Opportunity

Fostering Agency Framework Agreement 2022

  • Norfolk County Council

F02: Contract notice

Notice reference: 2021/S 000-030769

Published 10 December 2021, 9:40am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Norfolk County Council

County Hall, Martineau Lane

Norwich

NR1 1DH

Contact

Annie Southgate

Email

sourcingteam@norfolk.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKH15 - Norwich and East Norfolk

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/

Buyer's address

https://in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc/aspx/Home

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

https://in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc/aspx/Home

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

https://in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc/aspx/Home

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned 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

Fostering Agency Framework Agreement 2022

Reference number

NCCT42019

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85000000 - Health and social work services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Norfolk County Council wish to revise the current Framework for Fostering Agencies for existing and new providers. Further to Paragraph 3 of the Best Value Statutory Guidance issued by the Secretary of State for Local Government in September 2011, the Council engaged with the market to further understand options for delivery. The meetings informed providers of our intentions and what we hope to achieve, to ascertain what potential providers see as areas of risk, to discuss the specifications, contractual terms and what (if anything) would stop interested parties from applying. Notes and slides from these meetings have been published as clarifications.If you encounter any difficulties whilst using the system you can contact the support team by phoning +44 8442728810 or e-mailing support@in-tend.co.uk

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £50,000,000

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

Standard Foster Placement

Lot No

1

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85000000 - Health and social work services
  • 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation
  • 85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKH17 - Breckland and South Norfolk
  • UKH16 - North and West Norfolk
  • UKH15 - Norwich and East Norfolk

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Standard Foster Placement aged 0-10 and Standard Foster Placement aged 11+

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 100

Cost criterion - Name: Price / Weighting: 0

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Start date

1 April 2022

End date

31 March 2027

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

The framework agreement may be extended by for a period or periods of time up to a further 60 months.

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

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

Enhanced Foster Placement

Lot No

2

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85000000 - Health and social work services
  • 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation
  • 85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKH17 - Breckland and South Norfolk
  • UKH16 - North and West Norfolk
  • UKH15 - Norwich and East Norfolk

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Enhanced Foster Placement aged 0-10 and Enhanced Foster Placement aged 11+

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 100

Cost criterion - Name: Price / Weighting: 0

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Start date

1 April 2022

End date

31 March 2027

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

The framework agreement may be extended by for a period or periods of time up to a further 60 months

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

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

Complex

Lot No

3

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85000000 - Health and social work services
  • 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation
  • 85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKH17 - Breckland and South Norfolk
  • UKH16 - North and West Norfolk
  • UKH15 - Norwich and East Norfolk

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Complex - This lot is for 3a CWD aged 0-10, 3a CWD aged 11+, 3b Parent and Child Foster Placement (all ages)and 3c Step Down (Premium)

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 100

Cost criterion - Name: Price / Weighting: 0

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Start date

1 April 2022

End date

31 March 2027

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

The framework agreement may be extended for a period or periods of time up to a further 60 months.

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

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 three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information

three.1) Conditions for participation

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.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system

The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement

Framework agreement with several operators

Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement: 100

In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years:

This Light Touch Regime Framework is being let under Regulations 74 to 77 of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (Light Touch Regime), under which the Council has flexibility as to the process or procedure to be used when purchasing certain services of which Fostering Services is one.

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 January 2022

Local time

11:00am

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

20 January 2022

Local time

11:05am


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: Yes

Estimated timing for further notices to be published: We may wish to reopen the framework and invite new Providers to apply. The timeline for this will depend on client need.

six.2) Information about electronic workflows

Electronic ordering will be used

Electronic invoicing will be accepted

Electronic payment will be used

six.3) Additional information

This Light Touch Regime Framework is being let under Regulations 74 to 77 of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (Light Touch Regime), under which the Council has flexibility as to the process or procedure to be used when purchasing certain services of which Fostering Services is one. In this instance, the Council is establishing a framework agreement with multiple suppliers that will set out the terms and conditions for making specific purchases (call –offs). The framework agreement differs from those let under the non-light touch regime in that the Council, exercising its flexibility, may periodically open the framework for new applicants. Individual Contracts awarded under this framework may have a maximum total duration of 18 years. (to ensure a child placed at any age can continue until adulthood). This procurement will be managed electronically via the Council`s e-procurement system. To participate in this procurement, applicants must first be registered on the system at https://in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc. Full instructions for registration and use of the system can be found at https://in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc/aspx/BuyerProfiles. Once registered you will be able to see the procurement project under the `tenders` section and `express an interest`. If you encounter any difficulties whilst using the system you can contact the In-tend support team by phoning +44 8442728810 or e-mailing support@in-tend.co.uk.The value is an estimate based on the life of the framework agreement.

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Norfolk County Council - NP Law

Norwich

Country

United Kingdom

six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures

Norfolk County Council - NP Law

norwich

Country

United Kingdom

six.4.3) Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures

The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Proceedings must be brought within 30 days from the date of knowledge (the date on which the economic operator first knew or ought to have known that grounds for starting the proceedings had arisen) unless the Court considers that there is good reason for extending the period within which proceedings maybe brought, in which case the Court may extend that period up to a maximum of 3 months from the date of knowledge.

six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained

Norfolk County Council - Head of Procurement

Norwich

Country

United Kingdom