Direct payment advice and support service.
CONTRACT NOTICE
Services
SECTION I: CONTRACTING AUTHORITY
I.1)NAME, ADDRESSES AND CONTACT POINT(S)
Cumbria County Council
Adult & Local Services, County Offices, Busher Walk
Attn: Mr Neil McCafferty
LA9 4RQ Kendal
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel. +44 1539713373
E-mail:
Internet address(es)
General address of the contracting authority www.cumbria.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile www.thechestnwce.gov.uk
I.2)TYPE OF THE CONTRACTING AUTHORITY AND MAIN ACTIVITY OR ACTIVITIES
Regional or local authority
General public services
The contracting authority is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities No
General public services
The contracting authority is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities No
SECTION II: OBJECT OF THE CONTRACT
II.1)DESCRIPTION
II.1.1)Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority
Direct payment advice and support service.
II.1.2)Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance
Services
Service category: No 25
Main place of performance Cumbria.
Service category: No 25
Main place of performance Cumbria.
NUTS code UKD
II.1.3)The notice involves
A public contract
II.1.4)Information on framework agreement
II.1.5)Short description of the contract or purchase(s)
Cumbria County Council is seeking tenders from established, suitably experienced organisations, to provide a direct payments advice and support service to all eligible service user groups.
II.1.6)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)
85000000, 85300000
II.1.7)Contract covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
No
II.1.8)Division into lots
No
II.1.9)Variants will be accepted
No
II.2)QUANTITY OR SCOPE OF THE CONTRACT
II.2.1)Total quantity or scope
Provision of advice and support as appropriate, to service users throughout Cumbria, who are either considering the option of taking up direct payment, or taking up a direct payment or in receipt of a direct payment. Ongoing advice and support at sa range of levels to those in receipt of direct payments.
Excluding VAT 540 000 GBP
Excluding VAT 540 000 GBP
II.2.2)Options
Yes
description of these options: The Council may elect to extend the agreement period by a single further period of up to 2 years. If the Council wishes to extend the agreement period, it shall give the provider at least 6 months written notice of such intention before the expiry of the agreement period.
description of these options: The Council may elect to extend the agreement period by a single further period of up to 2 years. If the Council wishes to extend the agreement period, it shall give the provider at least 6 months written notice of such intention before the expiry of the agreement period.
II.3)DURATION OF THE CONTRACT OR TIME-LIMIT FOR COMPLETION
Starting 1.10.2011. Completion 30.9.2014
SECTION III: LEGAL, ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION
III.1)CONDITIONS RELATING TO THE CONTRACT
III.1.1)Deposits and guarantees required
III.1.2)Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions regulating them
III.1.3)Legal form to be taken by the group of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded
III.1.4)Other particular conditions to which the performance of the contract is subject
No
III.2)CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION
III.2.1)Personal situation of economic operators, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if requirements are met: As detailed in the tender documents.
III.2.2)Economic and financial capacity
Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if requirements are met: As detailed in tender documents.
III.2.3)Technical capacity
Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if requirements are met:
As detailed in tender documents.
As detailed in tender documents.
III.2.4)Reserved contracts
No
III.3)CONDITIONS SPECIFIC TO SERVICES CONTRACTS
III.3.1)Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession
No
III.3.2)Legal entities should indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff responsible for the execution of the service
No
IV.1)TYPE OF PROCEDURE
IV.1.1)Type of procedure
Open
IV.1.2)Limitations on the number of operators who will be invited to tender or to participate
IV.1.3)Reduction of the number of operators during the negotiation or dialogue
IV.2)AWARD CRITERIA
IV.2.1)Award criteria
The most economically advantageous tender in terms of the criteria stated in the specifications, in the invitation to tender or to negotiate or in the descriptive document
IV.2.2)An electronic auction will be used
No
IV.3)ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
IV.3.1)File reference number attributed by the contracting authority
NWCE-8F3 JDR
IV.3.2)Previous publication(s) concerning the same contract
No
IV.3.3)Conditions for obtaining specifications and additional documents
Payable documents No
IV.3.4)Time-limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
22.8.2011 - 10:00
IV.3.5)Date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
30.6.2011
IV.3.6)Language(s) in which tenders or requests to participate may be drawn up
English.
IV.3.7)Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in days 90 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.3.8)Conditions for opening tenders
Date: 22.8.2011 - 10:00
Persons authorised to be present at the opening of tenders Yes
Submissions will be opened by Cumbria County Council members services at a date and time specified on the documents at the following address: - members services Cumbria County Council The Courts Carlisle Cumbria CA3 8NA.
Persons authorised to be present at the opening of tenders Yes
Submissions will be opened by Cumbria County Council members services at a date and time specified on the documents at the following address: - members services Cumbria County Council The Courts Carlisle Cumbria CA3 8NA.
