Agenda item
Gateway 3 Contract Award: Kent & Medway Independent Fostering Provision (Joint Procurement)
Minutes:
Background:
This report provided details of the outcome of the procurement process for the award of contracts for the Kent and Medway Independent Fostering Provision as set out in section 2 of the report. The report stated this was a joint procurement between Medway Council and Kent County Council (KCC).
The report noted that KCC was the Contracting Authority and Medway was a named commissioner contained within the definition of the contract.KCC had approved the award of the contracts for Lot 1 and Lot 2, in-line with their Governance procedures, as set out in the Procurement Timetable at section 2.1 of the report.
An Exempt Appendix provided information in respect of the financial analysis and the evaluation and award.
The Council's decision to award these contracts would be subject to observing the procurement standstill period of a minimum of 10 days in accordance with the requirements of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The Council would be unable to enter into the contracts before the end of the standstill period.
|
Decision number: |
Decision: |
|
12/2018 |
The Cabinet approved the award of these contracts as follows: a) Lot 1 (Framework Providers) to providers as follows: 24-Seven Fostering Action for Children Affinity Fostering Services Ltd All4U Fostering Ltd Anchor Foster Care Services Ltd Attachments Fostering Limited Barnardo’s Be My Family Fostering Agency Blue Sky Fostering Brighter Futures Foster Care By the Bridge Limited Caldecott Fostering Capstone Foster Care CareTech Community Services Ltd parent company of Fostering Support Group Limited Channels & Choices Compass Fostering North Limited Cornerways Fostering Services Ltd Credo Care Ltd Diagrama Foundation Diverse Care UK Ltd Ethelbert Children’s Services Family First Fostering Family Fostering Limited Five Rivers Child Care Limited Foster Care Associates Foster Care Link Ltd (parent holding company is Capstone Foster Care) Futures for Children Heath Farm Family Services Ltd. Homefinding and Fostering (Kent Homefinding and Fostering Ltd. Trading as: The Homefinding & Fostering Agency) Integrated Services Programme (ISP) Kasper Fostering Lighthouse Fostering Mosaic Foster Care Ltd Next Step Fostering Orange Grove Fostercare Ltd Outlook Fostering Limited Supported Fostering Services The Adolescent and Children's Trust The National Fostering Agency Ltd UK Fostering Xcel 2000 Fostercare Services Ltd
b) Lot 2 (Partner Providers) to providers as follows: Orange Grove Fostercare Ltd Barnardo’s The Adolescent and Children's Trust Xcel 2000 Fostercare Services Ltd |
Reasons:
The Providers’ proposed solutions and offer to deliver the service meet the objective criteria set out in the tender documents and represent value for money for Medway Council but also provide an opportunity for positive change to the service delivery model.
A full tender process has been completed in line with Medway Council’s and Kent County Council’s procedures and the evaluation process was vigorous to ensure quality compliance in line with the Councils’ requirements.
It is felt that the existing arrangements are too complex and the revised specification is outcome focused which, together with a revised robust contract management framework, will ensure safeguarding and quality is maintained and the Council receives a value for money service.
The new approach should improve partnership arrangements with a small number of providers (Lot 2), bringing greater transparency and building levels of trust.
Supporting documents:
PDF 185 KB