Tender

Provision of Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) Services in Gwent

  • Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2022/S 000-033222

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0387a7

Published 23 November 2022, 1:12pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent

Police Headquarters, Llantarnam Park Way

Cwmbran

NP44 3FW

Email

procurement@gwent.police.uk

Telephone

+44 1633838111

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKL2 - East Wales

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.gwent.police.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0384

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

one.3) Communication

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

https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Public order and safety


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Provision of Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) Services in Gwent

Reference number

JCPS0328

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85320000 - Social services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Commissioner is leading the commissioning of the regional Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (“IDVA”) Services in the Gwent Police Force area on behalf of the Commissioning Partners which include the Commissioner, the five local authorities in Gwent and the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (“VAWDASV”) Commissioning Board (the “Commissioning Partners”).

IDVA’s were introduced in the Home Office 2005 Domestic Violence National Action Plan as a key area for service expansion, with a national commitment to IDVA posts in all Specialist Domestic Violence Courts (“SDVC”) and investment for posts and training from Westminster Government sources. The Home Office 2008 Tackling Violent Crime Plan identified domestic violence as a priority area with IDVA’s and Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference’s (“MARAC’s”) core strategies in reducing domestic violence and improving the criminal justice response. This framework marked an approach to domestic violence through a crime lens, with a shift to focussing on serious violence and high-risk victims.

Wales has had a national Violence Against Women Strategy since 2010 (Right to be Safe Strategy), which was refreshed and updated in November 2016.

The Contractor shall provide a single IDVA Service across the Gwent Force area. The IDVAs shall work to address the safety of people at high risk of domestic abuse from intimate partners, ex-partners and family members to secure their safety and the safety of their children. Operating as the primary point of contact, IDVAs typically work with their clients from the point of crisis to assess the risk, review options, and develop and implement plans to address their immediate safety, as well as longer-term solutions. Although the Service will not work directly with children under the age of 16, the IDVAs shall make referrals to safeguard children and adults at risk of harm and ensure appropriate signposting to specialist Services and following duty of report procedures to the relevant local authority when appropriate. The Service shall be inclusive and available for all clients affected by domestic abuse.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £2,100,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85000000 - Health and social work services
  • 85310000 - Social work services
  • 85300000 - Social work and related services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKL2 - East Wales
  • UKL16 - Gwent Valleys
  • UKL21 - Monmouthshire and Newport

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The VAWDASV arena sits within a complex landscape in Wales, crossing both devolved and non-devolved jurisdictions. It is an area of work that ‘is everyone’s business from social services, health, and education through to the police. Responsibility and accountability therefore sit at many doors, guided and mandated by many legislative documents.

IDVA’s were introduced in the Home Office 2005 Domestic Violence National Action Plan as a key area for service expansion, with a national commitment to IDVA posts in all Specialist Domestic Violence Courts (“SDVC”) and investment for posts and training from Westminster government sources. The Home Office 2008 Tackling Violent Crime Plan identified domestic violence as a priority area with IDVA’s and Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference’s (“MARAC’s”) core strategies in reducing domestic violence and improving the criminal justice response. This framework marked an approach to domestic violence through a crime lens, with a shift to focussing on serious violence and high-risk victims.

Wales has had a national Violence Against Women Strategy since 2010 (Right to be Safe Strategy), which was refreshed and updated in November 2016.

The Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) (Wales) Act 2015 (the “2015 Act”) requires the public sector in Wales to work together in a consistent and cohesive way to improve the outcomes for individuals and their families subjected to VAWDASV. The 2015 Act places a duty on areas to prepare and publish joint local strategies for tackling VAWDASV.

The 2016 – 2021 National Strategy followed up on the 2015 Act to set out a renewed commitment to tackling violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence (VAWDASV) in Wales, with a focus on prevention, protection and provision of support.

The Gwent VAWDASV Commissioning (previously Partnership) Board (the “Board”) was established in 2015 under the 2015 Act to provide governance and oversight of the regional strategy and strategic delivery plan for the region in respect to VAWDASV. Publication and monitoring of a regional strategy is a statutory requirement placed on Local Authorities and Local Health Boards under Section 5 of the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015.

The Contractor shall provide a single IDVA Service across the Gwent Force area. The IDVAs shall work to address the safety of people at high risk of domestic abuse from intimate partners, ex-partners and family members to secure their safety and the safety of their children. Operating as the primary point of contact, IDVAs typically work with their clients from the point of crisis to assess the risk, review options, and develop and implement plans to address their immediate safety, as well as longer-term solutions. Although the Service will not work directly with children under the age of 16, the IDVAs shall make referrals to safeguard children and adults at risk of harm and ensure appropriate signposting to specialist Services and following duty of report procedures to the relevant local authority when appropriate. The Service shall be inclusive and available for all clients affected by domestic abuse.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

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

Start date

1 April 2023

End date

31 March 2026

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Option to extend on an annual basis until 31st March 2028 (dependant on funding)

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.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers

List and brief description of conditions

Please refer to tender documents.

three.1.2) Economic and financial standing

List and brief description of selection criteria

Please refer to tender documents.

Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required

Please refer to tender documents.

three.1.3) Technical and professional ability

List and brief description of selection criteria

Please refer to tender documents.

Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required

Please refer to tender documents.

three.2) Conditions related to the contract

three.2.2) Contract performance conditions

Please refer to tender documents.


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

11 January 2023

Local time

12:00pm

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

English, Welsh

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

11 January 2023

Local time

12:00pm


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: No

six.3) Additional information

NOTE: The authority is using eTenderwales to carry out this procurement process. To obtain further information record your interest on Sell2Wales at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/search_switch.aspx?ID=126870

(WA Ref:126870)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

High Court

Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

Telephone

+44 2079477501

Country

United Kingdom