Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Gloucestershire County Council
Shire Hall
Gloucester
GL1 2TH
Contact
Strategic Procurement
commercialservicescentralmailbox@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 1452583401
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKK13 - Gloucestershire
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk
Buyer's address
https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk
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
Provision of Targeted Family Support Services to young children through Childrens' Centres
Reference number
DN578571
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
Targeted Family Support Services through Children Centres across Gloucestershire
Children Centre Services are identified as key delivery partners within the Early Help strategy and Families First programme (national Troubled Families Programme) and are critical to the delivery of Early Help to children and families from pre-birth through to 5 years of age.
The core purpose of Children Centre Services is to improve outcomes for young children and their families and reduce inequalities between families in greatest need and their peers (Statutory Guidance and section 2 Childcare Act 2006)
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £3,625,482
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
LOT 1 Targeted Family Support Services - Cheltenham & Tewkesbury
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85310000 - Social work services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKK13 - Gloucestershire
Main site or place of performance
Cheltenham and Tewkesbury
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Targeted Family Support Services through Children Centres across Gloucestershire - Cheltenham & Tewkesbury
Children Centre Services are identified as key delivery partners within the Early Help strategy and Families First programme (national Troubled Families Programme) and are critical to the delivery of Early Help to children and families from pre-birth through to 5 years of age.
The core purpose of Children Centre Services is to improve outcomes for young children and their families and reduce inequalities between families in greatest need and their peers (Statutory Guidance and section 2 Childcare Act 2006)
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
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
LOT 2 Targeted Family Support Services - Gloucester City
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85310000 - Social work services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKK13 - Gloucestershire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Targeted Family Support Services through Children Centres across Gloucestershire - Gloucester City.
Children Centre Services are identified as key delivery partners within the Early Help strategy and Families First programme (national Troubled Families Programme) and are critical to the delivery of Early Help to children and families from pre-birth through to 5 years of age.
The core purpose of Children Centre Services is to improve outcomes for young children and their families and reduce inequalities between families in greatest need and their peers (Statutory Guidance and section 2 Childcare Act 2006)
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
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
LOT 3 Targeted Family Support Services - Forest of Dean and Stroud
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85310000 - Social work services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKK13 - Gloucestershire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Targeted Family Support Services through Children Centres across Gloucestershire - Forest of Dean and Stroud
Children Centre Services are identified as key delivery partners within the Early Help strategy and Families First programme (national Troubled Families Programme) and are critical to the delivery of Early Help to children and families from pre-birth through to 5 years of age.
The core purpose of Children Centre Services is to improve outcomes for young children and their families and reduce inequalities between families in greatest need and their peers (Statutory Guidance and section 2 Childcare Act 2006)
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
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the Official Journal of the European Union in the cases listed below
• The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive
Explanation:
In 2021 following the direct impact of COVID-19 and lockdowns on the service the Targeted Families Support services through Childrens’ Centres was continued through contract variations awarded to two providers, Barnados, and Gardners Lane and Oakwood Federation, for 12 months until 31.3.22 with a value of £3,625,482 per annum GBP to cover Gloucester City, Forest of Dean, Stroud, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury localities.
Due to the continuing impact of COVID-19, and the legislation changes by the Government there is a requirement to extend these two contracts with Barnados, and the one contract with Gardiner Lane & Oakwood Federation, by a further 12 months until 31.03.23
This extension is seen as a modification under the provisions outlined in Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, which provides that contracts may be modified without a new procurement procedure in any of a number of cases, including:
(1) (b) for additional works, services or supplies by the original contractor that have become necessary and were not included in the original procurement, where a change of contractor:
(i) cannot be made for economic or technical reasons such as requirements of interchangeability or interoperability with existing equipment, services or installations procured under the initial procurement; and
(ii) would cause significant inconvenience or substantial duplication of costs for the contracting authority;
(iii) provided that any increase in price does not exceed 50 % of the value of the original contract.
In this case, GCC will seek to rely on the modification provisions of 72(1)(b) in the context of the Council’s proposed contract variation. It would not be possible to engage any providers other than Barnados, and Gardners Lane and Oakwood Federation to provide Childrens’ Centres services during the 12 month period required by the Council.
The reasoning for this is that the size of the Childrens’ Centres Service and the breadth of required services means it would not be possible, before April 2022, to mobilise replacement suppliers who would be able and ready to discharge the Council’s statutory duties.
There have been changes from Central Government around Family Hubs, to improve cognitive and non-cognitive outcomes in disadvantaged and vulnerable children (conception to age five) across a number of areas to help children to achieve their potential and improve their chances of success in later life. These include labour market participation, earnings, health and wellbeing.
Moreover, in view of the need to carry out extensive market testing and market development to reshape the service into Family Hubs to incorporate the latest government changes, during a period in which this services market remains in recovery, the comprehensive procurement process that will be needed to appoint a service provider(s) to provide a service of the complexity described above, would not be possible before April 2022 without substantial duplication of costs.
Moreover, a short-term contract award to anyone other than the incumbent provider would cause significant inconvenience, service disruption for the community, and a substantial duplication of costs to the Council, on the basis that the Council would incur foreseeable costs with regards to the TUPE transfer of staff and other pensions, salary and HR costs associated with moving such a sizeable service infrastructure to another supplier for a interim period while the full procurement takes place.
A modification up to £3.6M GBP does not exceed 50 % of the value of the original contract £21,752,892 GBP
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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2016/S 165-297109
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Lot No
1
Title
LOT 1 Childrens' Centres Cheltenham & Tewkesbury
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
21 July 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Gardiners Lane & Oakwood Federation
Cheltenham
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKK13 - Gloucestershire
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £1,378,264
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Lot No
2
Title
LOT 2 Childrens' Centres - Gloucester City
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
1 November 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Barnados
Ilford
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £1,264,879
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Lot No
3
Title
LOT 3 Children's Centres - Forest of Dean and Stroud
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
1 November 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Barnados
Ilford
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKK13 - Gloucestershire
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £982,339
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Gloucestershire County Council
Gloucester
Country
United Kingdom