Award

Support Services for Delivery of the Afghan Locally Employed Staff Relocation Scheme in Gloucestershire

  • Gloucester City Council

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2021/S 000-018122

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-02ce38

Published 29 July 2021, 4:20pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Gloucester City Council

Gloucester City Council, North Warehouse

The Docks

GL1 2FB

Contact

Mr Roland Halford

Email

roland.halford@gloucester.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 1452396320

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKK13 - Gloucestershire

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.gloucester.gov.uk

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

Support Services for Delivery of the Afghan Locally Employed Staff Relocation Scheme in Gloucestershire

Reference number

DN559992

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85320000 - Social services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

To deliver the package of support requirements ('the Integration Package') of the UK government's "Afghan Locally-Employed Staff Resettlement Scheme" to individuals and families allocated for settlement in Gloucestershire by the UK Home Office under this scheme.

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: £1,720,000

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85300000 - Social work and related services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKK13 - Gloucestershire

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The supplier will be responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of the outcomes stipulated under the UK Home Office's requirement for local authorities to support the integration of individuals and families settled in the United Kingdom through the Afghan Locally-Employed Staff Resettlement programme. This includes:

- preparing allocated properties for individuals and families by ensuring that they meet required standards including organising basic furnishing and provisions

- to support families to move-in to their property once it is ready

- to support families in accessing local statutory services: such as completing registration with schools, GPs and helping them to

- to provide casework support to individuals and their families to help them feel safe and settled in their communities, and to support their adjustment to life in the UK so that they are able to play full and active roles in their new communities

- to provide support in accessing education, training and employment where appropriate: including providing support with English language skills where required

- other personal support as required to enable individuals to feel safe and settled in the UK and to deliver the objectives of the scheme

The exact number of families to be resettled in Gloucestershire is uncertain, but we anticipate up to 35 families may be allocated to properties in the county under the scheme.

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

Negotiated without a prior call for competition

  • Extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable for the contracting authority

Explanation:

The Council intends to make a direct award for up to £1,720,000 to Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (GARAS) under Regulation 75(2) and the provisions of Regulation 32(2)(c) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and used the negotiated procedure without prior publication to appoint GARAS to deliver the services.

The Council considers that the use of this procedure is justified for the following reasons:

Necessary: the arrival of families into the UK under the Home Office scheme generates a requirement to support the successful integration of families, and to ensure the ability of families to access statutory services including social care, education and primary health services. Providing this and wider support is necessary to uphold commitments made to these families by the UK government, and to mitigate the risk created by the arrival of families into the local authority area in the absence of accompanying support.

Urgent: the withdrawal of UK forces and rapid subsequent collapse of existing security arrangements in Afghanistan has led to the urgent relocation of existing families. A large number of families are already arriving in the UK and new flights arriving on a regular basis in the coming weeks. The Home Office has communicated the urgency of the demand for support to all local authorities, and the required support is beyond the capacity of the local authority to mobilise and deliver in the timeframe required. Gloucester has been specifically identified by the Home Office as an area for the relocation of Afghan families and we understand this may commence at short-notice: there is an urgent need to mobilise support now to ensure that this is available once families arrive.

- Unforeseeable: the requirement and the urgency generated by the pace of the deterioration of security conditions in Afghanistan were not reasonably foreseeable by the local authority and are entirely and plainly outside the control of Gloucester City or any other Gloucestershire local authority.

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No


Section five. Award of contract/concession

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

29 July 2021

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

GARAS

The Trust Centre, Falkner St,

Gloucester

GL1 4SQ

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKK13 - Gloucestershire
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £1,720,000


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Royal Courts of Justice

Strand

London

WC2a 2LL

Country

United Kingdom