Contract

Independent Fostering Framework Agreement

  • Kent County Council
  • Medway Council

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-012873

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-02e225

Published 19 April 2024, 4:03pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Kent County Council

Sessions House

Maidstone

ME14 1XQ

Contact

Ms Orla Miller

Email

orla.miller@kent.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 3000412878

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ4 - Kent

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.kent.gov.uk

Buyer's address

http://www.kent.gov.uk

one.1) Name and addresses

Medway Council

Gun Wharf, Dock Road

Chatham

ME4 4TR

Contact

Caroline Friday

Email

caroline.friday@medway.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ4 - Kent

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.medway.gov.uk

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract involves joint procurement

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 Fostering Framework Agreement

Reference number

DN567302

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85300000 - Social work and related services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Kent County Council and Medway Council have awarded a framework agreement to a

number of Independent Fostering Providers who will provide a range of stable, high-quality

foster care homes for children 0-18 years old that value, support and encourage them to

grow and develop as individuals. In addition to promoting their health and general well-being

the Providers need to be committed to ensuring that their foster carers recognise the

importance of the educational achievement of Children in Care and work with us in raising

their academic attainment.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: Yes

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Lowest offer: £1 / Highest offer: £68,900,000 taken into consideration

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 1

Lot No

1

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85300000 - Social work and related services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ4 - Kent

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

• Short Term/Task Centred/Bridging, up to 12 months

• Long Term or permanent homes (as per the Care/Placement Plan; 12 months and over)

• Parent(s) and Child(ren)

• Short Break Homes

• Children with Disabilities

• Solo homes, with no other children/young people within the fostering household.

• Homes for large sibling groups to enable brothers and sisters to live together.

• Emergency foster care beds, where foster carers are able to care for children without the usual planning and/or thorough assessment process having taken place because of the need to ensure the immediate safety and welfare of the child.

- Homes for large sibling groups to enable brothers and sisters to live together.

- Emergency foster care beds, where foster carers are able to care for children without the usual planning and/or thorough assessment process having taken place because of the need to ensure the immediate safety and welfare of the child.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents / Weighting: 100

Price - Weighting: 100

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) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 2

Lot No

2

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85300000 - Social work and related services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ4 - Kent

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

A small number of our children and young people in care, are placed within a residential children’s home due to the complexity of their needs during a specific period in their childhood. For some, past adverse family experiences may lead to poor emotional and mental health expressed through depression, self-harming behaviours or separation anxieties and attachment disorders. They are often highly vulnerable young people whose behaviour could be perceived to make them or others more at risk

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents / Weighting: 100

Price - Weighting: 100

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) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 3

Lot No

3

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85300000 - Social work and related services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ4 - Kent

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

We are seeking specialist foster carers, predominantly for adolescents. For some, past adverse family experiences may have led to poor emotional and mental health expressed through depression, self-harming behaviours or separation anxieties and attachment disorders. They are often highly vulnerable young people whose behaviour could be perceived to make them or others more at risk.

These young people:

• may be stepping down from residential care or

• more likely requiring a fostering home at short notice (similar to an Emergency Bed).

The foster carers will need to care for a young person with complex needs and potentially a number of risk-taking behaviours which may include violence, absconding, offending and gang association. It is expected that these would be predominately a solo arrangement.

The level of complexity and need of these young people are above the thresholds that the Placing Authorities would source as part of an enhanced placement through its IFP Fostering Framework Agreement. It is anticipated that only a very small number of these young people would require this type of fostering home in any given year.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents / Weighting: 100

Price - Weighting: 100

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: Yes

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2024/S 000-003064


Section five. Award of contract

Contract No

SC221033

Lot No

1

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

3 April 2024

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 11

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 11

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 11

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: Yes

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Banya Family Placement Ltd

​​Office 18 64-66 Wingate Square

London,

SW4 0AF

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKJ4 - Kent
National registration number

​​03161115​

The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Channels and Choice

33 West Street

Brighton, East Sussex,

BN1 2RE​

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKJ4 - Kent
National registration number

​​08377728​

The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Family Fostering

​​The Marlowe Innovation Centre,

Ramsgate

CT8 8JN

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKJ4 - Kent
National registration number

​​8900967​

The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Fostering Together

East Brabourne

TN25 5LL

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKJ4 - Kent
National registration number

12267117

The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Lighthouse Fostering

​​Quayside House, ​Standard Quay

Faversham,

ME13 7BS​

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKJ4 - Kent
National registration number

​​8922770​

The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Outset Fostering Agency

The Wenta Business Centre, 1 Electric Avenue,

Enfield,

EN3 7XU

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKJ4 - Kent
National registration number

​​12326599​

The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Sunbeam Fostering Agency

​​12 Waterside Drive

Langley

SL3 6EZ​

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKJ4 - Kent
National registration number

​​03948662

The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Young People at Heart

Weybridge

KT13 9QZ

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKJ4 - Kent
National registration number

​​09198997​

The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

First Steps Fostering

Ramsgate

CT12 5GD​

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKJ4 - Kent
National registration number

​​14011155​

The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Lowest offer: £1 / Highest offer: £68,900,000 taken into consideration


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

The estimated value of the service over the 4 years is as follows but no guarantee is given as to the actual value of the contract:

Kent County Council Estimated 4 year spend = £44.4million

Medway Council Estimated 4 year spend = £24.5million

Following submission of the Standard Selection Questionnaire (SSQ) the approach to evaluation was based on a 100% overall weighted Quality section followed by a ranking of the Standard prices which were submitted

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Kent County Council

Maidstone

ME14 1XQ

Email

CICCommissioning@kent.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom