Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Staffordshire County Council
2 Staffordshire Place Tipping Street
Stafford
ST16 2DH
Contact
Caroline Clarke
caroline.clarke@staffordshire.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 1785854653
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKG - West Midlands (England)
Internet address(es)
Main address
www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Homepage
Buyer's address
www.staffordshire.gov.uk/business/procurement/homepage
one.1) Name and addresses
Herefordshire Council
Herefordshire
Contact
Sandra Griffiths
sgriffiths3@herefordshire.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKG - West Midlands (England)
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.1) Name and addresses
Shropshire Council
Shrewsbury
Contact
Karen Scardifield.
Karen.Scardifield@shropshire.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKG - West Midlands (England)
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.1) Name and addresses
Stoke-On-Trent City Council
Stoke
Contact
Kate Bailey
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKG - West Midlands (England)
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.1) Name and addresses
Telford & Wrekin Borough Council
Telford
Contact
Kelly Burgess
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKG - West Midlands (England)
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.1) Name and addresses
Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent ICB
Stafford
Contact
Sarah Evans
Sarah.Evans@staffsstoke.icb.nhs.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKG2 - Shropshire and Staffordshire
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://staffsstoke.icb.nhs.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
www.supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
www.supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login
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
IA2880 Children & Young People’s Advocacy Independent Visitors, Mediation & Advice Service
Reference number
DN1395
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Staffordshire County Council are looking to procure services for the Provision of Children & Young Peoples (CYP) Advocacy Independent Visitors, Mediation & Advice Service. The service is broken down into 3 lots with staggered start dates as follows
Lot 1: Children and Young People’s Advocacy and Children in Care Independent Visitor Service
1 April 2023 – 31 March 2026 (extension 2 x 12 months until 31 March 2028).
Lot 2: Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service for Children and Young People aged 0 to 25 years with SEND and their Parents/ Carers .
1 July 2023 – 31 March 2026 (extension 2 x 12 months until 31 March 2028).
Lot 3 Advice and Mediation for Fostering Families
1 October 2023 – 31 March 2026 (extension 2 x 12 months until 31 March 2028).
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £1,391,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 1: Children & Young People’s Advocacy & Children in Care Independent Visitor Service
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
- UKG24 - Staffordshire CC
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Staffordshire County Council are seeking the provision of a Children & Young Person’s Advocacy Service, a Statutory Independent Visitors Service for Children in Care, Independent Persons for Secure Accommodation Reviews, Appropriate Adults for Independent Age Assessments of Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children & Young People and a Parenting Advocacy Service.
The Council’s overall aim of the Service is to fulfil their statutory requirements with respect to the availability of independent Advocates to a high standard and improve outcomes for Children & Young People in receipt of the Service. The Provider will do this by ensuring the views of Children & Young People are well represented and where required, they are provided with appropriate Advocacy.
The Service will also be required to:
Deliver an Independent Visitor programme for Children in Care and Young People.
Arrange for an Independent Person to attend Secure Accommodation Reviews as and when required.
Arrange for an Appropriate Adults for Independent Age Assessments of Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children & Young People.
Deliver a Parenting Advocacy Service for adults who are aged over 25 years of age and have assessed Special Education Needs and Disability or have had a cognitive/capacity assessment that has deemed that the individual lacks the capacity to Advocate for themselves.
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: £812,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 April 2023
End date
31 March 2028
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The initial contract is for 36 months until 31 March 2026 plus an extension to
extend for up to 2 x 12 months until 31 March 2028.
In the event the Agreement is extended the extension shall be on the same Terms and
Conditions as the original Agreement period and will ultimately be at the County Council'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
The initial contract is for 36 months until 31 March 2026 plus an extension to
extend for up to 2 x 12 months until 31 March 2028.
In the event the Agreement is extended the extension shall be on the same Terms and
Conditions as the original Agreement period and will ultimately be at the County Council's
sole discretion.
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 2: Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service for Children and Young People aged 0 to 25 years with SEND and their Parents & Carers .
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG2 - Shropshire and Staffordshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The procurement is for two distinct statutory Services that are required by Staffordshire County Council and Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board in relation to the provision of Independent Disagreement Resolution Services for SEND and Independent Mediation Services for Education Health and Care (EHC) Assessments and Reviews.
Independent Disagreement Resolution Services will put in place arrangements for manging disagreements across special educational provision, and health and care provision in relation to EHC Plans.
A Mediation Service will offer independent Mediation to Parents & Young People and will provide an opportunity to resolve issues linked to requests for an Education, Health and Care Assessment and the outcome of Education, Health, and Care (EHC) Plans Assessments /&Reviews prior to Parents & Young People lodging an appeal via the First-Tier Tribunal.
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: £361,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 July 2023
End date
31 March 2028
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The initial contract is for 33 months until 31 March 2026 plus an extension to
extend for up to 2 x 12 months until 31 March 2028.
In the event the Agreement is extended the extension shall be on the same Terms and
Conditions as the original Agreement period and will ultimately be at the County Council'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
The initial contract is for 33 months until 31 March 2026 plus an extension to
extend for up to 2 x 12 months until 31 March 2028.
In the event the Agreement is extended the extension shall be on the same Terms and
Conditions as the original Agreement period and will ultimately be at the County Council's
sole discretion.
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 3 Advice and Mediation for Fostering Families
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Staffordshire County Council (lead authority), Herefordshire Council, Shropshire Council, Stoke-On-Trent City Council and Telford & Wrekin Borough Council (together ‘the Partner Local Authorities) are working in collaboration to jointly procure a contract for an Advice and Mediation Service for Fostering Families.
The Service is required to ensure that Foster Carers are well supported in carrying out their role as a Foster Carer and ensuring the early resolution of issues.
Advice Service
Delivering Advice and information to both approved and Prospective Foster Carers, on a wide range of issues which may affect the Foster Carer role and providing Advice and information to Partner Local Authorities where required.
Mediation
Mediation is defined as the attempt to settle a dispute through a neutral third party. Mediation is a structured process that allows people to negotiate the issues with a hands-on approach.
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: £218,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 October 2023
End date
31 March 2028
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The initial contract is for 30 months until 31 March 2026 plus an extension to
extend for up to 2 x 12 months until 31 March 2028.
In the event the Agreement is extended the extension shall be on the same Terms and
Conditions as the original Agreement period and will ultimately be at the County Council'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
The initial contract is for 30 months until 31 March 2026 plus an extension to
extend for up to 2 x 12 months until 31 March 2028.
In the event the Agreement is extended the extension shall be on the same Terms and
Conditions as the original Agreement period and will ultimately be at the County Council's
sole discretion.
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 000-018167
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
5 October 2022
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: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
5 October 2022
Local time
12:30pm
Place
2 Staffordshire Place
Tipping Street
Stafford
ST16 2D
Information about authorised persons and opening procedure
Staffordshire County Council Staff Members.
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: The initial contract is until 31 March 2026 plus an extension to
extend for up to 2 x 12 months until 31 March 2028.
In the event the Agreement is extended the extension shall be on the same Terms and
Conditions as the original Agreement period and will ultimately be at the County Council's
sole discretion.
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Staffordshire County Counci
Staffordshire Place 2, Tipping Street
Stafford
ST16 2DH
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
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/framework
agreement, 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 / framework agreement.
If an appeal regarding the award of a contract / framework agreement has not been
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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 month