Tender

Family time contact services

  • London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-013967

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-04564d

Published 30 April 2024, 9:41pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

Town Hall Square, 1 Clockhouse Avenue

Barking

IG11 7LU

Email

Procurement@lbbd.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 2082153000

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKI52 - Barking & Dagenham and Havering

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.lbbd.gov.uk

Buyer's address

https://lbbd.bravosolution.co.uk/

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

https://lbbd.bravosolution.co.uk/

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

https://lbbd.bravosolution.co.uk/

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address

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

Family time contact services

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85300000 - Social work and related services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) has a duty to promote reasonable contact under section 34 of the Children Act 1989. Section 34 places a duty on Local Authorities to allow the child in its care, reasonable contact with their parents and 'other persons' prescribed within s34 (1) of the act.

LBBD’s Family Time Contact in- house Team, which forms part of the Councils Specialist Intervention Service (SIS), provides supervised contact for children living away from a parent or other significant adult because they are deemed to have suffered significant harm, or are at risk of suffering significant harm. Supervised contact takes place for families which are under the care of the local Authority including those who are subject to an Interim Care order, Section 20 or Full Care Order.

The Family Time Contact Team provides court- directed supervised contact sessions for families of children under the care of the local authority in a safe and neutral place, using contact supervisors who support parents to develop their parenting skills in line with the child’s welfare. The team helps to promote and sustain a child’s relationship with their families where it is safe to do so, or while decisions are being made about their future.

Supervised contact is delivered primarily in the borough in several buildings and venues such as children centres, community hubs, in the community and other paid venues as required if capacity cannot be met. Supervised contact can also occur outside of the borough if the host family’s location is further afield.

Due to the approaching expiry of existing contracts under the Family Time Contact Framework Agreement, the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham is advertising to seek tenders from suitably experienced and qualified organisations for the provision of supervised Family Time Contact Services for Children in Need, Children in Care and Children Subject to a Child Protection Plan.

The new Framework seeks to commission multiple providers to receive Family Contact referrals directly from the Local Authority and deliver a Supervised Family Contact Service which:

• Provides a safe and neutral place for children to meet their parents or extended family in line with supervised contact arrangements.

• Ensures the safety of the child/children through a risk assessment which structure each contact.

• Provides a safe space for children and their families through Contact Supervisors who observe, record, and participate, as appropriate.

• Is safe and secure transfer of records between the Local Authority and provider.

Providers will need to be accredited by the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC) to support the in-house Family Time Contact Team to meet current demand and ensure all families can have contact in a timely manner.

The level of contact for families is court directed and can range in both length of session and frequency. Sessions range between 1 and 4 hours which can occur between 1 to 5 times a week, once or twice a month or annually. It is expected that most of the provision required will be scheduled with providers in advance and take place after school, on weekends and during holiday periods. Providers will also be required to accept weekly ‘one off ‘ sessions that take place as a result of unanticipated changes that may occur.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £900,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: Yes

Tenders may be submitted for all lots

Maximum number of lots that may be awarded to one tenderer: 2

The contracting authority reserves the right to award contracts combining the following lots or groups of lots:

1 and 2

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Delivery of Family Contact Services within Barking and Dagenham and neighbouring boroughs

Lot No

1

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85310000 - Social work services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKI52 - Barking & Dagenham and Havering
Main site or place of performance

Barking and Dagenham and neighbouring boroughs

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) has a duty to promote reasonable contact under section 34 of the Children Act 1989. Section 34 places a duty on Local Authorities to allow the child in its care, reasonable contact with their parents and 'other persons' prescribed within s34 (1) of the act.

LBBD’s Family Time Contact in- house Team, which forms part of the Councils Specialist Intervention Service (SIS), provides supervised contact for children living away from a parent or other significant adult because they are deemed to have suffered significant harm, or are at risk of suffering significant harm. Supervised contact takes place for families which are under the care of the local Authority including those who are subject to an Interim Care order, Section 20 or Full Care Order.

The Family Time Contact Team provides court- directed supervised contact sessions for families of children under the care of the local authority in a safe and neutral place, using contact supervisors who support parents to develop their parenting skills in line with the child’s welfare. The team helps to promote and sustain a child’s relationship with their families where it is safe to do so, or while decisions are being made about their future.

Supervised contact is delivered primarily in the borough in several buildings and venues such as children centres, community hubs, in the community and other paid venues as required if capacity cannot be met. Supervised contact can also occur outside of the borough if the host family’s location is further afield.

