This report pack concerns a key decision regarding the awarding of a contract for care and support services at Amber Court, and contains an exempt appendix which is not for publication. The decision to award the contract has been delegated to Alan Adams, Corporate Director, Adults and Health.

Awarding of contract for care and support services at Amber Court

The report pack includes a recommendation to award a single supplier contract to an unnamed provider (listed in the report's exempt appendix) to deliver care and support services at Amber Court.

The proposed contract is for a term of three years, with the option to extend for two additional years in one-year increments. The value of the contract is £1.3 million per year, with a total potential value of £6.5 million over five years.

The report pack states that the Care Act 2014 mandates that local councils assess individuals' needs and arrange appropriate care and support services where relevant. In June 2022, the cabinet agreed to establish a Supporting Vulnerable Adults (SVA) Dynamic Purchasing Vehicle (DPV)¹. Category 4 of the DPV concerns Extra Care, and has two specialisms:

• Care and Support in Schemes
• Extra Care Accommodation with Care and Support

According to the report pack, 30 providers have been admitted to Category 4 of the DPV, meeting the minimum entry 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 requirements of the core service to be procured for Amber Court include:

• 24-hour onsite staffing
• Core block contract offering minimum care hours of ten hours for residents
• Delivery of additional care hours through a flex model
• Health and wellbeing offer to deliver onsite activities
• Delivery of care within the four step-down units at Amber Court

The award criteria and weightings set for the procurement were: quality (60%), price (30%), and social value (10%). An evaluation panel of officers assessed twelve method statement questions to determine suitability of delivering care and support to residents residing in 65 units within Amber Court Extra Care Scheme. Nine bid submissions were received and evaluated. The provider with the highest overall score in quality, social value, and price is recommended to be awarded the contract.

The report pack states that the award of this contract aligns with several council policies and priorities, including manifesto commitments for a healthier Newham and ageing well, and homes for residents. It also aligns with the council's Community Wealth Building principles, as the London Living Wage will be a contractual requirement. The Newham Ageing Well Strategy aims to improve the health and wellbeing of Newham residents aged 50+ and reduce health inequalities.

The report pack considers the alternative options of doing nothing, and procuring through alternative methods, but rejects both.

Other Matters

The report pack states that Simon Reid, Director of Commissioning, was consulted.