Worcestershire Promoting Independant Living Service Extension

The Promoting independent living (PIL) service for Worcestershire was jointly procured under OJEU contract notice 2019/S 174-424496 by a partnership of six District and Borough Councils (‘Districts’) and Worcestershire County Council as set out below:

• Bromsgrove District Council,
• Malvern Hills District Council,
• Redditch Borough Council,
• Worcester City Council,
• Wychavon District Council,
• Wyre Forest District Council,
• Worcestershire County Council

The Worcestershire PIL service is intended to provide a range of service options to support the improvement of the health and well-being of the local population with the aim of adaptations being used to restore the use of the home so that people can regain or retain their independence and carry on living in the community. This will be achieved with service elements supporting the Partnership in a flexible way to provide positive outcomes for people:

1. Information and advice, signposting (MECC — Making every contact count);
2. Housing options;
3. Minor adaptations and handyperson services;
4. Making homes healthier and safer to live in;
5. Mandatory DFG adaptations;
6. OT/Trusted assessor.

Service elements dependent on additional funding;

7. Assistive technology;
8. Marketing and able to pay.

A contract was subsequently entered into with Millbrook Healthcare Limited for these services on 14 April 2020 and, having exercised the optional extensions, was due to expire on 1 April 2025 (“the Contract”). On 7 August 2024 the Councils commenced a new tender process for a new service to commence on 1 April 2025. However, for a number of reasons that tender process was abandoned on 31 January 2025 (see notice 2025/S 000-003611) and the Councils are currently considering the position in respect of future delivery of the services.

The Councils have a statutory duty to provide these services and therefore in light of the abandonment decision it is necessary for the Councils to enter into a 12 month extension of the existing Contract, securing additional services from the existing provider, in accordance with Regulation 72(1)(b) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Further, the need for the abandonment and so the extension was brought about in part by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority could not have foreseen with the potential implications associated with the English Devolution White Paper published on 16 December 2024. Regulation 72(1)(c) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 is therefore also applicable. The 12 month extension will allow sufficient time for the Councils to consider the impact of these issues on delivery of these services.

The 12 month extension of the Contract to 31 March 2026 will take place on existing terms save that: (1) There will no longer be a requirement to provide handyman services and the service funding from Worcestershire County Council will be reduced accordingly; (2) The capital payment for Worcester City Council has been increased by £104,752 to cover the capital delivery under the Contract for 2025/2026 which results in an increase of £15,608 to the revenue payment; (3) An increase of £42,596.09 will be made to the overall annual contractual payment to reflect increased labour costs for 2025/2026; and (4) A contribution will be made towards increased premises costs for 2025/2026 up to a maximum sum of £45,487.72. The total increase in price is below 50% of the original contract value as required by Regulations 721)(b) and (c).