Due to the approaching expiry of existing contracts under the Family Time Contact Framework Agreement, the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham is advertising to seek tenders from suitably experienced and qualified organisations for the provision of supervised Family Time Contact Services for Children in Need, Children in Care and Children Subject to a Child Protection Plan.

The new Framework seeks to commission multiple providers to receive Family Contact referrals directly from the Local Authority and deliver a Supervised Family Contact Service which:

• Provides a safe and neutral place for children to meet their parents or extended family in line with supervised contact arrangements.

• Ensures the safety of the child/children through a risk assessment which structure each contact.

• Provides a safe space for children and their families through Contact Supervisors who observe, record, and participate, as appropriate.

• Is safe and secure transfer of records between the Local Authority and provider.

Providers will need to be accredited by the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC) to support the in-house Family Time Contact Team to meet current demand and ensure all families can have contact in a timely manner.

The level of contact for families is court directed and can range in both length of session and frequency. Sessions range between 1 and 4 hours which can occur between 1 to 5 times a week, once or twice a month or annually. It is expected that most of the provision required will be scheduled with providers in advance and take place after school, on weekends and during holiday periods. Providers will also be required to accept weekly ‘one off ‘ sessions that take place as a result of unanticipated changes that may occur.

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: £600,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

24

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

The initial contract term of 2 years can be extended by two further one-year periods to a maximum contract term of 4 years.

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

The value of this lot is estimated and is likely to vary depending upon demand

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Delivery of Family Contact Services within Greater London and surrounding local authorities.

Lot No

2

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85300000 - Social work and related services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKH3 - Essex
  • UKI - London
  • UKJ - South East (England)
Main site or place of performance

Greater London and surrounding local counties

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) has a duty to promote reasonable contact under section 34 of the Children Act 1989. Section 34 places a duty on Local Authorities to allow the child in its care, reasonable contact with their parents and 'other persons' prescribed within s34 (1) of the act.

LBBD’s Family Time Contact in- house Team, which forms part of the Councils Specialist Intervention Service (SIS), provides supervised contact for children living away from a parent or other significant adult because they are deemed to have suffered significant harm, or are at risk of suffering significant harm. Supervised contact takes place for families which are under the care of the local Authority including those who are subject to an Interim Care order, Section 20 or Full Care Order.

The Family Time Contact Team provides court- directed supervised contact sessions for families of children under the care of the local authority in a safe and neutral place, using contact supervisors who support parents to develop their parenting skills in line with the child’s welfare. The team helps to promote and sustain a child’s relationship with their families where it is safe to do so, or while decisions are being made about their future.

Supervised contact is delivered primarily in the borough in several buildings and venues such as children centres, community hubs, in the community and other paid venues as required if capacity cannot be met. Supervised contact can also occur outside of the borough if the host family’s location is further afield.

Due to the approaching expiry of existing contracts under the Family Time Contact Framework Agreement, the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham is advertising to seek tenders from suitably experienced and qualified organisations for the provision of supervised Family Time Contact Services for Children in Need, Children in Care and Children Subject to a Child Protection Plan.

The new Framework seeks to commission multiple providers to receive Family Contact referrals directly from the Local Authority and deliver a Supervised Family Contact Service which:

• Provides a safe and neutral place for children to meet their parents or extended family in line with supervised contact arrangements.

• Ensures the safety of the child/children through a risk assessment which structure each contact.

• Provides a safe space for children and their families through Contact Supervisors who observe, record, and participate, as appropriate.

• Is safe and secure transfer of records between the Local Authority and provider.

Providers will need to be accredited by the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC) to support the in-house Family Time Contact Team to meet current demand and ensure all families can have contact in a timely manner.

The level of contact for families is court directed and can range in both length of session and frequency. Sessions range between 1 and 4 hours which can occur between 1 to 5 times a week, once or twice a month or annually. It is expected that most of the provision required will be scheduled with providers in advance and take place after school, on weekends and during holiday periods. Providers will also be required to accept weekly ‘one off ‘ sessions that take place as a result of unanticipated changes that may occur

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: £300,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

24

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

The initial contract term of 2 years can be extended by two further one-year periods to a maximum contract term of 4 years.

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

The value of this lot is estimated and is likely to vary depending upon demand


Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information

three.1) Conditions for participation

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.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system

The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement

Framework agreement with several operators

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

7 June 2024

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: 7 December 2024

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

7 June 2024

Local time

12:00pm


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: No

six.2) Information about electronic workflows

Electronic ordering will be used

Electronic invoicing will be accepted

Electronic payment will be used

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

High Court

Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

Country

United Kingdom