Health and social work services

Tender description

The Opportunity The Kent County Council is seeking tenders from a suitably experienced contractor who can deliver a county-wide clinical psychology support service for children and young people in care up until their 18th birthday, who are placed with the Council's in-house foster carers with the aim of increasing placement stability, and reducing the number of placement disruptions. The service will support the overall emotional well-being of children and young people providing crisis intervention and supporting foster carers to maintain the fostering placement. The vision for the service is to have full time clinical psychology input to support foster carers, children and young people. The service will be part of the hub of professionals dedicated to supporting children placed with KCC foster carers, adoptive placements and in the future, care leavers. The service will need to be delivered in each of the 12 district/borough council areas of Kent County Council's operation, detailed within the service specification. The service is anticipated to commence on Monday 3.7.2017 and will continue for a period of 36 months (3 years initially and potentially 2 years extension). Background Kent County Council (the council) is the largest county council in England covering an area of 3 500 square kilometres. It has an annual expenditure of over 900 000 000 GBP on goods and services and a population of 1 300 000 GBP. The Council provides a wide range of personal and strategic services on behalf of its residents, operating in partnership with 12 district councils and 289 parish/town councils. Further background and technical information can be found within the tender documentation. Expression of Interest and Tender Process Expressions of interest will only be accepted via the Kent Business Portal. In order to submit your interest in this opportunity please select the ‘Login and Express an Interest’ button located at the bottom of this page. Note that in order to successfully submit your interest you will first need to register for an account. After registration is complete and you've received your login details you should return to the advert for the opportunity and express your interest. You will then be emailed an invitation to submit a tender. Further guidance regarding how to use this portal can be found attached to the bottom of this advert. Indicative Procurement Timetable Publication of ITT Documentation on the Kent Business Portal on Monday 3.4.2017; Deadline to submit requests for clarification via the Pro Contract Discussion facility: 12:00 (noon) on Tuesday 25.4.2017. Deadline for Tender Responses: 12:00 (noon) on Tuesday 2.5.2017. Commencement of Tender Evaluation Period (including Post-Tender Clarification): commencement from Tuesday 2.5.2017. Pre-Award Clarification Meeting: Thursday 11th or Friday 12.5.2017 (TBA with shortlisted supplier). Publication of Decision to Award: w/c Monday 22.5.2017. Standstill Period: End date anticipated Friday 26.5.2017. Contract Award: Tuesday 6.6.2017. Issue Contract documentation for signature Friday 9.6.2017. Contract Commencement Date: Monday 3.7.2017. Questions and Communication Please direct all questions and communication through the Kent Business Portal via the discussions facility. Further guidance can be can be found within the guide located at the bottom of this page.