Scope
Reference
HCC2516830
Description
This is an 18 month contract to provide communicator guide and intervenor services. Communicator guides work with people who acquire deafblindness, helping them with everyday tasks such as shopping, going to the doctors and going to the gym. The guides are trained in safe guiding skills to support with mobility. They will help the Deafblind person to adjust to life as their eyesight and hearing gets worse. For example, they might train the person to use hands-on signing or the Deafblind manual alphabet. Intervenors work with children and adults who have had deafblindness from birth. Their role is similar to a communicator guide but they will also help to develop a special communication system.
Contract 1
Supplier
Contract value
- £904,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
2 May 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 3 May 2025 to 31 October 2026
- 1 year, 5 months, 29 days
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Contract locations
- UKH23 - Hertfordshire
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Special regime
Light touch
Direct award justification
Extreme and unavoidable urgency
The current provider of these services gave sudden and unexpected notice to the Council on 29th January 2025 that they would not provide these services beyond 31st March 2025. The Council sought to negotiate a 4 month extension to this, which was refused, however the provider did agree to extend for a shorter period.
The Council is therefore making an urgent direct award to a single replacement provider.
The service is required to enable the Council to fulfil its legal obligations - local authorities are required to act under the "Care and Support for Deafblind Children and Adults Policy Guidance" under Section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (for children) and section 78 of the Care Act 2014 (for adults). They have to:
• provide appropriate services for deafblind people
• provide specially trained one-to-one support workers when necessary
• provide accessible information for deafblind people
Supplier
ACTION DEAFNESS
- Companies House: 06706042
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PTBZ-5663-ZVYN
The Peepul Centre
Leicester
LE4 6DP
United Kingdom
Email: Contracts@actiondeafness.org.uk
Website: http://www.actiondeafness.org.uk
Region: UKF21 - Leicester
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1
Contracting authority
Hertfordshire County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PWJT-5264-WYMY
County Hall
Hertford
SG13 8DQ
United Kingdom
Region: UKH23 - Hertfordshire
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government