This Officer Key Decision meeting of Newham Council was scheduled to consider a single item. The Corporate Director, Adults and Health was asked to approve the award of a contract for care and support services at Amber Court, an extra care scheme¹ in the borough.

Award of contract for care and support at Amber Court

Alan Adams, Corporate Director, Adults and Health, was asked to approve the award of a single supplier contract to provide care and support services at Amber Court.

The report pack stated that the council is required under the Care Act 2014 to assess individuals' needs and arrange appropriate care and support. In June 2022, the cabinet agreed to establish a Supporting Vulnerable Adults (SVA) Dynamic Purchasing Vehicle (DPV)². Category 4 of the DPV relates to extra care, with two specialisms:

• Care and Support in Schemes: Providers can bid to deliver care and support in Extra Care schemes via a staff team.
• Extra Care Accommodation with Care and Support: Providers can bid to deliver accommodation with care and support in Extra Care schemes.

According to the report pack, 30 providers have been admitted to Category 4 of the DPV, meeting the minimum requirements to compete in mini competitions. In June 2025, the Corporate Director, Adults and Health, approved the commencement of a mini competition for 'Scheme 1 – Amber Court'. The procurement was published on 24 June 2025, with a deadline for submissions of 21 July 2025.

The core service requirements for Amber Court included:

• 24-hour onsite staffing
• Minimum care hours of ten hours for residents
• Additional care hours through a flex model
• Health and wellbeing activities
• Delivery of care within the four step-down units at Amber Court

The evaluation criteria and weightings were:

• Quality - 60%
• Price - 30%
• Social Value - 10%

An evaluation panel assessed twelve method statement questions to determine suitability of delivering care and support to residents in the 65 units at Amber Court. Nine bids were received and evaluated, with moderation of scores carried out by the evaluation panel and procurement specialists. The price aspect was assessed against a block payment value for the core service, with a threshold of £1.4 million per annum. The finance team reviewed providers' financial standings.

The report pack stated that:

Provider One ranked the highest overall score in quality, social value and price and is therefore being recommended to be awarded the contract as the successful provider.

The report pack recommended awarding a contract to the successful provider for three years, with the option to extend for two years in one-year increments, at a value of £1.3 million per annum, with a total contract value of £6.5 million over five years.

The report pack stated that the contract would help meet manifesto commitments for a healthier Newham and homes for residents, as well as supporting Community Wealth Building³ principles through the London Living Wage. It also stated that the contract would support the Newham Ageing Well Strategy⁴.