Official UK procurement notice
2023 Social Care Self Directed Support and ISF Management Service
Authority: Aberdeenshire Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionA locally based service to provide advice and information to members of the public regarding all aspects of Self-Directed Support,
including information about the legislation and the four options available under The Social Care (Self Directed Support) (Scotland) Act
2013; and to provide an Individual Service Fund management service.
The Individual Service Fund management service will be accessible to eligible individuals that choose an Individual Service Fund under Option 2 to fund all or some of their care and support package. This service will include the management of prepaid card accounts.
- How the procedure runs: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2015/446/contents/made
CPV: Social work and related services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1A locally based Self Directed Support service that includes:
A locally based Self Directed Support service that includes:
- a sign-posting facility; the provision of information, support and advice; participation in the support planning process; assistance to those supported persons that choose to employ staff to do so effectively and lawfully; and including support to the individual to access legal and payroll support
- an integrated Individual Service Fund management service that will include the management of prepaid card accounts
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 15 Dec 2022, 11:16 GMT
- Last source update
- 13 Jan 2025, 13:28 GMT
- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-001019- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-038dacFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive
- Published justification
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition is justified under regulation 33(1)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 because competition is absent for technical reasons.
The Council issued a Prior Information Notice issued via PCS which did not identify alternative economic operators able to evidence the technical capacity to deliver the integrated individual fund management service of the form being procured to meet the service requirement of the Council. The Council’s service delivery model, including the individual support fund management service and prepaid account facility, is bespoke and tailored to the needs of its users.
The lack of a reasonable alternative or substitute is reflective of regulator findings that since the Social Care (Self Directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013[3] was enacted, Self Directed Support (SDS) has been implemented inconsistently across the country; and that Aberdeenshire Council has implemented a ‘bespoke approach to delivering Option 2’, with a uniqueness of supply that is recognised independently to be a ‘well designed system working well and the model most in the spirit of the Act’ .
This notice of intent to award is made with reference to Chapter 3 Particular Procurement Regimes, Section 7 Social and Other Specific Services. This procurement responds primarily to the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013. It is relevant to the integration agenda and the ‘Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014’; and recognises Council responsibilities under Section 12 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act. The Scottish Government guidance on Specific Considerations and Rules for Care and Support Contracts has been followed, and light touch provisions are determined to be applicable. In relation to the award the Council has taken into account the need to ensure quality, continuity, accessibility, affordability, availability and comprehensiveness of the services; the specific needs of different categories of users, including disadvantaged and vulnerable groups; the involvement and empowerment of users’ and innovation. (76.9)
The Council intends to award a contract to Cornerstone Community Care and considers that award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition is justified under regulation 33(1)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 as competition is absent for technical reasons.
- How it runs
Publisher note: (SC Ref:787611)
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornerstone Community Care | £1,882,632 †same award published again · counted once | — | Awarded |
| Cornerstone Community Care | £1,882,632 †same award published again · counted once | — | Awarded |
| Cornerstone Community Care | £1,882,632 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 001019-2025-1 · Cornerstone Community Care
- Signed
- 12 Dec 2022
- Value
- £1,882,632
- Status
- active
Contract 016077-2023-1 · Cornerstone Community Care
- Signed
- 12 Dec 2022
- Value
- £1,882,632
- Status
- active
Contract 035476-2022-1 · Cornerstone Community Care
- Signed
- 12 Dec 2022
- Value
- £1,882,632
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1bids · 0 electronic | 0 | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Aberdeen Sheriff CourtReview body
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Cornerstone Community CareAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.