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Published 14 Jan 2022, 15:12 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

Flexible Agreement for the provision of Fostering Agency Placements

Official notice

Authority: Lancashire County Council (Local council)

3 lotsServicesOpen procedure
Sectors: Health & Social Care (85) Delivery: North East (UKC2)North West (UKD)Yorkshire & Humber (UKE2)
+1 moreScotland (UKM9)
Published estimate£415,000,000total for 3 lots
Submission deadline 4 May 203101:00 BST · 1,647 days left
Awarded to Acorn House (Fostering Services) Limited +9 more10 awards

What is being bought3 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

Lancashire County Council (the Council) are leading on the procurement of an open Flexible

Agreement for the Provision of Fostering Agency Placements.

Since 2019 Blackburn with Darwen Council, Blackpool Council, Cumbria County Council and

Lancashire County Council (BBLC) have been collaborating as part of a Department of

Education funded project to improve the sufficiency of foster care placements across the

authorities. By working together, the four Contracting Bodies have developed the Flexible

Agreement which this procurement intends to establish, with the aim to influence the

behaviour of these agencies in order to prioritise the Children from the four Contracting

Bodies within the combined authorities' geographical footprint.

The Flexible Agreement will be a list of approved Independent Foster Care Providers.

It is intended that the Flexible Agreement will remain effect for 9 years, Service Contracts

can be awarded as call-off contracts as detailed within the Invitation to Participate (ITP).

This procurement procedure is considered to be subject to the Light Touch Regime under the

Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

Providers can apply to join the Flexible Agreement, if Applicants satisfy the required criteria.

The Flexible Agreement will be open for new Applications during the initial Application

phase. Once the initial Application deadline has passed (see ITP for dates), Providers can

apply to join every three years throughout the term. (See the Council's eTendering portal

iSupplier and ITP for dates). Following an evaluation process, applicants will receive an

outcome notification. Successful Applicants will be required to sign a Flexible Agreement

Page 4 to 12

and will be appointed as a provider.

Lancashire County Council's Flexible Agreement may be used by Contracting Authorities

listed below and any successor council as defined in The Local Government (Structural

Changes) (Transfer of Functions, Property, Rights and Liabilities) Regulations 2008 to the

Contracting Authorities.

  • Cumbria County Council
  • Blackpool Council
  • Blackburn with Darwen Council

Please note that Cumbria County Council is currently undergoing a local government

reorganisation and Government has announced that Cumbria County Council is to be

replaced by two unitary authorities with effect form 01 April 2023. Therefore, Cumbria

County Council will be entitled to novate the Flexible Agreement for the provision of

Fostering Agency Placements to any successor council.

The Flexible Agreement will be split into the following Lots:

  • Lot 1 Mainstream Foster Care
  • Lot 2 Enhanced Foster Care
  • Lot 3 Step Down Foster Care

Applicants must be successful in Lot 1 to be eligible for Lot 2 and/or Lot 3.

Estimated total value up to £375,000,000 - £415,000,000.

CPV: Health and social work services

Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure

3 lots · no lot values published
Lot #1Mainstream Foster CareCancelled

Lot 1 Standard Foster Care. The provision of foster care placements for children and young

people aged 0-4, 5-10, 11-15, 16+ and Parent and Child placements Additional information: Quality and Price criteria as per the published tender documents

www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and… ↗

Delivery: North East, North West, Yorkshire & Humber, Scotland · Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool , Cumbria and Lancashire
Variant bids: not allowed
85000000 Health and social work services
Lot #2Enhanced Foster CareCancelled

Lot 2 Enhanced Foster Care. The provision of foster care placements and support services

for children and young people with enhanced needs Additional information: Quality and Price criteria as per the published evaluation criteria

www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and… ↗

Delivery: North East, North West, Yorkshire & Humber, Scotland · Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool , Cumbria and Lancashire
Variant bids: not allowed
85000000 Health and social work services
Lot #3Step Down into Foster CareCancelled

Lot 3 Step Down into Foster Care. The provision of foster care placements and support

services for children and young people who are placed within Residential Care or on a

trajectory to be placed within Residential Care. Additional information: Quality and Price criteria as per the published tender documents

www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and… ↗

Delivery: North East, North West, Yorkshire & Humber, Scotland · Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool , Cumbria and Lancashire
Variant bids: not allowed
85000000 Health and social work services

What it takes to win
i

How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
How bids were scored
Lot distribution rule: Applicants must be successful in Lot 1 to be eligible for Lot 2 and/or Lot 3.
Conditions of participation1
  • Suitability

    The Council requires Applicants to be registered with Ofsted or Care Inspectorate for regulated activity. Nominated locations put forward must not be rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted or 'weak' or 'unsatisfactory' by Care Inspectorate.

