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
Buyer's address
https://education.app.jaggaer.com/
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
Pre CMH (CAFCASS) Delivery Partner
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
he services relate to the Department's aim to procure a delivery partner for a pilot aimed at reducing delays in public law proceedings in the family court. The pilot will specifically introduce a pre-Case Management Hearing (CMH) meeting between the Cafcass Guardian (CG) and Local Authority social worker to facilitate mutual understanding about the case, to ensure a smoother process through court. This is an information-sharing meeting, taking place after the issuing of care proceedings, but prior to the first Case Management Hearing. This will allow the Cafcass Guardian to gain a better understanding of the case and be better informed on the social work analysis of the timing of the application and reason for type of Order applied for. We would expect, for example, that that this increased clarity may reduce uncertainty that leads to requests for new expert assessments at the case management hearing, and facilitate a more effective process through court.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £651,600
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
he services relate to the Department's aim to procure a delivery partner for a pilot aimed at reducing delays in public law proceedings in the family court. The pilot will specifically introduce a pre-Case Management Hearing (CMH) meeting between the Cafcass Guardian (CG) and Local Authority social worker to facilitate mutual understanding about the case, to ensure a smoother process through court. This is an information-sharing meeting, taking place after the issuing of care proceedings, but prior to the first Case Management Hearing. This will allow the Cafcass Guardian to gain a better understanding of the case and be better informed on the social work analysis of the timing of the application and reason for type of Order applied for. We would expect, for example, that that this increased clarity may reduce uncertainty that leads to requests for new expert assessments at the case management hearing, and facilitate a more effective process through court.
• A proof of concept pilot of this work is currently underway (August to December 2023), testing the pre-CMH meeting in 22 local authorities. We are now seeking a Delivery Partner to facilitate the national roll out of the substantive pilot from March 2024 to April 2025 . All local authorities across England will be encouraged to participate through an open expression of interest process.
• While we will work closely with the successful Delivery Partner to design the specifics of a programme of work, there are four main areas we expect the Delivery Partner to service:
• Implementation and change management;
• Supporting effective working relationships;
• Spreading of learning; and
• Oversight and monitoring
The DfE are seeking to contract the Delivery Partner to:
• Establish and maintain relationships with the key stakeholders and professionals involved in the pilot, including professionals from LAs, Cafcass and HMCTS to ensure successful delivery of the pilot.
• Set up and deliver workshops to provide training to professionals involved in the pilot, to support them in testing this meeting.
• Set up drop-in sessions and communications to enable regular access to support and feedback. Feedback may include any recommendations to refine the meeting structure.
• Provide ongoing support, training, information and advice for local authorities and partners through a range of methods of support.
• Collect qualitative and quantitative data and monitor progress of the initiative to the department, including regular reporting to the DfE.
• Support the Evaluation Partner to enable an effective independent evaluation of the pilot.
Alongside the Delivery Partner, an Evaluation Partner will also be commissioned to independently evaluate the implementation, delivery, and impact of the pilot on its intended outcomes.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
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: 2023/S 000-034717
Section five. Award of contract
Title
Pre CMH (CAFCASS) Delivery Partner
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
2 May 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 4
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Gate One Ltd
The HKX Building, 3 St Pancras Square
London
N1C 4AG
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £651,600
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Department for Education
Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
Country
United Kingdom