SECTION VI: COMPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
VI.1)THIS IS A RECURRENT PROCUREMENT
No
VI.2)CONTRACT RELATED TO A PROJECT AND/OR PROGRAMME FINANCED BY EU FUNDS
No
VI.3)ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Background information - this a part B service, however,
Contract reference NWCE 8F3-JDR.
Direct payments advice and support service.
1. Context
Cumbria County Council is seeking tenders from established, suitably experienced organisations, to provide a direct payments advice and support service to all eligible service user groups.
Cumbria County Council actively promotes the take up of direct payments as an option for all service users who are eligible for a direct payment following an assessment of their needs. Assisting service users achieve their optimum level of independence is an underpinning philosophy whether their care needs are met through services purchased for the user by the Council or, where it is possible and is the wish of the service user, via the service use’s own management of their care provision through direct payments.
Successful organisations must have a comprehensive understanding of the putting people first initiative and the requirement to deliver self directed support with personal budgets and have a proven track record of liaising with and supporting vulnerable people.
Cumbria covers a wide geographical area. Due to the physical geography of the county this population is very dispersed with more than 70 % of settlements containing less than 200 people to give an idea of size; Cumbria covers an area as large as Greater London, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, half of Oxfordshire and Berkshire, part of Hampshire and all of Surrey, plus parts of Kent Essex and Cambridgeshire.
Tenderers will be expected to demonstrate a serious commitment to the philosophy behind direct payments and to work with and support service users from all client groups with equal conviction.
2. The service
Cumbria has had the benefit of an active direct payments service since the year 2000. The Council has built on this and is determined to have in place for the people of Cumbria a service that will continue to give them the opportunities for options that meet their care needs in an innovative and responsive way.
Providing a direct payments service that is readily available and well placed to understand the challenges experienced by service users managing their own care within a county such as Cumbria requires careful planning and an awareness of market forces.
The provider will be expected to work locally and ensure an actual presence in each of the 6 districts of Cumbria for part of each week and maintain a telephone contact and response service. The provider will offer an appropriate level of support as assessed across 4 levels. We expect the number of service users taking up direct payments to grow steadily from the current numbers. The service will be measured in terms of service users indicating that direct payments have significantly improved the quality of their lives.
In the period April 10 - March 2011, approximately 770 service users accessed the advice and support service. The approximate proportional breakdown by district for those accessing the service is:
Carlisle 20 %.
Eden 11 %.
Allerdale 12 %.
Copeland 13 %.
South Lakeland 20 %.
Furness 24 %.
3. Our vision for social care in Cumbria
Our vision is to make a positive difference to the lives of adults and children with care and support needs, and their carers, in Cumbria. We will do this by achieving the 7 key outcome targets from The White Paper "our health, our care, our say".
- Improved health and emotional well-being - services will promote and facilitate the health and emotional well-being of service users who will use the service,
- Increased choice and control - service users, and their carers, have access to choice and control of high quality services, which are responsive to individual needs and preferences,
- Improved quality of life - services will promote independence, and support service users to live a fulfilled life making the most of their capacity and potential,
- Freedom from discrimination and harassment - service users have equal access to services without hindrance from discrimination or prejudice; they feel safe and are safeguarded from harm,
- Maintaining personal dignity and respect - services will be sensitive to personal beliefs and preferences and will respect confidentiality, and will promote and preserve dignity at all times,
- Making a positive contribution - service users who use the Services are encouraged to participate fully in their community and feel that their contribution is valued equally with other people,
- Economic well-being - service users are not disadvantaged financially and have access to economic opportunity and appropriate resources to achieve this.
Cumbria requires services where personalisation and person centred planning are robustly embedded, and which put the service user and their carers at the heart of all decision making.
The vision will be delivered through effective joint working across partner agencies in the statutory, independent, the voluntary and community sectors.
4. Duration of contract: 3 years with the Council retaining the option of extending for a further 2 years
5. TUPE
The transfer of undertakings (protection of employment) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/246) known colloquially as TUPE may apply to this service.
6. Information on Cumbria
The URL below provides demographic data on Cumbria.
Economic operators are therefore required to fully comply with all statutory obligations/applicable legislation and there will be a requirement to participate in the authority’s supplier audits on all aspects of diversity.
Contract reference NWCE 8F3-JDR.
Direct payments advice and support service.
1. Context
Cumbria County Council is seeking tenders from established, suitably experienced organisations, to provide a direct payments advice and support service to all eligible service user groups.
Cumbria County Council actively promotes the take up of direct payments as an option for all service users who are eligible for a direct payment following an assessment of their needs. Assisting service users achieve their optimum level of independence is an underpinning philosophy whether their care needs are met through services purchased for the user by the Council or, where it is possible and is the wish of the service user, via the service use’s own management of their care provision through direct payments.
