Reopening (1) of the Flexible Framework for Care at Home and Housing Support Services

Renfrewshire Council has an existing Flexible Framework ("framework") for the provision of Care at Home and Housing Support Services under the direction of Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (RHSCP).

The framework allows RHSCP to purchase services to support (predominantly older) people to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible with the care and support they need being tailored to them, provided in a tailored and responsive manner. There may also be the occasional requirement for a Renfrewshire Council Children’s Services to arrange support services for a child.

The Service is delivered 24 hours per day, 52 weeks per year including public holidays. The size of each individual package of care varies and is dependent on the individual’s assessed needs and outcomes.

As the services provided by this framework fall within the ‘Social and Other Specific Services’ category, and it is subject to the procurement regimes set out in section 7, Social and Other Specific Services, both of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, a flexible approach was designed which allows “new entrants” to apply to be on the framework throughout the duration, as and when determined by RHSCP.

RHSCP now wish to reopen the framework to new entrants, to ensure capacity to deliver services across Renfrewshire. The process followed will be the same process used to appoint the original providers. Any tenderer bidding for appointment to the framework will be required to satisfy the same minimum criteria as those awarded a place under the original tender process.

INTERESTED PARTIES MUST READ THE Invitation to Tender document FOR FULL DETAILS OF THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS FRAMEWORK.

• Technical and Professional Ability (2 examples of previous experience of delivering similar services. These MUST be within the last 3 years and demonstrate relevant experience and capacity);
• Care Inspectorate Requirements (Registered to deliver a Combined Support Service - Care at Home and a Housing Support Service (or ongoing application for Combined Service);
• Care Inspectorate minimum Quality Grade of 3 for all key questions;
• SSSC Registration and PVG Checks;
• Insurance Requirements;
• Financial Standing Requirements;
• Health and Safety Requirements;
• Cyber Security Requirements.

TENDERERS MUST MEET THE MINIMUM CRITERIA, OTHERWISE THEIR SUBMISSION WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM EVALUATION AND THEY WILL NOT BE APPOINTED TO THE FLEXIBLE FRAMEWORK.

Any Tenderer who does not meet the minimum requirements will not be eligible for appointment to the Flexible Framework but may participate in any future reopening of the Flexible Framework when these requirements have been met.

Minimum Requirements - Insurance

All Tenderers will be required to evidence the following insurances (full details are listed within the Invitation to Tender).

i) Public Liability To a minimum indemnity limit of 10,000,000GBP each and every claim. Liability must not exclude abuse and/or molestation cover.

ii) Employers’ Liability To a minimum indemnity limit of 10,000,000GBP each and every claim.

iii) Statutory Third-Party Motor Vehicle Liability Where a vehicle is used in delivery of the Service, statutory third-party motor vehicle cover, OR where there is no company fleet and employees use their own vehicles instead, a letter signed by a person of appropriate authority confirming that the provider has ongoing arrangements in place.

iv) Professional Indemnity Where a Provider is employing any Staff who are professionally qualified in relation to delivery of Services, to a minimum indemnity of 2,000,000GBP any one incident (without limit to the number of incidents), OR in the aggregate, and where in the aggregate, a minimum of one automatic reinstatement of the limit in any one period of insurance OR, where no automatic reinstatement is available, 5,000,000GBP in the annual aggregate.

Where a Services include the provision of care and treatment (including, but not limited to where the Service involves the administration of medicines) the Provider shall as a minimum, effect and maintain one of the following insurances and minimum levels of cover:

(a) A care and treatment extension to the existing public liability policy, to a minimum indemnity limit of 5,000,000GBP; (without limit to the number of incidents) OR, in the aggregate, and where in the aggregate, a minimum of one automatic reinstatement of the limit in any 1 period of insurance OR, where no automatic reinstatement is available, 10,000,000GBP in the annual aggregate.

(b) Where applicable, Medical Malpractice Liability Policy to a minimum indemnity limit of 5,000,000GBP any one incident (without limit to the number of incidents) OR, in the aggregate and where in the aggregate, a minimum of one automatic reinstatement of the limit in any one period of insurance OR, where no automatic reinstatement is available, 10,000,000GBP in the annual aggregate.

The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 32358. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343

The Contracting Authority does not intend to include a sub-contract clause as part of community benefits (as per Section 25 of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014) in this contract for the following reason:

The nature of the Services do not align with Subcontracting

Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/

A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:

The approach to Community Benefits within the Flexible Framework will be linked to cumulative annual spend (of ISCs) with a Provider following award of the Flexible Framework. As part of the Tender Submission for the Flexible Framework, Tenderers will be required to demonstrate their commitment to delivering Community Benefits throughout the Flexible Framework. Throughout the Flexible Framework when the Council purchases Services, it will earn Community Benefit points. The number of points earned will correlate to the level of cumulative spend for the previous 12 months. The Council will then agree with the Provider the Community Benefits to be delivered and timescales for this, using the Council’s Community Benefits Outcome Menu as the basis for discussion/agreement of Community Benefits to be delivered.