Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Aberdeenshire Council
Woodhill House, Westburn Road
Aberdeen
AB16 5GB
claire.j.scott@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 1467539600
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM50 - Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00232
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
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
2022 Social Care Self Directed Support and ISF Management Service
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85300000 - Social work and related services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
A locally based service to provide advice and information to members of the public regarding all aspects of Self-Directed Support, including information about the legislation and the four options available under The Social Care (Self Directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013; and to provide an Individual Service Fund management service. The service will include:
- a sign-posting facility to direct the supported person to resources that will assist in the meeting of outcomes
- the provision of information, support and advice in response to eligible referrals that will assist the individual to consider and understand the four options available to them
- participation where requested in the support planning process
- assistance to those supported persons that choose to employ staff to do so effectively and lawfully; and including support to the individual to access legal and payroll support
- an Individual Service Fund management service that will be accessible to eligible individuals that choose an Individual Service Fund under Option 2 to fund all or some of their care and support package. This will include the management of prepaid card accounts
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: £1,882,632
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85300000 - Social work and related services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM50 - Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
Main site or place of performance
Aberdeenshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Direct award with reference to the Public Contracts (Scotland) 2015 Regulation 33 Negotiated Procedure of a contract for a Self Directed Support service that includes:
- a sign-posting facility to direct the supported person to resources that will assist in the meeting of outcomes
- the provision of information, support and advice in response to eligible referrals that will assist the individual to consider and understand the four options available to them
- participation where requested in the support planning process
- assistance to those supported persons that choose to employ staff to do so effectively and lawfully; and including support to the individual to access legal and payroll support
- an Individual Service Fund management service that will be accessible to eligible individuals that choose an Individual Service Fund under Option 2 to fund all or some of their care and support package. This will include the management of prepaid card accounts
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
Mandatory exclusions are applicable and as set out in Procurement Scotland Regulations 2016 8 (1) clauses a) to k) inclusive.
VEAT notice published 15 12 2022 Notice ID DEC466925
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Form of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
This notice of award is made with reference to Chapter 3 Particular Procurement Regimes, Section 7 Social and Other Specific Services and Part 3 Remedies Chapter 5: 85 Notice of Award.
This procurement responds primarily to the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013. It is relevant to the integration agenda and the ‘Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014’; and recognises Council responsibilities under Section 12 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act. The Scottish Government guidance on Specific Considerations & Rules for Care and Support Contracts has been followed, and light touch provisions are determined to be applicable.
Legal advice has been sought by the project group in relation to the application of Public Contracts Scotland Regulation 33. The Award is perceived to be compliant with Public Contracts Scotland Regulations 2015, Section 33 on grounds of no reasonable technical substitute.
The lack of a reasonable alternative or substitute is reflective of Care Inspectorate and Audit Scotland findings that since the Social Care (Self Directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013[3] was enacted, Self Directed Support (SDS) has been implemented inconsistently across the country; and that Aberdeenshire Council has implemented a ‘bespoke approach to delivering Option 2’, with a uniqueness of supply that is recognised independently to be a ‘well designed system working well and the model most in the spirit of the Act’ The technical specification in the original procurement determined a process for the management of individual service funds proportionate to the contract aims and preservation of equality of opportunity, and the Council considers it has a compliant technical specification.
VEAT Notice (DEC466925) published 15 12 2022
four.1.10) Identification of the national rules applicable to the procedure
Information about national procedures is available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2015/446/contents/made
four.1.11) Main features of the award procedure
Award made with reference to Specific Considerations & Rules for Care and Support Contracts and under the Light Touch Regime. Award made in consideration of the relevance to the circumstances of regulation 33 of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 and absence of a cross border market of suitable service providers.
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2022/S 000-035476
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
12 December 2022
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0
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: 0
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Cornerstone Community Care
Centurion Court, North Esplanade West
Aberdeen
AB11 5QH
Telephone
+44 1224256000
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKM50 - Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,882,632
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
(SC Ref:712573)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Aberdeen Sheriff Court
Aberdeen
Country
United Kingdom