SC220322: Community Services to meet requirement of Advocacy, DoLs and LPS

Kent County Council are looking to commission two services in relation to the provision of Advocacy Services. The Services are divided into two Lots:

Lot 1 - Independent Advocacy Services The provision of statutory and non-statutory Advocacy services including:

• Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) and Relevant Persons Representative (RPR)
• Care Act Advocacy
• Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) Health Complaints/Health and Social Care Advocacy; and
• Community and Peer Advocacy for people who are neurodivergent by way of being autistic, and/or having learning disabilities

The service will commence no later than 1st August 2023 and will run for a period of 3 years with the option for two extensions of up to one year each at the discretion of the Council, unless terminated in accordance with the published Conditions of Contract.

Lot 2 - Mental Health Assessment Services The provision of Medical Capacity Assessments to support DoLS and in readiness for the Liberty Protection Safeguard requirements. The purpose of this service is to ensure that those subject to DoLS have received statutory Mental Health and Eligibility assessments in a timely manner so as not to delay any outcome issued by the Supervisory Body. The successful provider will be required to manage the administration and undertake timely and accurate Mental Health and Eligibility assessments and to document these assessments as required by legislation to the Kent MCA DoLS Service on request.

The service will commence no later than 1st August 2023 and will run for a period of 1 year with the option for an extension of up to one year each at the discretion of the Council, unless terminated in accordance with the published Conditions of Contract.

The Council is running this procurement under the Light Touch Regime (LTR), a specific set of rules for health and social care contracts set out in the Public Contract Regulations (2015), adapting the Open procedure as proportionate to the requirement. Further information can be found within the Invitation to Tender Documents.

All expressions of interest must be registered via the advert on the Kent Business portal. Tender documents must be submitted via the Kent Business Portal by 12 noon on the 6 February 2023.

Anticipated Procurement Timetable:

Post Invitation to Tender - 06/01/2023 Tender clarification timescale - 06/01/2023 - 27/01/2023 Tender Deadline - 06/02/2023 Tender Evaluation - 07/02/2023 - 21/02/2023 Contract award notification - 31/03/2023 Standstill period - 01/04/2023 - 10/04/2023 Contract mobilisation - 11/04/2023 Service commencement - No later than 01/08/2023

Questions and Communication: Please direct all questions and communication through the Kent Business Portal via the Messages facility.