- 1. Newcastle City Council
- 2. Darlington Borough Council
- 3. Durham County Council
- 4. Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council
- 5. Hartlepool Borough Council
- 6. Middlesbrough Council
- 7. North Tyneside Council
- 8. Northumberland County Council
- 9. Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council
- 10. South Tyneside Council
- 11. Stockton Borough Council
- 12. Sunderland City Council
Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Newcastle City Council
Barras Bridge
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE
NE1 8QH
Contact
Becky Polito
Telephone
+44 1912115877
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKC22 - Tyneside
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.1) Name and addresses
Darlington Borough Council
Town Hall, Feethems,
Darlington
DL1 5QT
Contact
Josh Slack
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKC1 - Tees Valley and Durham
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.darlington.gov.uk/
one.1) Name and addresses
Durham County Council
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5UL
Contact
Dawn Wilson
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKC14 - Durham CC
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.1) Name and addresses
Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council
Gateshead, Civic Centre, Regent Street
Gateshead
NE8 1HH
Contact
Carl Taylor
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKC22 - Tyneside
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.1) Name and addresses
Hartlepool Borough Council
Victoria Road
Hartlepool
TS24 8AY
Contact
Katie Mitchelson
katie.mitchelson@hartlepool.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKC11 - Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/
one.1) Name and addresses
Middlesbrough Council
Town Hall, Corporation Road
Middlesbrough
TS1 9FX
Contact
Hannah Lowe
hannah_lowe@middlesbrough.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKC1 - Tees Valley and Durham
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/
one.1) Name and addresses
North Tyneside Council
Quadrant, Cobalt Business Park
North Tyneside
NE27 0BY
Contact
Rebecca Bacon
rebecca.bacon@northtyneside.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKC22 - Tyneside
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/
one.1) Name and addresses
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
NE61 2EF
Contact
Vicky Lockyer
vicky.lockyer@northumberland.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKC21 - Northumberland
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Home.aspx
one.1) Name and addresses
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council
Redcar and Cleveland House, Kirkleathham Street
Redcar
TS10 1RT
Contact
Emma Russell
emma.russell@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKC1 - Tees Valley and Durham
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/Pages/default.aspx
one.1) Name and addresses
South Tyneside Council
Town Hall and Civic Offices, Westoe Road
South Shields
NE33 2RL
Contact
Hannah Clark
hannah.clark@southtyneside.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKC22 - Tyneside
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/
one.1) Name and addresses
Stockton Borough Council
Municipal Buildings, Church Road
Stockton-on-Tees
TS18 1LD
Contact
Craig Bartlett
craig.bartlett@stockton.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKC11 - Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.1) Name and addresses
Sunderland City Council
Civic Centre, Burdon Road
Sunderland
SR2 7DN
Contact
Sophie Maddison
sophie.maddison@togetherforchildren.org.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKC23 - Sunderland
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.sunderland.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
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
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
NEPO605 - Children's Advocacy, Independent Visitors, independent people for Children and Adult Complaints and Secure Reviews (P-007452 / C-012099)
Reference number
NEPO605 - (P-007452 / C-012113)
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Newcastle City Council (''the Lead Authority'') is acting as the lead authority on behalf of the North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO) and its Member Authorities, in respect of the procurement of this Flexible Procurement Agreement (Contract) for:
Lot 1 - Children's Advocacy,
Lot 2 - Independent Visitor Services
Lot 3 - Investigating Officers (Children and Adult Stage Two Complaints)
Lot 4 - Independent Persons (Children and Adult Stage Two Complaints)
Lot 5 - Independent Chairs for Stage Three Statutory Children's Social Care Complaints
Lot 6 - Independent Panellists for Stage Three Statutory Children's Social Care Complaints
Lot 7 - Independent Persons for Secure Accommodation Reviews
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £1,800,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
Maximum number of lots that may be awarded to one tenderer: 6
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Children's Advocacy
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - North East (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Delivery of Children's Advocacy Services.
The Participating Authorities have discussed the risks and benefits of appointing the same Provider to deliver services under both Lots I and 2. For the following reasons they have decided that they will be appointing different Providers to each Lot:
1) the cohort of Children / Young People eligible to access these services is different,
2) referrals routes for these services are different,
3) they feel that there is the potential for confusion of boundaries for the roles and responsibilities between advocates and independent visitors; these roles carry out two distinct functions, and
4) we feel that by appointing different Providers to deliver services under Lots 1 and 2 will encourage applications to a wider group of Providers, including smaller Providers who may only be able to provide Services under one of these Lots.
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: £700,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
36
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
2 x 12-month options to extend
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Independent Visitor Services
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - North East (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Provision of Independent Visitor Services.
The Participating Authorities have discussed the risks and benefits of appointing the same Provider to deliver services under both Lots I and 2. For the following reasons they have decided that they will be appointing different Providers to each Lot:
1) the cohort of Children / Young People eligible to access these services is different,
2) referrals routes for these services are different,
3) they feel that there is the potential for confusion of boundaries for the roles and responsibilities between advocates and independent visitors; these roles carry out two distinct functions, and
4) we feel that by appointing different Providers to deliver services under Lots 1 and 2 will encourage applications to a wider group of Providers, including smaller Providers who may only be able to provide Services under one of these Lots.