    See invitation to participate for full requirements, particularly in regard to requirements concerning: insurance, financial ratios, consortia requirements, mandatory and discretionary exclusion criteria, references, past performance/experience, registered households, and quality and price criteria.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
No (one-off requirement)
First published
14 Jan 2022, 15:12 GMT
Last source update
29 Jun 2022, 15:11 BST
Award evaluation window
5 May 2031 – …
FTS notice number
2022/S 000-017779
Classification (CPV)
Health and social work services
Delivery area
North East (UKC2)North West (UKD)Yorkshire & Humber (UKE2)Scotland (UKM9)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-030b4b Find a Tender

Publisher note: Contract values are estimated and allows for cost increases during the term and new applicants being admitted. The estimated total value is up to £375,000,000 - £415,000,000. This is an on open flexible agreement, evaluation of new applications will be at least three yearly.

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: portal not identified
Language: EN
Submission deadline
4 May 2031
Submission channel
{"electronicSubmission"}
Accepted languages
en
Bids opened
5 May 2031, 10:00 BST
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

www.lancashire.gov.uk/isupplier ↗

Timeline

29 Jun 2022 → 5 May 2031 · 3 dates
  1. Notice published
    29 Jun 2022, 15:11 BST
  2. Today
    29 Oct 2026
  3. Submission deadline
    4 May 2031
  4. Bids opened
    5 May 2031, 10:00 BST

Notice history

1 event · 2 releases on Find a Tender
  1. Status changed to complete
    29 Jun 2022, 15:11 BST

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 31
Awarded value Not summedeach provider’s award repeats the list or panel total
Bids received 34
Contracts signed 20latest 22 Jun 2022
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Not linked to a lot10 awards
Acorn House (Fostering Services) LimitedSME£10,000,000 †—Awarded
EXCEL FOSTERING LTDSME£10,000,000 †—Awarded
Family Care Associates LtdSME£10,000,000 †—Awarded
FAMILY FOSTERCARE LTD£10,000,000 †—Awarded
FIVE RIVERS CHILD CARE LTD - SAFEHOUSES£10,000,000 †—Awarded
Foster Care Associates Limited£10,000,000 †—Awarded
FOSTERING CHANGES LIFESME£10,000,000 †—Awarded
Fostering PeopleSME£10,000,000 †—Awarded
Fostering Solutions£10,000,000 †—Awarded
Fusion Fostering LimitedSME£10,000,000 †—Awarded

21 further award records carry no date or value.

Contracts

  • Contract 017779-2022-10 · EXCEL FOSTERING LTDSME

    Signed
    22 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Contract 017779-2022-11 · Family Care Associates LtdSME

    Signed
    22 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Contract 017779-2022-12 · FAMILY FOSTERCARE LTD

    Signed
    22 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Contract 017779-2022-13 · FIVE RIVERS CHILD CARE LTD - SAFEHOUSES

    Signed
    22 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Contract 017779-2022-4

    Signed
    22 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Contract 017779-2022-5

    Signed
    22 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Contract 017779-2022-6

    Signed
    22 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Contract 017779-2022-7

    Signed
    22 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Contract 017779-2022-8

    Signed
    22 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Contract 017779-2022-9

    Signed
    22 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Contract 017779-2022-1 · Acorn House (Fostering Services) LimitedSME

    Signed
    21 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Contract 017779-2022-14 · Foster Care Associates Limited

    Signed
    21 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Contract 017779-2022-15 · FOSTERING CHANGES LIFESME

    Signed
    21 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Contract 017779-2022-16 · Fostering PeopleSME

    Signed
    21 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Contract 017779-2022-17 · Fostering Solutions

    Signed
    21 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Contract 017779-2022-18 · Fusion Fostering LimitedSME

    Signed
    21 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Contract 017779-2022-19

    Signed
    21 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Contract 017779-2022-2

    Signed
    21 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Contract 017779-2022-20

    Signed
    21 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Contract 017779-2022-21

    Signed
    21 Jun 2022
    Value
    £10,000,000
    Status
    active

Bid statistics published by the authority

BidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
34bids———

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Lancashire County Council

Contracting authorityLocal CouncilRegional or local authorityGeneral public services Fishergate, Preston, North West, PR18XJContact name, email, phone Published organisation website ↗

Bidders & participating suppliers

31 commercial parties on the notice
Show 21 more suppliers

Official documents & specifications (2)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

  • Economic and financial selection criteriatenderEconomic and financial selection criteria
  • Technical selection criteriatenderTechnical selection criteria