocacy Services

  • Aberdeen City Council

F21: Social and other specific services – public contracts (prior information notice with call for competition)

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-012019

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03c46d

Published 26 April 2023, 3:00pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Aberdeen City Council

Woodhill House, Westburn Road

Aberdeen

AB16 5GB

Contact

Catherine King

Email

catking@aberdeencity.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 07789270645

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKM50 - Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00231

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk

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

Aberdeen City Advocacy Services

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85000000 - Health and social work services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership have a future service requirement for a service to provide a flexible, responsive and effective independent advocacy service in accordance with Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance principles, standards and codes of practice. The service will support the Partnership's statutory duties to provide independent advocacy services to adults from different client groups in different circumstances including those with: a mental disorder; a learning disability; those who are using drugs and/or alcohol; or those such as unpaid carers; and individuals involved in the Adult Support & Protection process.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £2,012,507

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85000000 - Health and social work services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM50 - Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
Main site or place of performance

Aberdeen City

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership have a future service requirement for a service to provide a flexible, responsive and effective independent advocacy service in accordance with Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance principles, standards and codes of practice. The service will support the Partnership's statutory duties to provide independent advocacy services to adults from different client groups in different circumstances including those with: a mental disorder; a learning disability; those who are using drugs and/or alcohol; or those such as unpaid carers; and individuals involved in the Adult Support & Protection process.The type of advocacy support offered will depend on the needs of the individual and their circumstances but may take the form of individual; group or collective; or non-instructed advocacy.

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £2,012,507

two.2.7) Duration of the contract or the framework agreement

Start date

1 October 2023

End date

30 September 2028

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

The contract duration and estimated contract value includes an initial three year contract term, and two optional one year extensions


Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information

three.1) Conditions for participation

three.1.4) Objective rules and criteria for participation

List and brief description of rules and criteria

The Provider shall be a member of the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA).

Bidders will be required to provide examples that demonstrate that they have the relevant experience to deliver the services as described. A minimum of two examples will be required.


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Form of procedure

Open procedure

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of expressions of interest

Date

9 June 2023

Local time

5:00pm

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English

four.2.5) Scheduled date for start of award procedures

9 June 2023


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

1.The Council shall obtain a Creditsafe credit check and will score bidders accordingly:

71 - 100 Very Low Risk – Accept

51 - 70 Low Risk - Accept

30 - 50 Moderate Risk – subject to further discussion internally with the option to reject.

21-29 High Risk – subject to further discussion internally with the option to reject.

1-20 Very High Risk – Reject.

*The following applies if no credit check can be undertaken:

2. Please state current turnover (if contract value is over 50% of reported turnover, further discussion will be had internally with the option to reject).

3. If you are under no obligation to publish accounts on Companies House and/or do not have a comprehensive credit rating then provide audited financial accounts for the previous two years. Both quick and current ratios should be a minimum of 1:1.5 for the two successive years. Bidders whose ratios do not meet the minimum criteria will be rejected. Bidders who can provide audited accounts but chose not to do so shall be rejected.

4. Bidders who have been trading for less than one year and cannot provide audited accounts must submit the cash flow for the current year and a letter from the bank outlining the current cash and credit position for the current year and subsequent year. This will be subject to internal discussion with the option to reject.

5. If bidder still does not meet the financial criteria for consideration but has a parent company that does, the firm may still be eligible for consideration where their submission is supported by a parent company guarantee.

It is a requirement of this contract that bidders hold, or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of any subsequently awarded contract, the types and levels of insurance indicated below:

Employer’s Liability Insurance = 10m

Public Liability Insurance = 5m

(add any others in the same format)

The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 24052. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343

Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/

A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:

Specific Community Benefits objectives for this procurement are as follows:

Fair Work First (FWF)

The Scottish Public Sector is committed to the delivery of high quality public services, and recognises that this is critically dependent on a workforce which is well-rewarded, well-motivated, well-led, has access to appropriate opportunities for training and development, is diverse and inclusive, and can influence decision making. These factors are also important for workforce recruitment and retention, and thus continuity of service delivery.

Innovation/Case Studies

A case study could include an example of best practice or significant achievement on the project; an example of how innovation has been demonstrated or examples of positive outcomes resulting from the delivery of community benefits. Case studies can touch upon any areas of additional enhancement to project delivery, final product to the Council and/or end user. Case studies can include testimonials from placement participants (including under-represented groups such as disabled persons or care leavers”), address fair work practices, 3rd sector/community assistance or collaboration or general innovation. Can be regarded as an extended press release (available for the Council to use in further communications). The submission and frequency will follow the Contract Management Framework reporting agreement.

Carbon Reduction

Scotland's Climate Change Declaration and Aberdeen City Council’s ambitions to become a climate positive city and move towards a just transition to a net-zero, green, wellbeing economy represent key local and national priorities.

(SC Ref:730279)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Aberdeen Sheriff Court

Aberdeen

Country

United Kingdom