Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Cumberland Council
Cumbria House, 107 - 117 Botchergate
Carlisle
CA1 1RD
Contact
Mrs Jacqui Sullivan
jacqui.sullivan@cumberland.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKD1 - Cumbria
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/
Buyer's address
https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=11a99154-d595-ee11-8125-005056b64545
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=11a99154-d595-ee11-8125-005056b64545
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
Adoption Recruitment and Support Services
Reference number
DN702986
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Council is procuring a Cumbria Adoption Recruitment and Support Services contract to be delivered by an Adoption Agency to ensure effective, efficient and timely adoption placements. The service shall recruit and support adopters, working with Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Councils, to match referred children with adopters. This service shall be delivered alongside the work of Cumbria Adoption, ensuring an integrated service for adopted children and their families. For further information, please refer to II.2.4 and also view the tender documents via The Chest (website below at II.2.4).
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £2,750,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKD1 - Cumbria
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Council is conducting a procurement using the open procedure in accordance with the Light Touch Regime under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 for the purpose of procuring the services as described briefly above at II.1.4 and in detail within the service specification which is part of the tender documents available via The Chest (see below).
All award criteria are stated in the tender documents only.
The estimated total potential value of the Contract for the initial term, plus the two optional extensions of up to 12 months each, is £2,750,000 excluding VAT.
The inter-agency fees associated with the Contract, which cover recruiting and assessing adopters, matching and placing children, and providing supervision and support up to the point of adoption, are set by the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (CVAA) in agreement with The Association of Directors of Children’s Services.
Details of expenditure are indicative only. The Council does not guarantee any spend against this Contract.
The Council proposes to enter into the Contract for a period of THREE years with the successful Tenderer from 1st April 2024. There are TWO optional extensions of up to 12 months each. Use of these optional extensions is at the absolute discretion of the Council.
To access the tender documents, including the service specification, and to submit a bid, please use our online procurement portal - The Chest (https://www.the-chest.org.uk). Registration on The Chest is free.
All bids must be received electronically via The Chest by the closing date stated in the Invitation to Tender (ITT).
Any clarifications you have about the tender must be sent via messaging on The Chest by the closing date stated in the ITT.
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 2024
End date
31 March 2027
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
There are two optional extensions available of up to 12 months each, which are at the absolute discretion of the Council. The initial term is THREE years from 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2027. If the optional extensions are used, the latest end date would be 31st March 2029.
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 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 2024
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
11 January 2024
Local time
11:15am
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
His Majesty's Court Service
London
Country
United Kingdom