453/2015CFL Independent Foster Agencies (IFA) Framework

The requirement London Borough of Croydon invites suitable expression of interest from suppliers for inclusion on the Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) Framework for the provision of fostering placements for its children looked after children population. The commissioning of high quality Independent Fostering services through Agencies on the Framework will assist the Council in meeting its statutory duty stipulated in Section 20 of the Children Act 1989, that is to ensure that Children Looked After are accommodated in the most appropriate way. The proposed Framework Agreement will assist the Council in achieving this by improving access to high quality placements and creating greater competition in the social care market. The successful Tenderers will work with the Council to achieve positive outcomes for the Child or Young Person and meet the specific objectives in the Individual Placement Agreement. Tenderers should be able to demonstrate a responsive and proactive approach to working with vulnerable children and young people, including those with the most complex needs. Tenderers will be entitled to apply for one or both of the following Lots. If applying for Lot 2 (Specialist Placements), providers must apply for at least one Sub-Lot, but are free beyond that to apply for two or all three of the Sub- Lots specified below: Lot 1 - Standard placement Lot 2 - Specialist placement Sub-Lot 1: Parent and Child placements Sub-Lot 2: Complex needs and challenging behaviour Sub-Lot 3: Remand The Framework Agreement will contain multiple providers, who will be listed against individual Lots/ Sub-Lots. The tender will result in the development of 4 lists of successful Tenderers for appointment to each of Lot 1(Standard Placements) and each of the Sub-Lots within Lot 2 (Specialist Placements). Tenderers that meet the selection requirements set out in the ITT will be assessed for appointment to the Framework Agreement and the lots/sub-lots described above on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender, as more particularly described in the Invitation to Tender (ITT). The OJEU Notice in relation to this tender is submitted on 16 November 2015. Please note that this is only an introduction to the contract requirements and providers should consider all of the contract and tender documentation in detail prior to submitting a tender. The term of the Framework Agreement will be for 3 years, with an option to extend for a period of up to but not exceeding one (1) year. The Framework Agreement has an anticipated commencement date of July 2016 and an estimated value of £69.2m for the total lifetime value of the Framework. This Framework will be procured under the principles as defined in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 which will involve the procurement being published in OJEU and Contracts Finder. The Services which are the subject of this procurement exercise are considered to fall within the ambit of Schedule 3 (Social and Other Specific Services) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (the Regulations) and are being procured in accordance with the requirements of Regulations 74, 75 and 76 of the Regulations. The procurement process designed by the Council for the procurement of the Services is intended to ensure compliance with the principles of transparency and equal treatment. Whilst the procurement process designed by the Council corresponds in certain respects to the procedure described in Regulation 27 (Open procedure) of the Regulations, the Council is not bound by the provisions of Regulation 27 or by the provisions of other parts of the Regulations which do not apply to services listed in Schedule 3. In accordance with Regulation 76, the Council reserves the right to amend, vary or digress from the process set out in these Instructions for Tendering. In the event of any change to the process set out in these Instructions for Tendering, the Council will inform all tenderers of the change. The Council offers no guarantee, warranty or assurance as to the frequency or volume of placements following the appointment. Tender Evaluation Criteria Section Criteria Weighting 1A Company Information Pass/Fail 1B Financial Standing Pass/Fail 1C Compliance Pass/Fail 1D Technical and Professional Ability Pass/Fail 2 Method Statements 40% 3 Commercial (price) 60% How to register your interest If you wish to register an interest in this contract, please follow the steps below: • Register your company on the London Tenders Portal free of charge via the link below: https://www.londontenders.org/procontract/supplier.nsf/frm_home?openForm. • Await acceptance. You will receive an email confirming your username and password • Use your username and password to log into the London Tenders Portal and register your interest in the relevant contract: (453/2015 CFL) - (Independent Foster Agencies (IFA) Framework) • Shortly after you have registered your interest, you will receive a second email containing a link to access the tender documentation. Deadlines • The deadline for returning your tender response documentation is: 12:00:00 noon on 18 January 2016. • Late applications will not be accepted. Additional information * We reserve the right to make this contract available to partners and other public sector and/or voluntary organisations. * Please DO NOT include any publicity material with your submissions. * Croydon Council aims to provide equality of opportunity and welcomes applicants from black and minority ethnic communities and disabled groups. In addition the Council actively seeks to use small to medium enterprises (SME) as part of its sustainability policy. *Interested organisations should seek their own independent advice with regards to applications to TUPE in the contract and the Council offers no assurance in respect of the operation effect or impact of TUPE under the Framework Agreement. *The Council undertakes to use reasonable endeavours to hold confidential any information provided in the proposal submitted, subject to the Council's obligations under law, including the Freedom of Information Act 2000. If the applicant considers that any of the information submitted in the application should not be disclosed because of its sensitivity then this should be stated with the reasons for considering it sensitive. The Council will then consider the sensitivity statement before replying to any request received under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. * Please include the contract number of this process when communicating with the Council. * Please direct any communication about this procurement via the www.londontenders.org portal. * The Council reserves the right to hold clarification interviews/site visits with leading bidders, in accordance with the terms specified in the Invitation to Tender.