Tender

A Framework Agreement for the Provision of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) Services

  • SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL
  • Portsmouth City Council
  • Bristol City Council
  • Oxfordshire County Council
  • Bournemouth Christchurch & Poole Council
Show 11 more buyers Show fewer buyers
  • Dorset Council (incorporating the former Dorset County Council, except the former Christchurch Borough Council )
  • Isle of Wight Council
  • Surrey County Council
  • Brighter Futures for Children for Reading Borough Council
  • Slough Children's Services Trust (Slough Borough Council)
  • Swindon Borough Council
  • Wokingham Borough Council
  • Bracknell Forest Council
  • Achieving for Children for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
  • West Berkshire Council
  • Wiltshire Council

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2022/S 000-020919

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0357bd

Published 1 August 2022, 10:26am



The closing date and time has been changed to:

25 April 2024, 12:00pm

See the change notice.

Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL

Civic Centre,Civic Centre Road

SOUTHAMPTON

SO147LY

Email

tendermanagement@southampton.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 2380833000

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ32 - Southampton

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.southampton.gov.uk

one.1) Name and addresses

Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth

Email

tendermanagement@southampton.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ31 - Portsmouth

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.portsmouth.gov.uk

one.1) Name and addresses

Bristol City Council

Bristol

Email

tendermanagement@southampton.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKK1 - Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.bristol.gov.uk

one.1) Name and addresses

Oxfordshire County Council

Oxford

Email

tendermanagement@southampton.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ14 - Oxfordshire

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.oxfordshire.gov.uk

one.1) Name and addresses

Bournemouth Christchurch & Poole Council

Bournemouth

Email

tendermanagement@southampton.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKK24 - Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk

one.1) Name and addresses

Dorset Council (incorporating the former Dorset County Council, except the former Christchurch Borough Council )

Dorset

Email

tendermanagement@southampton.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKK2 - Dorset and Somerset

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

one.1) Name and addresses

Isle of Wight Council

Isle of Wight

Email

tendermanagement@southampton.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ34 - Isle of Wight

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.iow.gov.uk

one.1) Name and addresses

Surrey County Council

Letterhead

Email

tendermanagement@southampton.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.surreycc.gov.uk

one.1) Name and addresses

Brighter Futures for Children for Reading Borough Council

Reading

Email

tendermanagement@southampton.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ1 - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://brighterfuturesforchildren.org/

one.1) Name and addresses

Slough Children's Services Trust (Slough Borough Council)

Slough

Email

tendermanagement@southampton.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ1 - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.sloughchildrenfirst.co.uk

one.1) Name and addresses

Swindon Borough Council

Swindon

Email

tendermanagement@southampton.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKK14 - Swindon

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.swindon.gov.uk

one.1) Name and addresses

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham

Email

tendermanagement@southampton.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.wokingham.gov.uk

one.1) Name and addresses

Bracknell Forest Council

Bracknell

Email

tendermanagement@southampton.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ11 - Berkshire

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk

one.1) Name and addresses

Achieving for Children for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Twickenham

Email

tendermanagement@southampton.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ11 - Berkshire

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.achievingforchildren.org.uk

one.1) Name and addresses

West Berkshire Council

Newbury

Email

tendermanagement@southampton.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ11 - Berkshire

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.westberks.gov.uk

one.1) Name and addresses

Wiltshire Council

Trowbridge

Email

tendermanagement@southampton.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKK15 - Wiltshire CC

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract involves joint procurement

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to 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

A Framework Agreement for the Provision of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) Services

Reference number

EC09/01/3096 (Proactis Reference: REQ/1000050)

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

This procurement invites tenders from both new applicants to The Councils' Framework for the Provision of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) Services, or from existing providers on this framework who wish to improve their original price offers or to apply for a place on additional lots.

The notice for the original establishment of the Framework Agreement was published on the 28th July 2021 (reference 2021/S 000-017949) and the amended publication dated 7th September 2021, reference 2021/S 000-022124) which read as follows:

"This procurement is for the establishment of a framework agreement for the provision of independent fostering agency services across sixteen (16) local authorities that comprise the South-Central IFA Framework consortium. This ITT is to establish a Framework Agreement between Southampton City Council (on behalf of the South-Central IFA Framework consortium) and those tenderers successful in their applications to be accepted on to the framework to enable the provision of foster care placements in accordance with the terms of the framework agreement. The sixteen local authorities which comprise the South-Central IFA Framework consortium (thereby referred to as "The Councils") are:

Bracknell Forest Council, Bristol City Council, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, Dorset Council, Isle of Wight Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, Reading Borough Council, Slough Children's Services Trust, Southampton City Council, Surrey County Council, Swindon Borough Council, West Berkshire Council, Wiltshire County Council, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham Borough Council

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: Yes

Tenders may be submitted for maximum number of lots
4

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

(Standard Placements 0+ Years)

Lot No

1

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ - South East (England)
  • UKK - South West (England)
  • UKL - Wales

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Lot 1 (Standard Placements 0+ Years) - full details provided in procurement documents.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

41

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Potential for 2 x 12 month extensions.

