Framework for the Provision of Day Opportunities for Adults in Cumberland

Cumberland Council is procuring a Framework for the Provision of Day Opportunities for Adults in Cumberland. The Day Opportunities will support disabled and older people to maintain and develop new skills, prevent social isolation, support inclusion and presence in their local communities and provide a break from caring and support for unpaid carers ensuring they can continue to offer ongoing support. There are 5 lots available:-

Lot 1a: Buildings based Day Opportunities
Lot 1b: Buildings based Day Opportunities with Transport
Lot 2a: Home and Community Outreach
Lot 2b: Home and Community Outreach with Transport
Lot 3: Bespoke Mini-Competitions - All providers who are successfully awarded onto any or all of the above lots will automatically be added to Lot 3. Mini-competitions will open for Lot 3 only if the Council identifies a gap in provision in the future.

In order to apply a Provider MUST have a) an existing and active service or b) a service that can be mobilised in the timescales required, that is active by the start date of the Framework. In order to submit a bid, Providers must complete at least one of the Day Opportunities tender submission forms. Any Providers who do not have a tangible service should not apply. Any Provider on the framework will be able to submit a bid to provide a new service at any time. In this case, the Council will score the new service and respond to the Provider within 2 months. This will apply for the entire term of the Framework Agreement.

The framework will be ‘open’, which means that new providers can submit a bid to be considered via The Chest at any time over the initial three year period (and during the two extension periods if these are used). New bids will be assessed every two months starting from April 2025.

The estimated total value of the Framework for the initial three-year term is £15.16m excluding VAT. The estimated maximum value of the Framework for the initial term three-year term, plus the two optional 12-month extensions, based on current support requirements, is £26.6m (inclusive of a transportation element of up to £6.1m for the period of up to 5 years) excluding VAT.
Details of current expenditure are indicative only. The Council does not guarantee any spend against the Framework Agreement.

The Council proposes to enter into the Framework Agreement for an initial period of THREE years with the successful Tenderer (Service Provider(s)) from 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2028.
There are TWO optional extensions of 12 months each. These optional extensions are at the absolute discretion of the Council. If these optional extensions are used, the framework will end on 31st March 2030.

The council may, at its discretion, stop accepting bids to join the framework at any time. In this case, a notice will be sent out via the Chest to inform all prospective bidders.

For further details and to access the tender documents, including the service specification, use the council's online procurement portal - The Chest - https://www.the-chest.org.uk. Registration on The Chest is free. All bids must be received electronically via The Chest by the closing date stated in the ITT. Any clarifications you have about the tender must be sent via messaging on The Chest by the closing date stated in the ITT.