Successful organisations must have a comprehensive understanding of the putting people first initiative and the requirement to deliver self directed support with personal budgets and have a proven track record of liaising with and supporting vulnerable people.
Cumbria covers a wide geographical area. Due to the physical geography of the county this population is very dispersed with more than 70 % of settlements containing less than 200 people to give an idea of size; Cumbria covers an area as large as Greater London, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, half of Oxfordshire and Berkshire, part of Hampshire and all of Surrey, plus parts of Kent Essex and Cambridgeshire.
Tenderers will be expected to demonstrate a serious commitment to the philosophy behind direct payments and to work with and support service users from all client groups with equal conviction.
2. The service
Cumbria has had the benefit of an active direct payments service since the year 2000. The Council has built on this and is determined to have in place for the people of Cumbria a service that will continue to give them the opportunities for options that meet their care needs in an innovative and responsive way.
Providing a direct payments service that is readily available and well placed to understand the challenges experienced by service users managing their own care within a county such as Cumbria requires careful planning and an awareness of market forces.
The provider will be expected to work locally and ensure an actual presence in each of the 6 districts of Cumbria for part of each week and maintain a telephone contact and response service. The provider will offer an appropriate level of support as assessed across 4 levels. We expect the number of service users taking up direct payments to grow steadily from the current numbers. The service will be measured in terms of service users indicating that direct payments have significantly improved the quality of their lives.
In the period April 10 - March 2011, approximately 770 service users accessed the advice and support service. The approximate proportional breakdown by district for those accessing the service is:
Carlisle 20 %.
Eden 11 %.
Allerdale 12 %.
Copeland 13 %.
South Lakeland 20 %.
Furness 24 %.
3. Our vision for social care in Cumbria
Our vision is to make a positive difference to the lives of adults and children with care and support needs, and their carers, in Cumbria. We will do this by achieving the 7 key outcome targets from The White Paper "our health, our care, our say".
- Improved health and emotional well-being - services will promote and facilitate the health and emotional well-being of service users who will use the service,
- Increased choice and control - service users, and their carers, have access to choice and control of high quality services, which are responsive to individual needs and preferences,
- Improved quality of life - services will promote independence, and support service users to live a fulfilled life making the most of their capacity and potential,
- Freedom from discrimination and harassment - service users have equal access to services without hindrance from discrimination or prejudice; they feel safe and are safeguarded from harm,
- Maintaining personal dignity and respect - services will be sensitive to personal beliefs and preferences and will respect confidentiality, and will promote and preserve dignity at all times,
- Making a positive contribution - service users who use the Services are encouraged to participate fully in their community and feel that their contribution is valued equally with other people,
- Economic well-being - service users are not disadvantaged financially and have access to economic opportunity and appropriate resources to achieve this.
Cumbria requires services where personalisation and person centred planning are robustly embedded, and which put the service user and their carers at the heart of all decision making.
The vision will be delivered through effective joint working across partner agencies in the statutory, independent, the voluntary and community sectors.
4. Duration of contract: 3 years with the Council retaining the option of extending for a further 2 years
5. TUPE
The transfer of undertakings (protection of employment) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/246) known colloquially as TUPE may apply to this service.
6. Information on Cumbria
The URL below provides demographic data on Cumbria.
http://www.cumbriaobservatory.org.uk/Population/populationbriefings.asp
Additional information.Suppliers wishing to express an interest and obtain access to the tender documents should go to www.thechest.nwce.gov.uk and click on current opportunities from the navigation area on the left of the screen. On the next screen enter the contract reference (NWCE 8BJEE4) in the box labelled "contains" then click search.
Click on the blue link for the contract title to view the opportunity.To express an interest you will need to login. If you are not already registered on the www.thechest.nwce.gov.uk you will need to return to the home page and click on register free link in the navigation area on the left of the screen. Registration is free of charge and your username and password will be emailed to you.
Cumbria County Council is fully supportive of all aspects of diversity including ethnicity, race, religion, age, disability and sexual orientation. In this respect Cumbria County Council welcomes expressions of interest from ethnic minority, disabled and other diverse business communities and the voluntary sector.Economic operators are therefore required to fully comply with all statutory obligations/applicable legislation and there will be a requirement to participate in the authority’s supplier audits on all aspects of diversity.
VI.4)PROCEDURES FOR APPEAL
VI.4.1)Body responsible for appeal procedures
Cumbria County Council
Strategic & Commercial Procurement Barras Lane
CA5 7NY Dalston
UNITED KINGDOM
E-mail:
Tel. +44 1228227757
VI.4.2)Lodging of appeals
VI.4.3)Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained
VI.5)DATE OF DISPATCH OF THIS NOTICE:
29.6.2011