Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Cambridgeshire County Council
New Shire Hall, Alconbury Weald
Huntingdon
PE28 4YE
procurementandcommercial@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH12 - Cambridgeshire CC
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/
Buyer's address
https://www.cambridgeshire.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
22119 Direct Payment Support Services
Reference number
DN734433
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
A new contract to be procured for a Direct Payment Support Service (DPSS) to deliver support services to users who receive direct payments as part of their personal budget arrangement.
Clients will receive their own fund to hire a personal assistant, legal/HR advise, sourcing and recruitment support, marketing and find more Personal Assistants in the market.
This service will be used to aid people of all ages (adults, young people, and children).
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: £397,977.48
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH12 - Cambridgeshire CC
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Council’s detailed requirements are defined in the Specification.
We are looking to commission a high-quality Direct Payment Support Service (DPSS) that enables the outcome of improved independence, health, and wellbeing of people with eligible needs funding their own support.
Priority activities for the service are to:
1. Provide high quality information and advice on Direct Payments, purchasing care and support directly, and on the support services opportunities available locally. This includes CMEs and other voluntary, community or social enterprise organisations.
2. To provide support to the service users directly employing PAs on the matter of HR and Tax in compliance with the HR and Tax legislation current at the time.
3. Offer personalised support to people to manage their Direct Payments in ways that they can understand.
4. Provide independent support to people who are purchasing support through Direct Payments and people who fund their own support (self-funders)
5. Assist Direct Payments recipients to directly employ support staff and to understand employment legislation and manage their duties as employers.
6. Provide a high quality and efficient payroll service to Cambridgeshire service users who wish to use this service.
7. Provide a managed bank account service for Direct Payment recipients who choose not to receive and manage their Direct Payment themselves.
8. Support the development, implementation, and ongoing management of a Personal Assistant Platform for the job matching of PAs and service-users. We expect this platform will hold the CMEs/ISFs provider information to support with sign posting and matching individuals to these services and help the recruitment of PAs.
9. Support service uses to process DBS checks on behalf of the personal assistant, the cost of such DBS check is to be paid by the employee.
10. Collaborate with council staff to develop personal assistant hourly guideline rates.
11. Collaborate with commissioners (both public sector, self-funders, and Direct Payments recipients) and other partners to develop and effectively facilitate the Personal Assistant and wider self-directed support market.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 45
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 5
Price - Weighting: 50
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: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2024/S 000-026974
Section five. Award of contract
Title
22119 Direct Payment Support Services
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
11 February 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 18
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Purple Zest Limited
Arise Innovation Centre Alan Cherry Drive
Chelmsford
CM1 1QT
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH3 - Essex
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £397,977.48
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Cambridgeshire County Council
New Shire Hall, Emery Crescent, Alconbury Weald
Huntingdon
PE28 4YE
Country
United Kingdom