P2286 - Flexible Contracting Agreement for Externally Provided Day Opportunities

The Council wishes to establish a Flexible Contracting Agreement for Externally Provided Day Opportunities. Day Opportunities, traditionally referred to as day centres, where the services are provided for people with care and support needs and their carers that take place, mainly, over daytime hours which provide vital support in two main ways:

• They provide meaningful activities, including learning, stimulation and recreation, promoting independence, supporting the development of skills, preparing for access to employment, making friends and enjoying the company of others.
• They provide valuable respite for unpaid carers.

Day Opportunities support autistic people, those with a learning disability, physical disabilities, acquired brain injury, older adults including those with dementia, mental health and other assessed support needs.

The Flexible Contracting Arrangement (FCA) is based on the principles of a Dynamic Purchasing System. The FCA will re-open on an ad hoc basis as required; this will be at the Council's discretion and based on citizen need and market provision. There will be an initial one-off re-opening of the FCA to allow for new applications as appropriate; this includes the opportunity for unsuccessful applicants to re-apply.

The FCA will be for a period of 5 years commencing on 1 August 2025, with an option to extend for a further period of 2 years, subject to satisfactory performance and budgetary availability.

The duration of the call off contracts will be based on the individual requirements i.e. care packages; citizens' care may remain commissioned under these arrangements until such time as the call-off ends and provision will be made for this within the associated contract terms.

The RTP application process for the FCA is being issued using the Council's e-tendering portal on Intend www.in-tendhost.co.uk/birminghamcc. All applications must be submitted via the appropriate portal Intend.

Use of the e-tendering portal is free throughout the whole procurement process. The system is secure and access to RTPs will only be made available to those employees of the Council and/or their authorised advisors.

Deadline for receipt of initial Selection Questionnaire is noon on 11th April 2025.