Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Worcestershire County Council
County Hall,Spetchley Road
WORCESTER
WR52NP
Contact
Kerstin Byfield
kbyfield@worcestershire.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKG12 - Worcestershire
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/
Buyer's address
https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/
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
VEAT Notice for the provision of the Worcestershire Family Hubs
Reference number
HEA24011
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This VEAT notice indicates that the Contracting Authority intends to directly award a Public Services contract under Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the PCR (2015) for the provision of the Worcestershire Family Hubs. This provision will be delivered on a 24-month contract with no option to extend.
The Negotiated Procedure without prior publication is being followed and is justified under Regulation 32 of the PCR(2015)
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £3,704,744
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Family Hubs: Wyre Forest
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG12 - Worcestershire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Delivery of the Family Hubs provision across the Wyre Forest District.
The Family Hub providers will be responsible for managing and coordinating the local offer of family hubs in line with the national Family Hubs and Start for Life Framework. This offer includes the delivery of evidence-based programmes and support.
In addition to coordinating delivery within Family Hub buildings, the providers will lead on the oversight of local Family Hub networks and the wider outreach model of Family Hub support within community assets. Providers will build community capacity including developing and sustaining community activities, utilising volunteers and community assets, information and advice and peer support.
Under the current contracting arrangements Barnardo Services Ltd delivers the Family Hubs provision in the Wyre Forest district.
Under the new contracting arrangements, the aforementioned provider will continue to deliver the family hubs provision in the Wyre Forest district and will be contracted directly with the contracting Authority.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Family Hubs: Redditch & Bromsgrove
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG12 - Worcestershire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Delivery of the Family Hubs provision across Bromsgrove and Redditch Districts
The Family Hub providers will be responsible for managing and coordinating the local offer of family hubs in line with the national Family Hubs and Start for Life Framework. This offer includes the delivery of evidence-based programmes and support.
In addition to coordinating delivery within Family Hub buildings, the providers will lead on the oversight of local Family Hub networks and the wider outreach model of Family Hub support within community assets. Providers will build community capacity including developing and sustaining community activities, utilising volunteers and community assets, information and advice and peer support.
Under the current contracting arrangements Redditch Borough Council delivers the Family Hubs provision in Bromsgrove and Redditch districts.
Under the new contracting arrangements, the aforementioned provider will continue to deliver the family hubs provision in Bromsgrove and Redditch districts and will be contracted directly with the contracting Authority.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Family Hubs: Malvern Hills, Worcester City & Wychavon
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG12 - Worcestershire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Delivery of the Family Hubs provision across Malvern Hills, Worcester City and Wychavon Districts.
The Family Hub providers will be responsible for managing and coordinating the local offer of family hubs in line with the national Family Hubs and Start for Life Framework. This offer includes the delivery of evidence-based programmes and support.
In addition to coordinating delivery within Family Hub buildings, the providers will lead on the oversight of local Family Hub networks and the wider outreach model of Family Hub support within community assets. Providers will build community capacity including developing and sustaining community activities, utilising volunteers and community assets, information and advice and peer support.
Under the current contracting arrangements Action for Children Services Limited delivers the Family Hubs provision in Malvern Hills, Worcester City and Wychavon districts.
Under the new contracting arrangements, the aforementioned provider will continue to deliver the family hubs provision in Malvern Hills, Worcester City and Wychavon and will be contracted directly with the contracting Authority.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
The Authority intends to direct award to the providers without a call for competition in accordance with reg 32(2)(b)(ii) of the PCR (2015).
The three providers are subcontractors under the current 0-19 contract. This contract was awarded in 2020 for 5 years with the option to extend by up to 2 years (from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2027) in accordance with the contract terms.
The contract was launched in the early stages of COVID it has had to pause, flex and change as a result. In addition the government have since introduced a new and expanded framework for delivery of family hubs, therefore the incumbent/ lead provider wanted to concentrate on the nursing element and no longer manage the wider Family Hub providers as it felt the Authority was better placed to influence the services to meet the needs of Worcestershire families.
Instead of extending the contract in its current form, the Authority is directly awarding contracts to the three sub-contractors/ providers. The direct award to the three providers will be in line with the current terms and conditions and will be for a period of two years, from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2027, with no option for extension.
The funding for the three providers under the direct award, is the same value that they received under the subcontracted arrangements. The scope of the contract has not been extended as the services provided remain the same. The new contract is for two years and this is the same as the available extension period under the current contract.
Each provider holds several leases for properties where the services are delivered from, these leases are between the Authority and the subcontractors under the current contracting arrangements and will be renewed/continued between the Authority and the providers under the direct award.
The Authority will not enter into a contract with the providers before 6 December 2024.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
WCC 2024 2073
Lot No
1
Title
Parenting, Community Support and Management of Family Hubs
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
20 November 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Barnardo Services Limited
Barnardo House, Tanners Lane, Barkingside.
Illford
IG6 1QG
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI53 - Redbridge and Waltham Forest
Companies House
01227919
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £783,546
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
WCC 2024 2061
Lot No
2
Title
Parenting, Community Support and Management of Family Hubs
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
20 November 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Redditch Borough Council
Town Hall, Walter Stranz Square
Redditch
B98 8AH
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKG12 - Worcestershire
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £1,191,352
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
WCC 2024 2060
Lot No
3
Title
Parenting, Community Support and Management of Family Hubs
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
20 November 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Action For Children Services Limited
3 The Boulevard, Ascot Road
Watford
WD18 8AG
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH23 - Hertfordshire
Companies House
2332388
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £1,729,846
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The Contracting Authority is satisfied that there is justification for a direct award. However, the Contracting Authority will observe a 10-day voluntary standstill period from the day after the publication of this VEAT Notice during which the Contracting Authority will not enter into any arrangement for the direct award.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court of England and Wales
London
Country
United Kingdom