Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Newport City Council
Civic Centre
Newport
NP20 4UR
Contact
Joanne James
Telephone
+44 1633656656
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKL21 - Monmouthshire and Newport
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0273
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
Provision of an Integrated Family Support Service
Reference number
NCC-2024-02220
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85310000 - Social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Newport City Council established the Family Support Service (FSS) in partnership with Barnardos in 2011 with both financially contributing to the delivery of the service.
The primary focus of the service is to provide support to children ‘on the edge’ of care and their families by offering trauma informed and evidence-based services to reduce family breakdown and admissions into the care system.
The Council has retendered the service twice with the successful partner having to contribute financially to operate the service. On the last occasion in 2017. Barnardos was the only supplier that submitted an offer against the ITT. Monmouthshire County Council was also included. The current contract is due to expire 31 March 2025.
A speculative notice was issued and although 2 providers did express an interest, after understanding the service requirement advised that they would not be able to tender.
This VEAT is to inform the market of Newport City Council’s including Monmouthshire County Council's intention to direct award a contract to Barnardos for a 5-year period with a possible extension of 5 years extended on an annual basis subject to review. The contract will commence on 1 April 2025.
The Council’s financial contribution to the service for the five year period is GBP2,520,000.00 (GBP504.000.00 per annum) and Barnardos will contribute a minimum of GBP1,000,000.00 (GBP200.000.00 per annum) There is also a grant of GBP290,000.00 (GBP145.000.00 per annum) but this will cease from April 2028. The total value of GBP4,000,000.00 includes Monmouthshire County Council as well.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £4,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85310000 - Social work services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKL21 - Monmouthshire and Newport
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This VEAT is to inform the market of Newport City Council’s intention to direct award a contract to Barnardos to partner the Council in the delivery of the Family Support Service.
The contract will be for a 5-year period with a possible extension of 5 years extended on an annual basis subject to review. The contract will commence on 1 April 2025.
The partnership has sought to achieve 5 broad aims which together are intended to safely reduce the number of children entering care in Newport, which are:
- To safely reduce the number of children in care, in proceedings, or on the Child Protection Register.
- Bridging the gap between universal and specialist service provision to prevent the need for more intensive interventions
- Reducing specific risk factors for individual families (by increasing child and family resilience)
- Support children and young families to take part in decision making within Family Support Services
- To ensure a while family approach is taken by working with parents, carers and family members as well as the child and/or young person.
The IFSS Family Support Service service includes specialist interventions including
- Rapid Response – providing an enhanced, immediate, intensive offer of support to young people and families where there is a significant risk that adolescents may be immediately admitted to care without this intervention. This includes:
- Specialist intervention workers based within the Safeguarding Hub and able to immediately respond to referrals coming into Social Services where adolescents face immediate admission into care due to family placement breakdown.
- Developing a dedicated pathway for Rapid Response families to ensure that a longer term intervention is provided to promote family stability and reduce the risk of the situation escalating once the service steps down.
- A dedicated specialist Family Group Conference practitioner to promote family stability by supporting families and community partners to develop their own family plans.
- Domestic Abuse interventions – recognising that domestic abuse is a primary factor in most cases where children are being seriously considered for care admission.
- Importantly, the whole family approach is fundamental to the safeguarding of children therefore we will bring in specific engagement mechanisms for father’s. The father's worker will link closely to our pre-existing Baby and Me/pre-birth team providing intensive, trauma informed support to new and expectant fathers known to this service. In addition, the father's worker will deliver specialist, one-to-one and group-based sessions with fathers where there are concerns in respect domestic abuse.
- Placement Support – recognising the significant complexity associated with supporting family situations where parents/carers are struggling to cope with meeting the needs of their children.
- Disability support – specially trained staff will provide support to promote parents/carers ability to manage independently, reducing the risk of placements breaking down.
- SGO Support – dedicated support to SGO carers to promote their ability care for and support the children in their care.
- Therapeutic Team - the develop of a dedicated therapeutic team to provide longer term intensive support for the most complex families.
One of the key benefits of Partnership is that it has provided innovative solutions and has improved outcomes for children and young people which has resulted in effective support for families.
Since the inception of the partnership in 2011 the number of children looked after per 10,000 of population by Newport has remained below the Welsh national average, having been above average prior to the partnership, i.e. average number of children looked after, in 2023, was 116 per year; Newport Children Looked after figure was 103 – data provided Stats Wales and published in Newport Barnardo’s Strategic Partnership Evaluation (June 2024)
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
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:
Barnardos is recognised, after sourcing of the market, as the only provider at this time who has the skillset and experience to be able to bridge the gap between universal and specialist provision to meet the needs of the clients who use this service and to achieve the outcomes that are required
The contract will be for a five-year period and a further extension of a possible five years to offer stability and consistency to clients who use it and will allow for the development of the market to increase supplier interest in tendering in the future. The extension of a possible five years will only be granted after the market has been reviewed, whether funding is available and a review of contract management.
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
NCC-2024-02220
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
13 December 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
Ilford
IG61QG
Telephone
+44 2920577074
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH3 - Essex
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: £4,000,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
(WA Ref:146704)
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