Scope
Description
The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) provide a legal framework for the deprivation of liberty for people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions about their accommodation and care arrangements themselves. They apply to people who are in hospital or residential/nursing care (the managing authority) and who are subject to restrictions and restraints in their lives, for example, not being free to leave or requiring continual supervision.
Local Authorities are required to arrange an assessment of an individual's circumstances to determine whether the accommodation the care provided is in their best interests to protect them from harm, whether it is necessary and proportionate and to determine if there is a less restrictive alternative.
The requirement of this service is for the provision of assessments to establish whether a person in hospital, care home or nursing home requires Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisation.
Assessors will be required to visit the relevant person requiring assessment in their care setting, which may be a hospital ward, care home or nursing home, in order to conduct a face-to-face assessment.
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2028
- Possible extension to 30 April 2030
- 4 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Contract locations
- UKH3 - Essex
Engagement
Engagement deadline
30 December 2025
Engagement process description
Essex County Council would like to invite interested suppliers to partake in an early market engagement survey regarding the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Assessment Service.
We aim to understand:
-Supplier preferences for different payment models
-Practical considerations, risks, and benefits with each model
-Indicative pricing approaches under each model
-Mobilisation considerations
-Service resource and capacity considerations
Please copy the link into your browser to take the survey.
https://consultations.essex.gov.uk/procurement/deprivation-of-liberty-safeguards-dols-assessment
This is not a procurement process and does not constitute a commitment to award any contract. The information collected will help inform our future procurement strategy.
Procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Contracting authority
Essex County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PWVM-4844-NRQH
County Hall, Market Road
Chelmsford
CM1 1QH
United Kingdom
Contact name: Jon Rockstad
Email: jon.rockstad@essex.gov.uk
Region: UKH36 - Heart of Essex
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government