Scope
Reference
PA0028
Description
Suffolk County Council are seeking to commission a Provider to deliver a service that will effectively identify and engage Young Carers aged up to 18 years. The Provider will complete Statutory Assessments with Young Carers and provide appropriate Information, Advice and Guidance to ensure their needs are properly supported. The Provider will keep an up to date register of all Young Carers who have accessed the service, and the support they require to maintain their caring responsibilities. The service will ensure that the Council is able to meet its statutory requirements under both the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Care Act 2014.
Total value (estimated)
- £828,000 excluding VAT
- £993,600 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2028
- Possible extension to 30 June 2030
- 4 years
Description of possible extension:
Contract can be extended by up to 24 months.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Contract locations
- UKH14 - Suffolk
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Financial Capacity
- Confirmation that the Tenderer has a minimum Creditsafe credit reference agency score of 50 at the time of evaluation. If this threshold is not met (or a Creditsafe score cannot be obtained), the contracting authority may conduct a more detailed assessment - such as ratio analysis - using other financial information.
Financial capacity
- Confirmation that the Tenderer has, or can commit to obtain, prior to the award of the contract, the levels of insurance cover indicated in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire, and that the cost of insurances has been included in the costs/prices submitted within the Tender submission.
Technical ability conditions of participation
UK General Data Protection Regulations
- Tenderer does not pose a Data Protection risk to the Council (that cannot be mitigated).
Relevant experience and contract examples
- Tenderer provides evidence demonstrating technical ability to perform the services as defined in the tender documentation.
Experience of sub-contractor management
- Tenderer provides evidence demonstrating how they have previously maintained healthy supply chains with their sub-contractor(s) (if applicable).
Health and safety
- Tenderer provides their H&S Policy Statement together with an explanation of their H&S arrangements (which should follow a recognised H&S Management system).
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
12 December 2025, 11:59pm
Tender submission deadline
6 January 2026, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
18 February 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | As described in the tender documentation. |
Price | 30% |
| Service Delivery | As described in the tender documentation. |
Quality | 20% |
| Implementation | As described in the tender documentation. |
Quality | 15% |
| Service User Involvement and Experience | As described in the tender documentation. |
Quality | 15% |
| Pathways, Partnerships and Relationships | As described in the tender documentation. |
Quality | 10% |
| Social Value | As described in the tender documentation. |
Quality | 10% |
Other information
Description of risks to contract performance
Suffolk County Council has joined the government's Devolution Priority Programme (DPP), a fast-track programme towards devolution and local government reorganisation.
Under the DPP it is proposed that:
a) a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) for Norfolk and Suffolk is established, with strategic powers and headed by an elected mayor ("Devolution").
b) the existing two-tier council structure in Suffolk is abolished and replaced with one or more unitary councils covering the current geographical boundary of Suffolk ("LGR").
It is possible that both, one or neither of these changes will happen. These changes are declared as known risks as we do not yet know the implications of Devolution and/or LGR.
As a result of LGR and Devolution, contract modifications may be necessary to novate, transfer or disaggregate the contract from the one you entered into to one or more successor authorities or the MCAA. Impacts could include changes to geographical boundaries, significant increases and/or decreases in the goods and/or services required due to the change in size/scope of any successor authority or the MCAA. This may also change the scope of the contract
Interested Parties should refer to the Invitation to Tender and Contract Terms for the Known Risks:
Contract novation, transfer or disaggregation to one or more Successor Authorities or the MCAA within the current geographical boundary of Suffolk.
Contract novation, transfer or disaggregation to one or more Successor Authorities or the MCAA outside the current geographical boundary of Suffolk.
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Contracting authority
Suffolk County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHVH-1657-HHMV
Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road
Ipswich
IP1 2BX
United Kingdom
Region: UKH14 - Suffolk
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government