Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Kent County Council
County Hall
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
Contact
Mr Nathan Sills
Telephone
+44 3000413728
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ4 - Kent
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
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
Carer Support Services (Carers Community Navigation & Carer Short Breaks)
Reference number
DN723288
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85140000 - Miscellaneous health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Kent County Council and NHS Kent & Medway Integrated Care Board are seeking to re-procure a Carers Support Service which is aimed at supporting unpaid carers within the county on expiry of two contracts for Carers Community Navigation Service and Carers Short Breaks service. Currently, the Carers Community Navigation service is delivered by three providers covering different geographical locations in Kent, whereas the Carers Short Breaks service is delivered by one provider covering the whole of Kent. Service Users presenting in both services should receive a Carers Assessment. Our intention is to consolidate these services to make them more easily accessible to Carers and build stronger links between aspects of these services and deliver integrated service provision to Service Users.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £6,900,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ4 - Kent
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Kent County Council and NHS Kent & Medway Integrated Care Board are seeking to re-procure a Carers Support Service which is aimed at supporting unpaid carers within the county on expiry of two contracts for Carers Community Navigation Service and Carers Short Breaks service. Currently, the Carers Community Navigation service is delivered by three providers covering different geographical locations in Kent, whereas the Carers Short Breaks service is delivered by one provider covering the whole of Kent. Service Users presenting in both services should receive a Carers Assessment. Our intention is to consolidate these services to make them more easily accessible to Carers and build stronger links between aspects of these services and deliver integrated service provision to Service Users.
Carers Community Navigation
Adult Carers are entitled to an assessment regardless of the amount or type of care that they provide, their financial means and/or their own level of support needs, and whether or not the adult that they care for has had a Care Assessment. The Carers Community Navigation service provides both the statutory Carer Assessment function and more general support for carers, including support to:
• access information, advice and guidance; and integrated, personalised services.
• have a life of their own, maintaining social contacts and personal relationships.
• optimise their physical and emotional wellbeing, enjoying separate social and community activities.
• participate in work, leisure activities or education.
• promote and support their financial wellbeing.
• provide support to maintain good health as appropriate.
• have a voice about services for their Cared-for-person and for themselves.
.
Carer Short Breaks
The Carers Short Break service is delivered to the Cared-for-person for the benefit of the Carer, allowing them respite from their care duties for a short period of time.
At present, the Carer Short Breaks service is open to any unpaid adult Carer, regardless of whether they have had a Carers Assessment or if they are known to the Community Navigation Service.
The service consists of the following components:
• Crisis Short Breaks response through professional referral
• Self-Referral Health appointment service
• Carer’s Planned Short Breaks
Support is in the form of replacement care services delivered in the Cared-for-person’s home, which enable the Carer to take regular planned breaks and/or attend their own health appointments.
The support provided to the Cared-for-person is dependent on the needs of the individual, but may include:
• Support with daily living
• Regulated personal care
• Specialist care tasks
• Supporting the administration of medication
• Help with preparing light meals
The Council would like to hear from organisations which may be interested in tendering for this opportunity, to discuss ideas about how a Carers Support Service may be structured. Our aim is to ensure that these services are most effectively and efficiently delivered, to meet KCC’s statutory duties, and to ensure all Carers receive a Carers Assessment and the ongoing support they require.
KCC will be holding an initial virtual Market Engagement Session on the Tuesday 16th July at 2pm to discuss the services and our commissioning intentions in more detail, and to obtain feedback from the market which will help shape the new model. This session will last approximately 60-90 minutes. There will be potential for future 1:1 sessions depending on demand and availability, these will be limited and on a first come first serve basis.
If your organisation is interested in potentially delivering this service, please ‘Register an Interest’ in this PIN; you will then be sent a Microsoft Teams invite via the Kent Business Portal for the virtual session.
A pre-market engagement questionnaire can be found here: https://forms.office.com/e/Z4kkJTP9A9 Please could any interested suppliers complete this webform prior to the Market Engagement Session.
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Potential to extend beyond the initial 5 year term with 2 x 12 month extensions.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
6 January 2025
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
KCC will be holding an initial virtual Market Engagement Session on the Tuesday 16th July at 2pm to discuss the services and our commissioning intentions in more detail, and to obtain feedback from the market which will help shape the new model. This session will last approximately 60-90 minutes. There will be potential for future 1:1 sessions depending on demand and availability, these will be limited and on a first come first serve basis.
If your organisation is interested in potentially delivering this service, please ‘Register an Interest’ in this PIN; you will then be sent a Microsoft Teams invite via the Kent Business Portal for the virtual session.
A pre-market engagement questionnaire can be found here: https://forms.office.com/e/Z4kkJTP9A9 Please could any interested suppliers complete this webform prior to the Market Engagement Session.
It is yet to be decided whether the contract will be split into lots. This will be determined based on the discussions had through the market engagement.