Description
Kent County Council (the Council) is seeking Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered Homecare Service Providers (referred to in this notice as Tenderers) to deliver care and support to Children and Adults living within the geographical boundary of Kent, including Adults who may require homecare services while residing in prison settings.
Tenderers must be CQC registered Providers and comply with the requirements of the Invitation to Tender, including the requirements on the location of a Tenderer’ s Registered Office as set out in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire, to tender for this opportunity. Tenderers are referred to the Invitation to Tender documentation for full details.
The Council is establishing the Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme, and invites Tenderers who can deliver safe, high‐quality, personalised, and flexible care within both home and community environments across Kent.
An open framework scheme allows for the award of successive frameworks on substantially the same terms. This notice relates to the opportunity to apply to be admitted to the First Kent Homecare Open Framework of the Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme.
The First Kent Homecare Open Framework requires successful Tenderers to deliver high-quality care and support services that promote safety, dignity, independence and overall wellbeing for Individuals. Services should be tailored to reflect each Individual’s personal circumstances, ensuring a personalised and needs-led approach. Subject to satisfying the Council’s requirements for admittance to the First Kent Homecare Open Framework as set out in the Invitation to Tender documentation, there is no limit on the number of successful tenderers that may be admitted to the First Kent Homecare Open Framework.
Provision should be collaborative in nature, supporting effective partnership working to ensure that Individuals accessing care and support receive services that enhance their quality of life. This includes delivering flexible and responsive support that reflects each Individual’s unique requirements, enabling them to live as independently as possible while achieving positive outcomes.
Existing homecare packages delivered to Individuals for both adults and children, are excluded from the scope of this procurement.
The Services procured under the Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme and any framework agreements awarded during the scheme are ‘light touch’ and are governed by the rules relating to light touch contracts under the Procurement Act 2023.
The Council intends, but is in no way obliged to, re-open the Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme on the second anniversary, the fourth anniversary and the sixth anniversary, where the Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme continues for the full term of 8 years.
The estimated values set out in this Tender Notice are on the basis that the Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme continues for 8 years. The Council does not guarantee that the framework will continue for the full term of 8 years.
The estimated value of the Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme over the 8-year term is £688m (inclusive of VAT) but this estimate is purely indicative and is subject to amendment prior to the publishing of any future Tender Notices and associated tender documentation. The estimated value of this First Kent Homecare Open Framework is £172m (inclusive of VAT).
No guarantee is given as to the actual value of any framework agreement under the Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme, or any call-off contracts entered under any framework agreement. Any estimated values contained in this Tender Notice or associated procurement document are by no means a commitment to spend.
The organisation of local government is undergoing reform and the Council anticipates a change to the responsibilities of the delivery of social care in the administrative area of Kent County Council. As such, notwithstanding that this Tender Notice states that only the Establishing Party may use this framework, Tenderers should note that the First Kent Homecare Open Framework and Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme can be used by the Council on its own behalf and on behalf of any successor body of the Council, or Contracting Authority that delivers Adult’s and Children’s social care services in the geographical area of Kent County Council during the term of the Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme.
The Council has duly considered the use of lots and has divided this procurement as below:
Lot 1 – Homecare for Adults Service, which includes Lot 1 Additional Services – Care and Support in the Prison Setting
Lot 2 – Community Support Services for Children
Lot 1 Additional Services – Care and Support in the Prison Setting are call-off may only be delivered by a successful Tenderer who has been admitted to the First Kent Homecare Open Framework for Lot 1 – Homecare for Adults Services and has submitted the required information to be eligible in their Tender Response in compliance with the Invitation to Tender documentation to be awarded Lot 1 Additional Services. The Council may either direct award the Lot 1 Additional Services to a tenderer which has been admitted to the First Kent Homecare Open Framework for Lot 1 – Homecare for Adults Services or require eligible Tenderers to participate in a further mini competition to bid for Lot 1 Additional Services. Tenderers are referred to the Invitation to Tender (ITT) for full details.
The Council is seeking to award multiple contracts for each of the Lots.
Application is via the Council's e-sourcing system, which is accessible here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/3F67A7S89Y (You may also search the project under the ‘Response Manager’ tab on Delta using the access code ‘3F67A7S89Y’.)
If you experience any technical difficulties accessing the ITT, then please contact the Delta eSourcing Helpdesk on call 0800 923 9236 or email helpdesk@delta-esourcing.com