Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Westmorland and Furness Council
South Lakeland House, Lowther Street
Kendal
LA9 4DQ
UK
Contact person: Mrs Alyson Delin
Telephone: +44 7423749646
E-mail: Alyson.Delin@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
NUTS: UKD1
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://www.the-chest.org.uk/
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://www.the-chest.org.uk/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Independent Advocacy Service for Adults with Health and Social Care Needs
Reference number: DN707694
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Local authorities have a responsibility to ensure the provision of professional independent advocacy under the terms of:
• The Care Act 2014 and the Care and Support Statutory Guidance for independent advocates for
people using social care services.
• The Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its Code of Practice for independent mental capacity act
advocates.
• Mental Health Act 1983 and its Code of Practice for independent mental capacity act advocates.
Best practice guidance (NICE 2022) states that advocacy providers should aim to support
continuity by offering people the same advocate for different types of Advocacy. If this is not possible, they should ensure that systems for handover are in place that are not reliant on a new referral.
Local authorities must make appropriate arrangements for independent advocacy services to provide assistant to people making or intending to make complaints as described in the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
858 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKD1
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Westmorland and Furness Council came into being on 1st April 2023. It is England’s third largest unitary authority by geographical area, and it’s more sparsely populated this presents challenges in terms of sustaining and delivering services and requires innovating approaches and continuous improvement.
The Council cares and believes everyone matters and will strive to ensure that citizens can gain access to the right service, in the right place at the right time.
Local authorities have a responsibility to ensure the provision of professional independent advocacy under the terms of:
• The Care Act 2014 and the Care and Support Statutory Guidance for independent advocates for
people using social care services.
• The Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its Code of Practice for independent mental capacity act
advocates.
• Mental Health Act 1983 and its Code of Practice for independent mental capacity act advocates.
Best practice guidance (NICE 2022) states that advocacy providers should aim to support continuity by offering people the same advocate for different types of Advocacy. If this is not possible, they should ensure that systems for handover are in place that are not reliant on a new referral.
Local authorities must make appropriate arrangements for independent advocacy services to provide assistant to people making or intending to make complaints as described in the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 70
Cost criterion: Cost
/ Weighting: 30
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
858 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
01/06/2024
End:
31/05/2027
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
2 optional extensions of up to 12 months each.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
16/02/2024
Local time: 13:30
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
16/02/2024
Local time: 13:30
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
HM Courts Service
London
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
19/01/2024