Direct Payments and Employers Liability Insurance Support Services

The Metropolitan Borough Council of Sandwell wishes to grow its share of Direct Payments over the next four years and has developed an exciting new service model to support our commissioning intentions for Lot 1 Direct Payments Support Services and Lot 2 Employer Liability Insurance Support Service. The services will provide eligible adults and children greater choice, control and flexibility over their support.

Lot 1 is to provide Direct Payments Support Services:

• Payroll service
• Managed Accounts service
• Disclosure, Barring Scheme Checking service
• Recruitment Support service
• Information, Advice and Guidance
• Additional Services - Promotion of Direct Payments, Peer Support Group, Buddying, Training

Lot 2 is to provide Employer Liability Insurance and Support Service:

• an annual insurance policy to cover employer and public liability, and redundancy
• a telephone helpline to deliver legal information, advice and guidance to employers of Personal Assistants to ensure they understand and meet their legal responsibilities.

Contractors may apply for both Lots or one of the Lots

The duration of the contract will be 4 years from 6 October 2024 to 5 October 2028.

Both contracts will be shared with Sandwell Children's Trust.

Suitably qualified and experienced Contractors are invited to respond to the Invitation to Tender documents and submit proposals for the delivery of the services. These must be submitted no later than 12 noon on 17th April 2024 via the Sandwell In-Tend e-procurement system.

The deadline for the submission clarification questions is 17:00pm on 10th April 2024 via In Tend.

The Council will use an evaluation model based on price and quality. The criteria, on which the tender will be evaluated, inclusive of weighting attached to each, are included in the Invitation to Tender documentation.