Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Department for Education
Sanctuary Buildings, 20, Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
Rachael6.DAVIES@education.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
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
The Advocacy Safety Net Service Award Notice
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 71356300 - Technical support services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Award Notice for The Advocacy Safety Net Service.
The Advocacy 'Safety Net' Service will encourage local authorities to provide advocacy services in line with their statutory responsibilities, only stepping in where this proves unsuccessful. It is expected the improved national advocacy 'safety net' will also improve insight and analysis about callers to the service and the issues they raise and will gather evidence about the quality and coverage of local advocacy services. The service will use clear approaches for prioritising limited resources and engage looked after children who might otherwise be difficult to reach.
The national advocacy 'safety net' is not a substitute for the services that local authorities should provide. Its role is to signpost children to locally provided services and to monitor availability. The service will maintain a dynamic picture of local provision, updated via calls to the helpline and based on work with local areas and through its networks. The service will only step in where local advocacy support continues to be denied.
The service has 3 core deliverables that the supplier will be required to deliver:
1. An advice helpline run by appropriately trained staff members who are able to respond to calls from looked after children and able to respond accordingly, identifying the best route to address concerns. The helpline should offer telephone, email, text, and WhatsApp communication options. This should also support children where English is not their first language.
2. Additional advocacy support through web-based information including 'self-advocacy tools and technology. A website should allow looked after children and care leavers to be made aware of their local advocacy provider and the relevant contact information. This should also support children where English is not their first language.
3. A database capturing the availability of local advocacy, which is accurate and kept up to date so to refer children and young people to local support. The database is held by the current provider and regular contact with all local authorities are needed to ensure information is kept up to date
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: £542,611.64
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 72253000 - Helpdesk and support services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Award Notice for The Advocacy Safety Net Service contract.
The Advocacy ‘Safety Net’ Service will encourage local authorities to provide advocacy services in line with their statutory responsibilities, only stepping in where this proves unsuccessful. It is expected the improved national advocacy 'safety net' will also improve insight and analysis about callers to the service and the issues they raise and will gather evidence about the quality and coverage of local advocacy services. The service will use clear approaches for prioritising limited resources and engage looked after children who might otherwise be difficult to reach.
The national advocacy 'safety net' is not a substitute for the services that local authorities should provide. Its role is to signpost children to locally provided services and to monitor availability. The service will maintain a dynamic picture of local provision, updated via calls to the helpline and based on work with local areas and through its networks. The service will only step in where local advocacy support continues to be denied.
The service has 3 core deliverables that the supplier will be required to deliver:
1. An advice helpline run by appropriately trained staff members who are able to respond to calls from looked after children and able to respond accordingly, identifying the best route to address concerns. The helpline should offer telephone, email, text, and WhatsApp communication options. This should also support children where English is not their first language.
2. Additional advocacy support through web-based information including 'self-advocacy tools and technology. A website should allow looked after children and care leavers to be made aware of their local advocacy provider and the relevant contact information. This should also support children where English is not their first language.
3. A database capturing the availability of local advocacy, which is accurate and kept up to date so to refer children and young people to local support. The database is held by the current provider and regular contact with all local authorities are needed to ensure information is kept up to date.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 80
Quality criterion - Name: Commercial / Weighting: 20
Price - Weighting: 80/20
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: 2022/S 000-031260
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
con_21052
Title
The Advocacy Safety Net Service
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
10 July 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 5
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS)
Wirral
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £542,611.64
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Department for Education
London
SW1P 3BT
Country
United Kingdom