Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Essex County Council
County Hall, Market Road
Chelmsford
CM1 1QH
Contact
Mr Jawid Hassani
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH3 - Essex
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's 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
CO0430A Placement Sufficiency
Reference number
DN728804
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79315000 - Social research services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Children’s Placement Sufficiency continues to be a growing challenge across the country, and this is no different for Essex. There is growing demand for the provision of care for children and young people with complex needs. This makes securing the right care placement, in the right place, at the right time, to deliver the best outcomes, a big challenge.
Coupled with this, the Council is experiencing budgetary challenges, particularly in relation to expenditure on placements for children and young people in care, where a combination of increasing demand and challenging market conditions make the context even more difficult.
In order to address this the Council has transformational plans underway and now, as part of those plans, wants to source a readymade evidenced based tool and/or approach, that will enable us to deepen our understanding of the complexities we face in terms of drivers and demand, aligning with our resolve to respond better to the needs of children and young people in our care, whilst at the same time addressing the increasing costs, through careful planning and securing of appropriate care through robust operational practice. This should be through a tried and tested, robust process.
In the first instance we want to secure a pilot period with a provider who has a track record of delivering a solution in the form of a tool/approach that will deliver the results and changes we want to deliver. There will be a focus on one cohort of children and young people in care, in one geographical area, in order to test the model in the Essex context.
In this present instance, the Customer is issuing this Invitation to Tender as a Further Competition under Lot 4C Social Care (Children) of ESPO Framework 664_21.
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: £350,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
OVERVIEW
Children’s Placement Sufficiency continues to be a growing challenge across the country, and this is no different for Essex. There is growing demand for the provision of care for children and young people with complex needs. This makes securing the right care placement, in the right place, at the right time, to deliver the best outcomes, a big challenge.
Coupled with this, the Council is experiencing budgetary challenges, particularly in relation to expenditure on placements for children and young people in care, where a combination of increasing demand and challenging market conditions make the context even more difficult.
In order to address this the Council has transformational plans underway and now, as part of those plans, wants to source a readymade evidenced based tool and/or approach, that will enable us to deepen our understanding of the complexities we face in terms of drivers and demand, aligning with our resolve to respond better to the needs of children and young people in our care, whilst at the same time addressing the increasing costs, through careful planning and securing of appropriate care through robust operational practice. This should be through a tried and tested, robust process.
In the first instance we want to secure a pilot period with a provider who has a track record of delivering a solution in the form of a tool/approach that will deliver the results and changes we want to deliver. There will be a focus on one cohort of children and young people in care, in one geographical area, in order to test the model in the Essex context.
In this present instance, the Customer is issuing this Invitation to Tender as a Further Competition under Lot 4C Social Care (Children) of ESPO Framework 664_21.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the procurement are to secure a partner that can offer an evidenced based solution, tool or approach, with proven track record, that enables the council to tackle the challenges of demand, cost drivers, placement sufficiency and better outcomes for children and young people.
DURATION
The Contract will be established for an initial period of 6 months. The Contract is intended to start on 01st August 2024 or as otherwise agreed.
The Contract term for this agreement with be 12 months. This will include a provisional 6-month project to deliver the requirements. Additional time has been allocated in order to mitigate any slippage in the project timescales.
With appropriate notice the Authority may terminate the Agreement on any of the following Authority Break Point Dates:
• Completion of the 6-month project milestones.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 80
Price - Weighting: 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
Restricted 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 202-528967
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
CO0430A
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
26 July 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 4
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 3
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 4
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
IMPOWER Consulting Ltd
8-10 Warner Street, London, EC1R 5HA
London
EC1R 5HA
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £350,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Royal Courts of Justice
London
WC2A2LL
Country
United Kingdom