Purpose

Procurement Strategy recommendation for
recommission of contract that provides services to unpaid
carers

Decision

The Cabinet Member approves:
 
1.    
That Appendix 1 is not for publication on the basis that it
contains information relating to the financial or business affairs
of any particular person (including the
authority holding that information) as set out in paragraph 3 of
Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).
 
2.    
The procurement strategy for the Carer Hub Information, contract for an initial
period of three years with the option to extend for a further two
years, commencing 1st April 2026.
 

Reasons for the decision

1.    
The Carers Hub contract was first awarded to the incumbent supplier
and is due to expire on 31 March 2026. Therefore the contract needs
retendering to remain compliant with procurement regulations.
 
2.    
As outlined in the strategy, an open procurement for this service
will allow the Council to test the market whilst achieving value
for money via a competitive tender process. A new, more flexible
service model is needed to ensure timely administration of carers
assessments, getting carers the correct support faster.
 

Alternative options considered

Option 1:
Decommission the service or requirement –Not recommended
 
1.    
This is not recommended as Carers Assessments are a statutory
service.
 
Option 2: Deliver
the supplies, services, and/or works in-house (make/buy decision)
– Not recommended
 
2.    
Advantages of this approach include local knowledge, connections
with cases and services and greater influence over delivery.
 
3.    
However, this option is not recommended due to lack of existing
capacity to deliver, and social workers less likely to be seen as
impartial resulting in potential lack of trust by service users and
lower levels of support sought by carers.
 
4.    
Furthermore, benchmarking activity has demonstrated that councils
who use this approach do not show a greater effectiveness at timely
delivery of carers assessments.
 
Option 3: Use an
existing contract, established by the Council, to provide the
supplies, services, and/or works – Not recommended
 
5.    
 This is not recommended as there is no
appropriate existing contract under which these services can be
provided.
 
Option 4: Procure
using a compliant framework, Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), or
Dynamic Market – Not recommended
 
6.    
This is not recommended as there is no known framework for the
services required.
 
Option 5: Undertake
a fully regulated competitive and compliant procurement process,
advertised to the market – Recommended
 
7.    
 This option is recommended. The service
would be commissioned by the local authority through a third-party
provider identified through a competitive open tender procurement
exercise. The successful provider will be responsible for the
employment of all staff and delivery of commissioned activity.