Social work and related services

Tender description

This PIN provides information at an early stage about the Carers Innovation Fund Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) and announces an open market consultation. This PCP is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. The Carers Innovation Fund (‘the Fund’) relates to informal (unpaid) care. It aims to support accessible, carer-friendly communities and public services. It also seeks to provide evidence on effective interventions to support carers. The purpose of the fund is to identify and promote creative and innovative models, that look beyond statutory services, to ensure that carers are: — better recognised and connected, — better able to juggle working and caring, and — better able to look after their own health and wellbeing. Interested parties are asked to register their interest by emailing carersinnovationfund@dhsc.gov.uk by 28.6.2019. The PCP is expected to be launched before the end of June 2019. This will be done in a phased approach covering 3 phases (Phase 1: Idea Generation; Phase 2: Idea Development and Phase 3: Idea Implementation) over a period of approx. 9 months. Phase 1 (Idea Generation) will ask interested parties to complete a formal expression of interest. At Phase 2 up to 30 bidders will be awarded funding of 25 000 GBP to carry out initial research and development of their proposed solution to demonstrate proof of concept (max funding at Phase 2: 500 000 GBP). At Phase 3, a total funding pot of 4 500 000 GBP is available for financial Years 2020/2021 and 2021/2022. Bidders will be invited to submit proposals and will be invited to a pitch day to determine which bids may be awarded Phase 3 Idea Implementation funding. Intellectual property rights generated during the PCP will be subject to terms and conditions set out in the contract documentation, to be published with the contract notice anticipated by the end of June 2019.