Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Department for Education
Sanctuary Buildings, 20, Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html
Additional information can be obtained from another address:
Vicki Gregg
Nottingham
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
0
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80400000 - Adult and other education services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
There is a budget of £9M for this requirement, however Market Engagement has suggested that the actual cost will be lower and in the region between £3-£5M
The services relate to the Department’s aim to procure a package of training, information, support and advice for kinship carers in England. This is in response to the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care (Care Review) call on Government to deliver a training and information package of support for kinship carers and their families.
Kinship carers are relatives or friends who raise children who cannot safely remain with their parents. Across the UK more than 150,000 children are living with kinship carers – significantly more than are in the care system and many more than are adopted, making kinship care an important element of the children’s social care system.
These children have often suffered similar adversities to those in the care system. These include parental substance misuse or mental or physical incapacity, domestic violence, imprisonment, teenage parenthood, parental separation or death. Child protection concerns are common. At least 20% of children raised in kinship care are affected by some degree of emotional and behavioural difficulties1.
The charity Kinship’s 2022 annual survey “The Cost of Loving”2, found that the provision of local authority support and information for kinship carers is inadequate, risking significant costs for children, families, and the state. The survey found that 78% of carers felt they did not receive the support they needed from their local authority in order to meet the needs of their kinship child(ren), an eight-percentage point increase on last year’s survey. It also found that less than a third of carers received information about being a kinship carer before or shortly after the child moved in, and only 28% had been signposted to other places they could access support.
There is currently no national training and support offer for kinship carers, and what does exist is highly variable across different local authorities. Some organisations within the sector offer support, however none of that support is funded by the government. Some kinship carers attend foster carer training; however, the training isn’t tailored to their specific needs (e.g. managing contact with a birth parent is different for a foster carer vs. a kinship carer).
Through this procurement we want to deliver on Governments commitment to deliver a training and support offer for all kinship carers by the end of this Spending Review (March 2025).
Bidders are invited to a Commercial on line event on Monday 15th May 2023 at 3PM which will outline the process we shall be undertaking for this procurement using the Light Touch Regime. Please contact vicki.gregg@education.gov.uk to register and receive the MS Teams invite.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £2,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85322000 - Community action programme
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The services relate to the Department’s aim to procure a package of training, information, support and advice for kinship carers in England. This is in response to the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care (Care Review) call on Government to deliver a training and information package of support for kinship carers and their families.
Kinship carers are relatives or friends who raise children who cannot safely remain with their parents. Across the UK more than 150,000 children are living with kinship carers – significantly more than are in the care system and many more than are adopted, making kinship care an important element of the children’s social care system.
These children have often suffered similar adversities to those in the care system. These include parental substance misuse or mental or physical incapacity, domestic violence, imprisonment, teenage parenthood, parental separation or death. Child protection concerns are common. At least 20% of children raised in kinship care are affected by some degree of emotional and behavioural difficulties1.
The charity Kinship’s 2022 annual survey “The Cost of Loving”2, found that the provision of local authority support and information for kinship carers is inadequate, risking significant costs for children, families, and the state. The survey found that 78% of carers felt they did not receive the support they needed from their local authority in order to meet the needs of their kinship child(ren), an eight-percentage point increase on last year’s survey. It also found that less than a third of carers received information about being a kinship carer before or shortly after the child moved in, and only 28% had been signposted to other places they could access support.
There is currently no national training and support offer for kinship carers, and what does exist is highly variable across different local authorities. Some organisations within the sector offer support, however none of that support is funded by the government. Some kinship carers attend foster carer training; however, the training isn’t tailored to their specific needs (e.g. managing contact with a birth parent is different for a foster carer vs. a kinship carer).
Through this procurement we want to deliver on Governments commitment to deliver a training and support offer for all kinship carers by the end of this Spending Review (March 2025).
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
Start date
1 October 2023
End date
31 March 2025
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
2 optional 1 year extensions
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: Yes
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
Bidders are invited to a Commercial on line event on Monday 15th May 2023 at 3PM which will outline the process we shall be undertaking for this procurement using the Light Touch Regime. Please contact vicki.gregg@education.gov.uk to register and receive the MS Teams invite.
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
Demonstrate expertise in Children's Social Care
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
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: 2023/S 000-005559
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
10 July 2023
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
Duration in months: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
10 July 2023
Local time
12:01pm
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
Department for Education
London
Country
United Kingdom