Purpose

The
Council’s assistive technology offer is delivered via its
in-house Rothercare service. This is an
‘end to end’ service which manages referrals and
triage, installation of equipment, the monitoring and responding to
alerts. The service also procures all technical aspects including
the hardware and software (alarm receiving centre, digital
box/pendant, licences and peripheral
technology).
In
October 2024 Cabinet approved the implementation of the new technology enabled care delivery model
and to progress a competitive procurement process to
award a contract on the basis of a
5-year initial term. The contract will include potential extensions
for up to 3 years (to be taken in any combination). The new
arrangements will commence April 2025.
 
The decision is to award a
contract to the successful bidder.

Decision

 

ROTHERHAM METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF OFFICER EXECUTIVE DECISION

 

Date of Decision:

4 February 2025

Title:

24-101 Contract Award –
Technology Partner.
 

Decision Maker:
(Including Job
Title)

Ian Spicer
Strategic Director, Adult Care,
Housing and Public Health
 

Details of Specific Cabinet
Delegation
or Delegation contained in the
relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.
 

Appendix 9, Section 4C3, of the
Council’s Constitution provides that “The Strategic
Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health is authorised to
discharge executive functions through the commissioning and
provision of social services for adults and public health services
for the whole population and delivery of housing for the Borough,
including: (4) Strategic Commissioning; (a)
Commissioning”. 

Decision:

Award of contract following a
competitive process to Medequip Assistive Technology Ltd as a
Technology Partner.  The Technology
Partner will deliver the assistive technology elements of the
Rothercare Service which include the identification of assistive
technology solutions, installation, recycling, disposal and
maintenance and procurement of assistive technology
equipment.
 
The Cabinet – 14 10
2024
 
Minute Number 60 – Future
Rothercare Model
 
Resolved:
 
2.
Approve a competitive procurement process and award of contract on
the basis of a 5-year initial term. The contract will include
potential extensions for up to 3 years (to be taken in any
combination). The new arrangements will commence April
2025.
 
The full value of the contract
(8 year term) is estimated to be £10,406,168 (Revenue
£4,703,320, Capital £5,702,848).
 

Reasons for the
Decision:

The Council’s assistive
technology offer is delivered via its in-house Rothercare service.
This is an ‘end to end’ service which manages referrals
and triage, installation of equipment, the monitoring and
responding to alerts. The service also procures all technical
aspects including the hardware and software (alarm receiving
centre, digital box/pendant, licences and peripheral
technology).
 
The service is intrinsic to a
strength-based approach in supporting people towards independent
living. A recent review of the service has identified opportunities
to address the operational challenges of the analogue switch off
and the remodel of the assistive technology offer.
 
An options appraisal has been
completed with an outcome to  recommend
a new model be developed where, the assistive technology elements
of the service will be undertaken by an independent sector
technology partner and Rothercare continue to deliver the core
service elements.
 
In October 2024 Cabinet
approved the implementation of the new technology enabled care
delivery model and to progress a competitive procurement process to
award a contract on the basis of a 5-year initial term. The
contract will include potential extensions for up to 3 years (to be
taken in any combination). The new arrangements will commence April
2025.
 
This is a new provision. The
recent competitive procurement process has secured the services of
a Technology Partner for an initial term of 5 years with an option
to extend for a further three years from April 2025.
 
 

Details of alternative
options considered and rejected:

Option 1 – (recommended
and approved) - A collaborative approach between an independent
sector technology partner and Rothercare
Option 2: - Rothercare
continues to deliver all elements of the service in-house (not
recommended and rejected).
Option 3: Arm’s Length
Management Organisation (not recommended and rejected)
Option 4 – A commissioned
technology partner delivers all elements (not recommended and
rejected).

Conflicts of interest
declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker
which relates to the decision:

No conflicts of interest
declared.

Dispensations
Granted:
(If any)

NA

Reports or parts of
reports considered

Future Rothercare Model –
Cabinet  -
(Public Pack)Agenda Document for Cabinet,
14/10/2024 10:00
24-101 – Technology
Partner – Tender Evaluation Report – YOR Tender REF
– 93698 (exempt from publication)
 

 
I
certify that this is a true record of the executive decision to in
relation to the use of a competitive procurement process to secure
future provision of a Technology Partner.
 
Signed by the Decision Maker  
 

Dated:         
04/02/2025
 
Name:         
Ian Spicer                         
Job
Title:    Strategic Director