Lot 1
Bracknell Forest Council is seeking to establish a Home Care Framework. The Council is inviting applicants to join the Framework for the provision of home care services. The Framework will be used by the Council as a means to advertise, tender and award ‘call-off agreements’ for services that have common characteristics e.g. packages of care. The service is intended to support individuals aged 18+ who live within Bracknell Forest and meet the eligibility threshold for care and support as set out in the Care and Support (Eligibility Criteria) Regulations 2014 for the Care Act 2014. Individuals will have a range of care needs, including complex and challenging behaviours. The service includes activities such as personal care, discharge to assess and supports the reablement of individuals following hospital admission. Although provision is for 18+ this specific service is primarily and foremost a regulated activity for the 65+, delivered by CQC registered providers. Support to individuals with Learning Disabilities (referred to as ‘Supported Living’ in Bracknell Forest), is provided through a set of separate market arrangements and so is not in scope for this tender. The Council is making use of the allowances of the Light Touch Regime of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 which are specific rules for certain services (including social care), allowing for the procurement procedures to be run in a way that does not conform to standard procedures so long as the principles of transparency and equal treatment are maintained. The procurement is a 3 stage process: 1) Compliance with the Minimum Entry Criteria (see below) 2) Completion of Parts 1 and 2 of the Selection Questionnaire - Supplier Information and Exclusion Grounds 3) Completion of Part 3 of the Selection Questionnaire – Technical and Professional Ability and Technical Questions Evaluation: Stage 1 - Compliance with the Minimum Entry Criteria. Bidders must pass Stage 2 - Bidders must ‘Pass’ all the requirements set out in Part 1 and Part 2 of the Selection Questionnaire. Stage 3 – Part 3 of the Selection Questionnaire Technical and Professional Ability and Technical Questions. This section will be evaluated by a panel. The Council will not consider any applications from bidders who do not meet the requirements detailed above. The Council may, at its discretion, reopen the Framework at any time through the term of the contract and advertise that a subsequent evaluation for new providers will be undertaken. This will generally be in the following circumstances: • The Framework has failed to meet the minimum 95% of packages for a 2 month period • There is a specific need in the market not being met Alternatively, the Council reserves the right to grant tenderers who have not been successful in joining the initial list of pre-qualified providers “Reserve Provider” status. Reserve Providers, if the Council decides to appoint any at all, shall be appointed in order of their scoring, having not been selected as initial providers to be appointed to the Framework and recognised as a Reserve Provider within the letter notifying the tenderer of the result of the procurement. Classification of a tenderer as a Reserve Provider shall not create any obligation or expectation that the Council will appoint the tenderer to the Framework at a later date. The Council is under no obligation to designate any tenderer as a Reserve Provider and shall retain complete discretion as to whether to reopen the Framework or to appoint, none, one or multiple Reserve Providers to the Framework. A tenderer’s Reserve Provider status shall automatically lapse following the period of one year from the commencement date of the Framework and a tenderer who has been given Reserve Provider status shall not be under any obligation to agree to join the list of pre-qualified bidders if so requested by the Council (however by accepting shall be deemed to be legally bound by their original tender). Additional information: The Framework duration will be for a maximum term of 6 years, covering an initial period of 3 years plus 3 optional extensions, each of 1+1+1, or multiples thereof. Economic operators may be excluded from this process if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 57 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 relevant to this procurement.
