Welfare services for children and young people

Tender description

Bedford Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council and Luton Borough Council, collectively referred to as the Partnership Authorities, are seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) for inclusion on a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the provision of Fostering Placements and Specialist Placements Alternative to Residential Care (SPARC). Through the establishment of a DPS, the Partnership Authorities aim to improve control over price, quality of service delivery and performance monitoring by ensuring that all Fostering and SPARC Placements are subject to a competitive tender process against specific requirements. Bedford Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council and Luton Borough Council, collectively referred to as the Partnership Authorities, are seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) for inclusion on a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the provision of Fostering Placements, both Standard and Enhanced. The Partnership Authorities currently work with nineteen (19) providers in a jointly procured Framework Agreement to provide foster care (which is due to expire on 31.3.2017), although all three Councils make placements outside of the Framework as well (around 30 % of the total outsourced spend). Bedford Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council and Luton Borough Council, collectively referred to as the Partnership Authorities, are seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) for inclusion on a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the provision of Specialist Placements as an Alternative to Residential Care (SPARC). The Partnership Authorities currently work with nineteen (19) providers in a jointly procured Framework Agreement to provide foster care (which is due to expire on 31.3.2017), although all three Councils make placements outside of the Framework as well (around 30 % of the total outsourced spend).