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: £180,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
36
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
2 x 12-month options to extend
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Investigating Officers (Children and Adult Stage Two Complaints)
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - North East (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Provision of Investigating Officers (Children and Adult Stage Two Complaints) Services
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: £600,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
36
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
2 x 12-month options to extend
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Independent Persons (Children and Adult Stage Two Complaints)
Lot No
4
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - North East (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Delivery of Independent Persons (Children and Adult Stage Two Complaints) Services
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: £240,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
36
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
2 x 12-month options to extend
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Independent Chairs for Stage Three Statutory Children's Social Care Complaints
Lot No
5
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79110000 - Legal advisory and representation services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - North East (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Delivery of Independent Chairs for Stage Three Statutory Children's Social Care Complaints Services
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: £60,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
36
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
2 x 12-month options to extend
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Independent Panellists for Stage Three Statutory Children's Social Care Complaints
Lot No
6
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79110000 - Legal advisory and representation services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - North East (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Delivery of Independent Panellists for Stage Three Statutory Children's Social Care Complaints Services
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: £60,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
36
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
2 x 12-month options to extend
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Independent Persons for Secure Accommodation Reviews
Lot No
7
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79110000 - Legal advisory and representation services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - North East (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Delivery of Independent Persons for Secure Accommodation Reviews Services
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: £30,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
36
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
2 x 12-month options to extend
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
Full requirements are detailed in the tender pack
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
Full requirements are detailed in the tender pack
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
Full requirements are detailed in the tender pack
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria
Full requirements are detailed in the tender pack
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
Full requirements are detailed in the tender pack
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.2) Contract performance conditions
Full requirements are detailed in the tender pack
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.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
20 December 2021
Local time
5:00pm
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
21 December 2021
Local time
10:00am
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.3) Additional information
Newcastle City Council (''the Lead Authority'') is acting as the lead authority on behalf of the North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO) and its Member Authorities, in respect of the procurement of this Flexible Procurement Agreement (Contract) for:
Lot 1 - Children's Advocacy,
Lot 2 - Independent Visitor Services
Lot 3 - Investigating Officers (Children and Adult Stage Two Complaints)
Lot 4 - Independent Persons (Children and Adult Stage Two Complaints)
Lot 5 - Independent Chairs for Stage Three Statutory Children's Social Care Complaints
Lot 6 - Independent Panellists for Stage Three Statutory Children's Social Care Complaints
Lot 7 - Independent Persons for Secure Accommodation Reviews
The North East regional governance arrangements have determined that this is a non-mandatory collaborative exercise, and as a result, Local Authorities can 'opt-in' to the six different elements of the solution, with some Local Authorities choosing to continue to purchase some of these services through other local arrangements.
The Participating Local Authorities 'opting in' to the initial phase of this solution will be:
1. Darlington - all elements except Independent Visitors,
2. Durham - all elements except Children's Advocacy
3. Gateshead - all elements
4. Hartlepool - all elements except Independent Visitors
5. Middlesbrough - all elements except Independent Visitors,
6. Newcastle (Lead Authority) - all elements
7. North Tyneside - all elements except Independent Visitors,
8. Northumberland - all elements except Children's Advocacy
9. Redcar & Cleveland - all elements except Independent Visitors,
10. South Tyneside - all elements
11. Stockton - all elements except Independent Visitors, and
12. Sunderland - all elements
Local Authorities who have 'opted out' for any Lot at this initial period of the solution may 'opt-in' to use the solution during its term.
The agreement will be available for use by all NEPO Members. A list of member organisations is available in the About section of the NEPO website at: www.nepo.org.
This agreement will also be made available to all current and future NEPO Associate Members. Current Associate Members are listed in the Associate Member section of the NEPO website at: www.nepo.org/associate-membership/list.
NEPO intends to make the resulting agreement available for use by all Contracting Authorities throughout all administrative regions of the UK (as defined by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015) including but not limited to Government Departments and their Agencies, Non-Departmental Public Bodies, Central Government, NHS Bodies, Local Authorities, Emergency Services, Coastguard Emergency Services, Educational Establishments, Registered Social Landlords and Registered Charities who have a need to purchase the above services.
Please see the following websites for further details:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/Localcouncils/index.htm
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
https://www.gov.uk/check-a-university-is-officially-recognised/recognised-bodies
http://www.schoolswebdirectory.co.uk/localauthorities.php
http://www.ukschoolsdirectory.net
https://www.gov.uk/find-school-in-england
https://education.gov.scot/ParentZone
https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/open-academies-and-academy-projects-in-development
http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/institutions/
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/workprovide/unicoll/heis/
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/workprovide/unicoll/fecs/
http://www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/Pages/AcuteTrustListing.aspx
http://www.wales.nhs.uk/nhswalesaboutus/structure
http://www.scottishambulance.com/TheService/organised.aspx
http://www.hscni.net/index.php?link=trusts
http://www.scottishambulance.com/TheService/organised.aspx
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/A-ZOfCentralGovernment/index.htm
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations
http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/gov.htm
http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/local-councils-in-northern-ireland
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/02/2421/1
https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/contact
https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/articles/list-public-bodies-which-ni-public-procurement-policy-applies
http://www.police-information.co.uk/index.html
http://www.psni.police.uk/index.htm
http://www.scotland.police.uk/
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency
http://www.fireservice.co.uk/information/ukfrs
http://www.gov.scot/Topics/archive/law-order/Police/PoliceServiceofScotland
http://www.fire.org.uk/fire-brigades.html
http://www.nifrs.org/areas-districts/
http://www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-area.aspx https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/current-registered-providers-of-social-housing
http://directory.scottishhousingregulator.gov.uk/pages/default.aspx
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/housing-associations
http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/About_us/Regulation/Registering_charities_index.aspx
http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharitis/register
homepage.aspx
http://www.sell3wales.gov.uk?Search/search_Auth.aspx
http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom/factsandfigures/housingplanning1/
facts/socialhousing/?id=1822644
A complete list of permissible users is shown on the NEPO website below:
https://www.nepo.org/associate-membership/permissible-users
Organisations wishing to access the NEPO agreement will be required to register as a NEPO Associate Member in the first instance.
Further information can be found at: www.nepo.org
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO)
Newcastle
Country
United Kingdom