Purpose

Contract award for provision of a direct payments support service (DPSS) for up to 6 years across adult and children's social care

Decision

Cabinet RESOLVED to:

1. Approve the award of a contract to Peterborough Council for Voluntary Services (Company Number: 02119687) for the delivery of the Direct Payment Support Service from 1 October 2026, with an initial contract term of 3 years, and an option to extend for a further three years (in increments of 24 months and 12 months). The total value for the 6-year contract (inclusive of extensions) is £1,800,000, inclusive of both the block payment and the variable elements of the contract, annual value is £300,000.
2. Delegate authority to the Executive Director for Adult Social Care, Commissioning & Public Health, in consultation with the Executive Director for Children & Young People’s Services, Executive Director of Corporate Services, Director of Law and Governance and the Cabinet Portfolio Holder’s for Adult Social Care and Children’s Social Care:

a. invoke the extension period(s) in accordance with the contract provisions, and

b. agree annual inflationary variations and uplifts to the contract value in line with the annual uplift strategy and in accordance with the contract and internal governance and financial arrangements. NB. These uplifts could be to the block contract value, and/or the variable, or neither.

1. Note that work was commencing on the preparation of the All-Age Direct Payment Strategy, which will be presented to Cabinet for approval in due course.

Alternative options considered

Benchmarking research with other Local Authorities suggested alternative options in the delivery of a Direct Payment Support Service, including:

 Bringing Direct Payment Support Service in-house - TUPE would apply in the same regard as it applies to the service being delivered by a new service provider, or

 Splitting the Direct Payment Support Service into a multi-lot tender

– to acknowledge the 2 (or 3) distinct service functions of:

1. Information, Advice & Guidance

2. Workforce & Market Development

3. Financial Services.