Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Fife Council
Fife House, North Street
Glenrothes
KY7 5LT
UK
Contact person: Pasha Keir
Telephone: +44 3451550000
E-mail: Pasha.Keir@fife.gov.uk
NUTS: UKM72
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.fife.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00187
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
Social protection
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Flexible Framework for the Provision of Supported Living for Adults and Older People
Reference number: SC0026
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Fife Health and Social Care Partnership (“the Partnership”) requires to commission a Supported Living Service (both personal care and non-personal i.e., Housing Support Services) from a variety of external service providers. It is recognised that in some circumstances the Partnership may wish to commission a service that comprises of Housing Support only. On that basis this Contract is open to Providers who do not have dual registration for Care and Support and Housing Support, however it is the preference that Providers will have dual registration.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
21 200 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85300000
85310000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM72
Main site or place of performance:
Fife
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Fife Health and Social Care Partnership (“the Partnership”) requires to commission a Supported Living Service (both personal care and non-personal i.e., Housing Support Services) from a variety of external service providers. It is recognised that in some circumstances the Partnership may wish to commission a service that comprises of Housing Support only. On that basis this Contract is open to Providers who do not have dual registration for Care and Support and Housing Support, however it is the preference that Providers will have dual registration.
Fife’s Health and Social Care Partnership is committed to personalisation and outcome-based services for individuals of all ages and abilities and is seeking to appoint a range of partner organisations to deliver outcome focused support to adults, ranging from 16 years old upwards with a range of identified support needs throughout Fife, under a Framework agreement.
Any partner organisations must be able to demonstrate experience and commitment to working innovatively with individuals with the Framework of self-directed support and have sound experience and practice in maximising the benefits of individual budgets. They must also evidence strong skills in forming and maintaining relationships with families of individuals.
Objectives for the Framework are to ensure that individuals have access to support that aspires to the highest level of quality and promotes the right of each individual to have as much choice and control as possible. Key elements of success from desirable organisations include robust evidence of promoting and delivering:
- personal preferences.
-fluctuating levels of required support.
- continuity and consistency in provision of individual outcome focussed support.
- innovative approach which takes into account the potential to link with informal networks of support, community resources as well as embracing the use of assistive technology i.e., Just Checking to improve outcomes for the supported person.
- Supporting positive risk taking.
The Provider will provide practical and personal care over 24 hours a day and 365 days a year to the Supported Person living in their own home and will be in line with the service aims and objectives specified within the specification.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 85
Price
/ Weighting:
15
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 36
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
The contract will be for the period of 3 years with the option to extend for up to 12 months if requried.
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:
Fife Council may require additional purchases under this contract which have not been specifically detailed in the "specification" however any additional purchases will be in full accordance with the requirements of Regulation 72 of the Public Contract (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
This framework will be a flexible framework which re-opens at regular periods throught the lifetime of the Contract.
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions:
Providers are required to hold the relevant registration to provide the services detailed in the Service Specification.
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement with several operators.
Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement: 100
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2022/S 000-034743
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
02/11/2023
Local time: 17:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 36 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
03/11/2023
Local time: 09:00
Place:
Fife House, Glenrothes or staff home address if working from home.
Information about authorised persons and opening procedure:
Pasha Keir, Niki Hutchison and/or Katy Hope.
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published:
There will be an ongoing requirement for external Supported Living Services, it is envisaged that the next time this will go out to full open tender will be 4 years after Contract award date.
As this is a flexible framework this Contract will be re-opened at regular intervals throughout the Contract lifetime to allow new Care Providers to submit a bid to join the Framework.
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=721356.
The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.
Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.
The Contracting Authority does not intend to include a sub-contract clause as part of community benefits (as per Section 25 of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014) in this contract for the following reason:
Sub-Contracting is not permitted.
The Contracting Authority does not intend to include any community benefit requirements in this contract for the following reason:
Community Benefits have not previously been sought for these services (apart from recent mini competitions which have been held for supported Living requirements) as to date they have been deemed to be delivering a Community Benefit in themselves: The previous PSR states “by their nature the services provided under this Contract continually benefit members of the community. In addition, many of the providers in the market are local companies employing local carers.”
Community Benefits have been considered for this procurement but have not been deemed as appropriate therefore will not be requested for the following reasons:
Community benefits are often encouraged to be around generating employment and training opportunities however it is well documented that the Care Sector is experiencing issues in recruiting and retaining staff and it is felt that this would add additional pressures.
Traditionally, wider communities offer support to Care Providers in the form of volunteers, fundraising etc. which is the opposite to Care Providers offering additional benefits to the community.
It is felt that asking for other community benefits would place a disproportionate burden on the Providers at a time when they are already dealing with the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, EU Exit and the Cost-of-Living Crisis. A recent article published on the Scottish Care website The straw that breaks the back of care outlines the current challenges that Care Homes are experiencing with many unsure how they will be able to continue to operate with the crippling rising costs.
For the reasons above and the fact that the pricing is fixed for this Contract rebates will not be sought.
(SC Ref:721356)
Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=721356
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court
Kirkcaldy
KY1 1XQ
UK
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
Economic operators should approach the contracting authority in the first instance. However, the only formal remedy is to apply to the courts:
An economic operator that suffers, or is at risk of suffering, loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
29/09/2023