SCC Independent Alternative Provision Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for children and young people with additional needs and disabilities

Reigate

£9,533,333ex VAT

7 April 2028

27 September 2023

Until 27 September 2027

Electronic Submission

Open procedure

Surrey County Council (SCC) wishes to establish a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the supply of services in respect of Independent Alternative Provision for children and young people with additional needs and disabilities for an initial period of 4 years + with optional further extension provisions for an additional 2 years + 2 years. The services required fall under Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015). As a result, this procurement is undertaken under the 'Light Touch Regime' as detailed in Section 7 of PCR 2015. This contract notice is for admission onto the DPS. For each Lot/ sub-lot, there will be an ‘Admission’ stage, followed by a ‘Contracting’ stage. Stage 1: Admission Stage – At this stage Bidders are invited to apply for admittance onto the DPS by submitting their responses via the Pass/Fail Selection Questionnaire (SQ) and, if passed, the evaluation of quality questions. If successful, Providers will be ‘admitted’ onto the DPS in the relevant Lots. Stage 2: Contracting Stage – The Providers who meet the initial Admission criteria will be invited to bid for the relevant lots and/or sub-lots for individual placements or block contracts. SCC intends to evaluate new applications to the ‘Admission’ stage twice a year. The Council reserves the right to revise the number of evaluation Rounds (‘opening ceremonies’) for Admission stage per year at its discretion to allow further applicants to apply in an emergency. For the purposes of this Contract Notice, the overall estimated aggregate DPS value has been divided equally between each Lot however does not reflect the anticipated Lot spend. This will be determined based on the need of the individual at Stage 2: Contracting Stage and cannot be anticipated at this stage. Admission stage evaluation will be based on 100% Quality. The Council will reject any Bidder who scores a moderated score of 0 or 1 for any question. Minimum Quality: Bidders should be aware that to be admitted onto this DPS, they must achieve a moderated qualitative evaluation score of no less than 60% out of the total percentage available for quality (60 out of 100); and a minimum moderated score of 2 will be required for all quality questions. Pricing will be requested and will be binding for 2 years but will not be scored at admission stage. This pricing will be used at Stage 2: Contracting Stage. See ITT guidance for further information. Stage 2 will be evaluated based on Quality and Price for all Lots and sub-lots. Full details will be included at Contracting Stage. Once Providers are admitted onto the DPS, the ‘Contracting’ stage can be undertaken. Providers will be requested to respond to quality and price questions for the specific need to win the contract as outlined in the Referral Form. Referrals will be published when the Contracting stage goes live. Stage 2: Contracting Stage is divided into two routes: Route 1: Direct Award Route 2: Mini Competition Route 1: Direct Award When a placement is identified, the Council will send an Alternative Provision Referral Form to a Provider. The Provider must return the Referral Form to the Council within 5 working days of receipt. The Referral Form will allow the Provider to detail how they will best meet the outcomes of the individual as well as the price for the service. The price submitted must be in line or lower than the price submitted at Admission Stage to the DPS. As the DPS is being let under the Light Touch Regime (Regulation 76 (8) of the PCR’s 2015), the Council shall make Direct Award placements based on a number of factors including; the Provider that best meets the specific needs of the individual; and/or cost and value for money; and/or geographical location (if face-to-face); and/or availability of providers; and/or personal choice of the individual. All awarded placements will be contractually bound by the Individual Alternative Provision Agreement (IAPA). Route 2: Mini Competition When a block contract or mini-competition is identified, Route 2: Mini- Competition will take place. The Council will invite all Providers admitted to the DPS under the relevant sub-lot(s) to express an interest based on the total number of referrals. The expression of interest will be time-bound. Mini-Competitions will be evaluated based on Quality and Price. Full details will be included at Contracting Stage. TUPE may apply at Stage 2: Contracting Stage. Full details will be included in the tender documents. The bid deadline for the initial ‘Round’ for this DPS is 1st November 2023 at 12 Noon. The time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate following the initial Round is 7 April 2028 following the initial 4 year term of the DPS.

Sophie Furniss