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.14) Additional information

Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 48 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 41 months will remain

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 2 (Children with Disabilities

Lot No

2

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ - South East (England)
  • UKK - South West (England)
  • UKL - Wales

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Lot 2 Children with Disabilities - full details can be found within procurement documents.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

41

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Potential for 2 x 12 month extensions

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.14) Additional information

Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 48 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 41 months will remain.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 3 (Parent and Child Placements)

Lot No

3

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ - South East (England)
  • UKK - South West (England)
  • UKL - Wales

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Lot 3 Parent and Child Placements - full details can be found within procurement documents.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

41

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Potential for 2 x 12 month extensions

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.14) Additional information

Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 48 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 41 months will remain.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 4 (Enhanced Fostering Placements)

Lot No

4

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ - South East (England)
  • UKK - South West (England)
  • UKL - Wales

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Lot 4 (Enhanced Fostering Placements) - full details can be found within procurement documents.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

41

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Potential for 2 x 12 month extensions

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.14) Additional information

Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 48 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 41 months will remain.


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Open procedure

four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system

The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement

Framework agreement with several operators

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

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Originally published as:

Date

2 September 2022

Local time

12:00pm

Changed to:

Date

25 April 2024

Local time

12:00pm

See the change notice.

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English

four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

Duration in months: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

2 September 2022

Local time

1:00pm


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: Yes

Estimated timing for further notices to be published: This procurement is for applicants to join an open framework and for existing framework providers to apply for additional lots and / or submit improved offers (prices). This information supercedes that published in the original notice (28th July 2021 - ref 2021/S 000-017949) & amended notice (7th September 2021 - ref 2021/S 000-022124). Please refer to these notices for further details.

six.3) Additional information

This published notice supercedes previously published "Additional Information" (notice references 2021/S 000-017949 and 2021/S 000-022124) to reflect the change in e-procurement portal now used by Southampton City Council. This procurement is being managed by Southampton City Council, on behalf of the South Central IFA Framework consortium, in accordance with Regulations 74-76 of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 ("Light Touch Regime").

For any additional information related to this tender please see the published procurement documents.

Applicants will be required to apply via the 'Supply Southampton' website, accessible at: https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login

where registration with the Council's Proactis procurement e-portal can be undertaken by selecting the 'register button'. Once registered, details relating to this procurement can be accessed by clicking on the "Opportunities" tile and using the search bar to search for " A Framework Agreement for the Provision of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) Services" (Proactis reference: REQ/1000050)

Freedom of Information - Applicants are advised that Southampton City Council is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ('The Act'). If an applicant considers that any of the information supplied as part of this procurement procedure should not be disclosed because of its commercial sensitivity, confidentiality or otherwise, they must, when providing this information, clearly identify the specific information they do not wish to be disclosed and clearly specify the reasons for its sensitivity. Southampton City Council shall take such statements into consideration in the event that it receives a request pursuant to the Act which relates to the information provided by the interested party. Please note, it is not sufficient to include a statement of confidentiality encompassing all the information provided in the response. Southampton City Council shall not be responsible for any costs, charges or expenses incurred by applicants or tenderers and accepts no liability for any costs, charges or expenses, irrespective of the outcome of the competition, or if the competition is cancelled or postponed. Whilst every effort has been made to consider the full scope of the requirement the Council does not guarantee the volume of supplies/service/works required resulting from this tender or that it will accept any tender on completion of the tender exercise. Southampton City Council reserves the right not to award all or any part of this contract. All dates and time periods specified in this notice are only provisional and Southampton City Council reserves the right to change these. The Contracting Authority may be subject to governmental codes of practice or guidance relating to a transparency agenda, including the policy of publishing contracts and all other documents relating to public procurement activity. Accordingly and notwithstanding any other provision within this notice, it should be noted that the Contracting Authority will publish any documents relating to the procurement and subsequent contract award resulting from this notice (but with any information which is exempt from disclosure in accordance with the provisions of the FOIA redacted) in accordance with the aforementioned governmental transparency agenda. When executing the contract within the United Kingdom, the successful supplier will be required to comply with the

recommendations of the Code of Practice for Employment, published by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. The suppliers will also be required to comply with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. Further information on the Council's requirements on the aforementioned will be included in the invitation to tender documents.

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Public Procurement Review Service

London

Country

United Kingdom