Home Based Care Services - Open Framework

Conditions of participation are fully detailed within the procurement documents accessible via the Council's e-sourcing system In-tend: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/portsmouthcc/aspx/home In respect of insurance requirements specifically suppliers must confirm that they have following types and levels of insurance set out below or commits to obtain the required insurances prior to commencement of the contract: 1. Employer's (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = £5,000,000 each & every claim without limitation to number of claims 2. Public Liability Insurance = £10,000,000 each & every claim without limitation to number of claims 3. Professional Indemnity Insurance or Medical Malpractice Insurance or a Combination of both = £2,000,000 each & every claim without limitation to number of claims In respect of financial standing requirements specifically suppliers will be required to demonstrate any of the following in order to pass: 1. Financial assessment via the Creditsafe system and will be required to score 30 or above. OR 2. If below / score unavailable, satisfactory review of available financial information (ideally audited accounts if available) against profit/loss, liquidity, acid test, etc. OR 3. Provision of a guarantee from a parent company or other legally bound guarantor with a business risk score of 30 or above or if score unavailable satisfactory review of available financial information (ideally audited accounts if available) against profit/loss, liquidity, acid test, etc. As required under the Procurement Act 23 the Council will also apply the exclusion as required for excluded supplier grounds and as relevant & proportionate for excludable supplier grounds .

Suppliers should note that they must be able to confirm and evidence they are able to meet the conditions of participation requirements at all points of the procurement process and subsequently throughout the term of the framework agreement. Suppliers who are no longer able to meet the conditions of participation during the procurement process following initial passing at stage 1 evaluation are likely to removed from the procurement process subject to notice from the Council and supplier right to provide evidence in line with the requirements of the Procurement Act 23. Suppliers who are no longer able to meet the conditions of participation following appointment onto the framework agreement are likely to be suspended and / or removed from the framework agreement subject to notice from the Council and supplier right to provide evidence in line with the requirements of the Procurement Act 23 and the framework agreement terms and conditions. Suppliers must immediately notify the Council if they consider that they may no longer meet the conditions of participation following invitation to take part in stage 2 of the procurement process. Failure to do so may result in removal from the procurement process and barring from procurement opportunities with the Council and other public sector bodies in line with the excludable grounds for Acting Improperly in Procurement included for within the Procurement Act 23. Suppliers must also immediately notify the Council if they consider that they may no longer meet the conditions of participation if they are successfully appointed onto the framework agreement at any time during the term of the agreement. Failure to do so may result in suspension and / or termination from the framework agreement and barring from procurement opportunities with the Council and other public sector bodies in line with the excludable grounds for Breach of Contract included for within the Procurement Act 23. *1. CQC Registration and Location 1.1 - Bidders must have a CQC registered branch within one of the following postcode areas: PO1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,16. OR Bidders must be in the process of setting up a new Registered Office to deliver home-based care with CQC within those postcodes (and be able to evidence this). 2. National Living Wage 2.1 - Bidders agree to pay the National Living Wage to all members of staff. 2.2 - Bidders agree to pay for travel time and travel cost. 2.3 - Bidders confirm that they conform to the government guidelines regarding night working hours as set out on www.gov.uk/night-working-hours 3. Staffing/Training 3.1 - Bidders confirm that they complete Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) checks on applicable staff members in accordance with the CQC and government guidelines. 3.2 - Bidders confirm that they have not had any judgement action brought against them by the UK Border Agency for using illegal immigrant workers. 3.4 - Bidders confirm that they have not had any judgement action brought against them for using students as workers above their permitted hours of working. 3.5 - Bidders confirm that they ensure all necessary training has been completed in accordance with the CQC and Skills for Care guidelines for their workforce and is it based on the training/qualifications required to deliver the services included within the Lot(s) tendered for. 4. Safeguarding 4.1 - Bidders confirm that they have not been subject to a Large-Scale Safeguarding Enquiry (LSSE) within the last 6 months. 