Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Essex County Council
County Hall, Market Road
Chelmsford
CM1 1QH
Contact
Ms Tabitha Allen
Telephone
+44 333
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH3 - Essex
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.1) Name and addresses
Southend City Council
Southend-on-Sea City Council, Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue
Southend-on-Sea
SS2 6ER
Contact
Charlotte Humble
charlottehumble@southend.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH3 - Essex
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract involves joint procurement
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
Social protection
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Framework Agreement Re-opening - External Foster Care Services
Reference number
DN698567
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85300000 - Social work and related services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Essex County Council and Southend City Council are re-opening the framework agreement for External Foster Care Services. This Framework Agreement sets out the procedure for Placements, the terms and conditions for the provision of the Services and the obligations of a Provider under this Framework Agreement.
Independent Foster Agencies (IFAs), who are not currently on the framework agreement, have the opportunity to enter up to 4 lots on a multi-provider framework agreement to provide Services to those customers who, if required, will make foster care placements in accordance with this Framework Agreement.
Existing IFAs, who are currently on the framework agreement, will be required to confirm either that there has been no change to its tender response or to confirm what changes have occurred since its tender response (including any changes to pricing – the Council may, at its sole discretion, place a maximum cap on any annual re-pricing which may be linked to the Consumer Price Index) and any changes will be subject to evaluation in accordance with the published criteria. Existing IFAs also have the opportunity to enter lots they are not currently apart of.
It is important to note that despite entering the framework agreement, the Customers shall have no obligation to make placements with any particular IFA under this Framework Agreement and this Framework Agreement is not a commitment or guarantee from the Customers to procure any Services or any specific volume of Services from any particular IFA. Instead, the Customers shall only be committed under the terms of a valid and binding Individual Placement Agreement formed pursuant to this Framework Agreement. Each Individual Placement Agreement shall be an independent contract in its own right and therefore shall survive termination or expiry of this Framework Agreement with the relevant provisions of this Framework Agreement surviving as necessary until the expiry or earlier termination of any such Individual Placement Agreements.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85300000 - Social work and related services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Standard Support Placements: Placements for children or young people where they have a low to
medium level of need.
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The framework has a term of four (4) years from the commencement date (21st November 2022) to the expiry date (20th November 2026), unless the Council exercises it’s right to terminate this Framework Agreement at any time by giving three months’ written notice to the Providers.
The Council will open the framework annually on or around the anniversary of the Commencement Date. Such opening process shall be conducted in such manner with the same content but not necessarily the same time periods as the original Invitation to Tender.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85300000 - Social work and related services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Enhanced Support Placements: Placements for children or young people where they have a medium to high level of need e.g. history of placement breakdowns, mental health needs, mild to moderate disabilities.
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The framework has a term of four (4) years from the commencement date (21st November 2022) to the expiry date (20th November 2026), unless the Council exercises it’s right to terminate this Framework Agreement at any time by giving three months’ written notice to the Providers.
The Council will open the framework annually on or around the anniversary of the Commencement Date. Such opening process shall be conducted in such manner with the same content but not necessarily the same time periods as the original Invitation to Tender.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85300000 - Social work and related services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Intensive Support Placements: Placements for children or young people where they have significant levels of need, e.g. complex health needs or disabilities, potentially low attendance or excluded from school, significant substance misuse.
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The framework has a term of four (4) years from the commencement date (21st November 2022) to the expiry date (20th November 2026), unless the Council exercises it’s right to terminate this Framework Agreement at any time by giving three months’ written notice to the Providers.
The Council will open the framework annually on or around the anniversary of the Commencement Date. Such opening process shall be conducted in such manner with the same content but not necessarily the same time periods as the original Invitation to Tender.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot No
4
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85300000 - Social work and related services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Parent and Child Placements: Placement for a parent and child(ren), or two parents and a child(ren). These placements are for when there is an assessed need for continuing assessment and on-going support.
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The framework has a term of four (4) years from the commencement date (21st November 2022) to the expiry date (20th November 2026), unless the Council exercises it’s right to terminate this Framework Agreement at any time by giving three months’ written notice to the Providers.
The Council will open the framework annually on or around the anniversary of the Commencement Date. Such opening process shall be conducted in such manner with the same content but not necessarily the same time periods as the original Invitation to Tender.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
24 November 2023
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes