The Suffolk Adult Drug and Alcohol Inpatient Detoxification and Residential Rehabilitation Framework

Suffolk County Council is seeking to establish a Framework Agreement to provide the provision of inpatient detoxification and residential rehabilitation services for people who are in treatment with the Community Treatment Provider for drugs and/or alcohol who require public funding in order to access treatment in a specialist facility.

The framework will give options and flexibility to ensure that service users' needs are matched to appropriate high quality service provision for those assessed as requiring funded in-patient detoxification and / or residential rehabilitation. The options may be delivered by a range of providers to support people who have been unable to successfully achieve abstinence and recover in the community and where there is rationale to support the need to access treatment in a specialist facility.

This procurement is for services listed within schedule 3 of The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and as a result are subject to the Light Touch Regime under those regulations. Therefore, the Council is not obliged to comply with the full requirements of the 2015 Regulations, however the principles will be applied.

At the Councils discretion, the Framework may be re-opened (in whole or in part) once each Framework Year (or more often if required), to allow the Council to fill any gaps on the Framework or to fill any gaps which may have arisen as a result of any of the service providers appointed to the Framework being suspended or removed from the Framework for any reason or where there is a legitimate requirement for increased capacity on the Framework. Any new entrants will be required to meet the original tender requirements before being appointed to the Framework. Existing Providers would be invited to re-submit their tender response should they wish to do so. Flexibility within the contract framework is required in instances such as a pandemic, whereby ability to access detox and/or rehabilitation in a timely manner can be compromised.

The framework will be available for use by Suffolk County Council and may also be made available to other public contracting authorities within the geographical boundaries of the East of England including other county councils, district and borough councils and health authorities. It is becoming established practice for government bodies to work closely together and share contract opportunities.

The majority of placements under this framework will be by direct award however there may be occasion where there will be a mini-competition if it is in the best interests of the Service User. The framework will be for a duration of 2 years commencing 1st April 2022 with the option to extend for up to a further 2 years. The anticipated value of the framework is approximately £380,000 per annum. However, no guarantee or commitment as to the initial and future value of any work arising from this framework can be given. The framework will consist of 3 lots and the 7 providers with the highest overall score in each lot will, providing they meet the requirements and providing the Council decides to proceed, be awarded a place on the framework.

When ordering Services under the Framework Agreement without re-opening competition Suffolk County Council shall use the following criteria for direct award placements, irrespective of the ranking of the Provider within the Framework.

The criteria that will be considered, will be the individuals:

a) Mental health conditions

b) Physical health conditions

c) Neurological conditions

d) Criminality

e) Vulnerability

f) Social factors and;

g) Provider availability

The deadline for submissions is 19th November 2021 at 12noon.