Purpose

The current contract for
substance misuse prevention and treatment is held by Salford City
Council who are procuring these services on behalf of themselves
and Trafford Borough Council (Trafford BC) and Bolton Council. The
current contract expires on 31st March 2026 following a one-year
extension to the original 5+2 year contract. A previous key
decision was made by Executive on 24th June 2024 to re-commission
these services with an updated specification. Following
negotiations with the intention to Direct Award under Health Care
Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, agreement
could not be reached on the financial envelope and existing
specification which meant that the terms and conditions of Direct
Award could not be met and therefore, a full open procurement
process was required. This has now concluded, pending final sign
off through Salford City Council’s Procurement Board.
Following the procurement process, the proposal is to award two new
5 year contracts each with an option to extend for 2 years –
one relating to adults and one relating to children and families.
The proposed future contracts will be held by Salford City Council
on behalf of Trafford Borough Council and Bury Council and the
relationship between Trafford BC and Salford City Council will be
supported by a Memorandum of Understanding, as has been the case
during the previous contracts.

Decision

(1)      
That the proposal to enter into two new
collaborative arrangements for the delivery of drug and alcohol
prevention and treatment services, with Salford City Council as
lead commissioner, be approved as detailed within the
report.

 
(2)      
That the proposal for Salford City Council to award
contracts to Provider 1 (for Lot 1: Bury, Salford, Trafford Drug
& Alcohol Treatment and Recovery 2 Services for Adults) and to
Provider 2 (for Lot 2: Bury, Salford, Trafford Drug & Alcohol
Treatment and Recovery Services for Children, Young People and
Families) on behalf of Trafford Council following the provision in
the Provider Selection Regime, Competitive Process, be
approved.
 
(3)      
That authority be delegated to the Director of
Public Health, in consultation with the Director of Legal and
Governance to finalise and enter into all legal agreements required
to implement the above.

Reasons for the decision

Drug and alcohol prevention and
treatment services are critical in the Council’s aim to
improve the lives of all residents and reduce inequalities.
Reducing harms from alcohol is a priority of the Health and
Wellbeing Board.
 
The review of evidence shows
strengths in the current model and good performance. Awarding the
contracts to Provider 1 and Provider 2 following competitive tender
process enables the authority to build on this and progress the 11
recommendations in the JSNA with some stability due to recommission
of incumbent providers.
 
The current financial envelope
recognises the cumulative pressures of wage and wider inflation on
both NHS and community organisations but the envelope for the new
contracts has not been uplifted for inflation, reflecting the
significant pressures on the local authority and encouraging
innovation and efficiencies through the re[1]tender process.
 
A decision is required to give
authority to award, via Salford City Council on Trafford’s
behalf.

Alternative options considered

Trafford Council to separate
from Bury and Salford Local Authorities and commission
alone.
 
Trafford Council, Bury and
Salford Local Authorities choose not to award the contract to
Provider 1 or Provider 2, which would result in a failed 10
procurement. The Local Authorities would require an additional
contract extension with the current provider, and to recommission
the service.