Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Department of Health and Social Care
39 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0EU
Contact
Helen Kelly
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKI32 - Westminster
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care
Buyer's address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Contract Extension relating to the Fast-Track Mental Health Social Work Graduate Programme
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKI32 - Westminster
Main site or place of performance
London
two.2.4) Description of the procurement at the time of conclusion of the contract:
The Authority placed a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union under
the following reference TED71/2019-042016 on 02/09/2019 seeking tenders from providers
of Fast-Track Mental Health Social Work Graduate Programmes interested in entering into
an arrangement for the supply of such services to the Authority. the provision of a fast-track programme is to select and train high-calibre and ambitious graduates with leadership potential in the field of adult mental health social work.
Following a review in July 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is extending the term of the Contract to include two additional cohorts for the fast-track mental health social work graduate programme with additional key performance indicators, service credits provisions and other consequential amendments relating to the extension.
This extension is under eg.72(1)(a): Clear precise and unequivocal review clauses.
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession
Start date
1 July 2020
End date
31 March 2025
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.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Contract award notice concerning this contract
Notice number: 2019/S 171-417899
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
599
Title
Fast-Track Mental Health Social Work Graduate Programme
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract/concession award decision:
1 July 2020
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract/concession has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
The Think Ahead Organisation, Think Ahead
Unit 318, Record Hall, 16-16a Baldwins Gardens
London
EC1N 7RJ
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI32 - Westminster
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession (at the time of conclusion of the contract;excluding VAT)
Total value of the procurement: £27,146,904
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court
39 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0EU
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
The High Court
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
Section seven: Modifications to the contract/concession
seven.1) Description of the procurement after the modifications
seven.1.1) Main CPV code
- 80000000 - Education and training services
seven.1.3) Place of performance
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
London
seven.1.4) Description of the procurement:
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is extending the term of the Contract to include two additional cohorts for the fast-track mental health social work graduate programme with additional key performance indicators, service credits provisions and other consequential amendments relating to the extension.
Since 2016 DHSC has funded a mental health social work fast-track graduate programme (MHSW-GP). Think Ahead (TA) is our current delivery partner. The two-year scheme combines extensive on-the-job experience with classroom teaching, with participants qualifying as social workers, attaining a postgraduate diploma in Social Work, and completing their assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE).
From 2016-2022 Think Ahead was grant funded . The positive impact of the programme led to DHSC conducting a procurement exercise to move from grant funding to a more cost-effective longer-term contract which was approved by Ministers and signed in July 2020. The contract currently forms part of DHSC baseline spend and is within budget. For a cohort of 160 participants, this equates to £9.1M and the overall cost for 3 cohorts is £27.2M which will run until 2025. Think Ahead contract is a 2+1 and was recently extended last year for a final 3rd cohort which starts in 2023 and ends in 2025.
This is the last cohort in the current contract, to initiate the process of extending TA for a further two cohorts starting in 2024 and 2025. The contract would end in 2027.
seven.1.5) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession
Start date
10 October 2023
End date
31 August 2027
seven.1.6) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession:
£46,141,134
seven.1.7) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
The Think Ahead Organisation, Think Ahead
Unit 318, Record Hall, 16-16a Baldwins Gardens
London
EC1N 7RJ
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI32 - Westminster
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
seven.2) Information about modifications
seven.2.1) Description of the modifications
Nature and extent of the modifications (with indication of possible earlier changes to the contract):
In July 2023, the Authority agreed to amend this Contract to allow for an additional 2 Cohorts for the Fast-Track Mental Health Social Work Graduate Programme and to amend the payment terms in light of recommendations received from the Authority’s Commercial
Assurance Board. Following a review in July 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is extending the term of the Contract to include two additional cohorts for the fast-track mental health social work graduate programme with additional key performance indicators, service credits provisions and other consequential amendments relating to the extension.
The total value of this contract extension is £18,994,230.00
The Authority believes this extension is under eg.72(1)(a): Clear precise and unequivocal review clauses.
seven.2.2) Reasons for modification
Need for modification brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority/entity could not foresee.
Description of the circumstances which rendered the modification necessary and explanation of the unforeseen nature of these circumstances:
The Authority believes this extension is compliant under eg.72(1)(a): Clear precise and unequivocal review clauses.
Following a review in July 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is extending the term of the Contract to include two additional cohorts for the fast-track mental health social work graduate programme with additional key performance indicators, service credits provisions and other consequential amendments relating to the extension.
seven.2.3) Increase in price
Updated total contract value before the modifications (taking into account possible earlier contract modifications, price adaptions and average inflation)
Value excluding VAT: £27,146,904
Total contract value after the modifications
Value excluding VAT: £46,141,134