Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Staffordshire County Council
No. 2 Staffordshire Place, Tipping Street, Stafford
Stafford
ST16 2DH
Contact
Lisa Dobric
lisa.dobric@staffordshire.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 1785278192
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKG24 - Staffordshire CC
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://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at
https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com
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
Healthwatch Staffordshire
Reference number
IA2415
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Council wish to commission the Healthwatch Staffordshire Service.
The Provider will ensure there is an independent consumer champion for health and social care services in Staffordshire, engaging with residents and influencing commissioning, with the aim of improving the overall quality of health and social care provision.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £820,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG24 - Staffordshire CC
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This Service will support and shape the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care System (ICS), the Health and Wellbeing Board and wider health and care commissioning priorities by ensuring plans reflect the patient and user voice. In doing this their role is to closely work with partners to improve the overall quality of health and social care outcomes across Staffordshire.
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 set out duties for all local authorities with social services responsibility to commission and establish a Local Healthwatch. Local Healthwatch has a seat on the statutory Health and Wellbeing Boards, ensuring that the views and experiences of patients, carers and other service users are taken into account. In addition the Act states local authorities are to provide an Independent NHS Complaints Advocacy service (ICAS) to people who wish to make a complaint about their experience of a local NHS service.
Healthwatch is not required to be a statutory organisation; however the range of statutory functions that it must deliver include:
• Gather views and experiences of service users and residents and ensure the community voice is strengthened and heard by those who commission, deliver and regulate health and care services.
• Monitor the standard of service provision, including authority to undertake Enter and View visits to health and care providers and report any concerns and/or acknowledge good service practice.
• Provide information and signposting to help people find the right health and care service.
• Work in partnership with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Healthwatch England and other bodies on national issues.
This will require a provider who can:-
• Deliver 'core' priority functions of community engagement and representation, as well as influencing commissioners and decision makers to improve services, including utilising the statutory Staffordshire Health and Wellbeing Board seat.
• Prepare a focussed delivery plan shaped by the public, alongside Council and ICS strategic priorities .
• Take a collaborative approach with key partners, stakeholders and volunteers to applaud, challenge, question and review in the pursuit of best practice in health and social care, informed by the public's opinion.
Suppliers should register on the Proactis e-tendering system: https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com and then select this tender opportunity to view and return tender documents.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £820,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The Agreement term will be from 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2025, with an option to extend from 1st April 2025 - 31st March 2026.
In the event the Agreement is extended the extension shall be on the same Terms and Conditions of Contract as the original Agreement period and will ultimately be at the Authority's sole discretion.
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Additional option to extend up to 12 months to 31st March 2026.
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions
Please see ITT Questionnaire.
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
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: 2021/S 000-013228
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
12 October 2021
Local time
12:00pm
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: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
12 October 2021
Local time
12:30pm
Place
Staffordshire
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: 36 months
six.3) Additional information
This is an electronic tender. All submission must be made via the formal Contracting Authority electronic tendering platform.
All requests for information to be sent through the electronic tendering portal and message facility on the Proactis electronic tendering system.
How to register - follow the link to Proactis electronic tendering:
https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login
If you require urgent assistance regarding the initial usage of the e-Tendering package please contact the Contracting Authority point-of-contact in Section I.1 of this notice. On failure to
reach this contact, please immediately email the nature of the difficulty to
commercial.team@staffordshire.gov.uk
This procurement is for a Contract between the appointed provider and the Contracting Authority, to supply services as and when required.
The Contracting Authority or its public sector partners/Customers makes no guarantee as to the volume of
business on offer or to be awarded, and any volumes given are indicative only and intended as a general guide.
There is no commitment at the time of tendering from any parties outside of the Contracting Authority and this should be taken into consideration when bidding.
Financing / Payment:
payments may be made following acceptance by the banking agents of Staffordshire County Council.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Staffordshire County Council
Stafford
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The Contracting Authority will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period (or 15 days where non electronic or fax methods are used) at the point that an award decision notice is communicated to tenderers.
The award decision process will specify the criteria for the award of the contract, the reasons for the decision, including the characteristics and relative advantages, the name and score of the successful tender(s), and will specify when the standstill period is expected to end or the date before which the Contracting Authority will not conclude the contract. If an appeal regarding the award of a contract has not been successfully resolved, the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Any such action must be brought promptly (generally within 3 months). The Court may order the setting aside of the award decision or may order the Contracting Authority to amend any document and may award damages. If an agreement has been entered into the Court may make a declaration of ineffectiveness or may order that the duration of any relevant specific contract be shortened and additionally may award damages.
The time limit for seeking such a declaration is generally 30 days from notification of the award (either by award decision notification or contract award notice depending upon the circumstances) or otherwise 6 months.