5. Business Continuity Plan 5.1 - Bidders confirm that they have a Business Continuity Plan (or equivalent) in place. 5.2 - Bidders confirm that the Business Continuity Plan include contingencies for UKVI (UK Visas & Immigration) risks such as suspension or revocation of sponsor license. 6. Electronic Call Monitoring Systems (ECMS) 6.1 - Bidders confirm that they already have or can commit to obtain an industry standard recognised ECMS, prior to the award onto the framework. 6.2 - Bidders confirm that their ECMS already does, or will, comply with the requirements of an ECMS set out in the specification for this platform. 6.3 - Bidders confirm that they have an industry standard rostering system to plan adequate and achievable travel time to ensure that their workforce is not rushed and have enough time to deliver care without compromising the dignity or wellbeing of the Individual or cutting planned visits short. 7. PAMMS 7.1 - Bidders agree to conform to the implementation of PAMMS as the contract management tool if their organisation is awarded a contract to deliver services. 7.2 - Bidders agree that any amendments that may be made to the PAMMS system or criteria is accepted by their organisation. 8. Health and safety 8.1 - The bidder confirms that they have in place established Health & Safety polices, practices and systems which meet all relevant statutory requirements and are relevant to the provision of home-based care services. 8.2 - The bidder confirms that they have not been subject to the issue of HSE enforcement notices or prosecution for health & safety breaches in the last 6 months OR The bidder confirms that they have been subject to HSE enforcement or prosecution but can provide satisfactory evidence of structural policy changes, training, monitoring & sustained improvements. *1. CQC Registration and Location - Further Details As set out above, in order to pass stage 1 suppliers must: • Have a Registered Office within the following postcodes: PO1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,16 OR • Must be in the process of setting up a new Registered Office with CQC within those postcodes and be able to evidence this via a copy of their response from CQC confirming receipt of their application At the 2nd stage PAMMS assessment suppliers must be providing packages of care to at least 3 individuals from their qualifying registered office/s. If this cannot be evidenced the supplier will be removed from the procurement process subject to notice and allowing for provision of evidence in line with the Procurement Act 23. Similarly, suppliers appointed onto the framework agreement must be able to evidence at award and over the term of the framework agreement that they are providing packages of care to at least 3 individuals from their qualifying registered office/s. if this cannot be evidenced the supplier may be suspended or terminated from the framework agreement, subject to notice and allowing for supplier evidence. This may also result in barring from procurement opportunities with the Council and other public sector bodies in line with the excludable grounds for Breach of Contract included for within the Procurement Act 23. The Council requires that suppliers have a qualifying registered office in place at 2nd stage and throughout the framework agreement if successful in order that the PAMMS assessments and other Council framework agreement management requirements can be undertaken efficiently and effectively without significant framework management resourcing impacts to the Council. The qualifying registered office conditions of participation requirements also align and support the Council's statutory requirements and local policy responsibilities for mitigating risks of Modern Slavery within its supply chains when engaging with high risk markets, of which care services are defined by the Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority. The qualifying registered office conditions of participation requirements also align and support the Council's and Supplier's responsibilities in respect of the following: • Person-Centred Care: CQC emphasizes the importance of person-centred care, which means services should be tailored to meet the individual needs of local populations. This includes considering local demographics and specific community needs in service delivery. • Good Governance (Regulation 17): Providers must establish effective governance systems to monitor and improve service quality. This includes regular assessments of care quality and safety, ensuring that services are responsive to the needs of the local community. • Feedback Mechanisms: Providers are required to seek and act on feedback from service users and stakeholders. This ongoing engagement helps ensure that services remain relevant and effective for the local population. • Risk Management: CQC regulations require providers to assess and mitigate risks related to health and safety. This includes having processes in place for identifying potential issues in day-to-day operations and addressing them promptly. • Market Oversight: There are significant risks relating to modern slavery and exploitation in the care industry. Being able therefore to visit providers and audit providers as required in person is therefore important.