Official UK procurement notice
A Framework Agreement for the Provision of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) Services
Authority: Southampton City Council (Local council)·Consortium: 16 public authorities
What is being bought4 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThis procurement invites tenders from both new applicants to The Councils' Framework for the Provision of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) Services, or from existing providers on this framework who wish to improve their original price offers or to apply for a place on additional lots.
The notice for the original establishment of the Framework Agreement was published on the 28th July 2021 (reference 2021/S 000-017949) and the amended publication dated 7th September 2021, reference 2021/S 000-022124) which read as follows:
"This procurement is for the establishment of a framework agreement for the provision of independent fostering agency services across sixteen (16) local authorities that comprise the South-Central IFA Framework consortium. This ITT is to establish a Framework Agreement between Southampton City Council (on behalf of the South-Central IFA Framework consortium) and those tenderers successful in their applications to be accepted on to the framework to enable the provision of foster care placements in accordance with the terms of the framework agreement. The sixteen local authorities which comprise the South-Central IFA Framework consortium (thereby referred to as "The Councils") are:
Bracknell Forest Council, Bristol City Council, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, Dorset Council, Isle of Wight Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, Reading Borough Council, Slough Children's Services Trust, Southampton City Council, Surrey County Council, Swindon Borough Council, West Berkshire Council, Wiltshire County Council, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham Borough Council
- Recurrence: This procurement is for applicants to join an open framework and for existing framework providers to apply for additional lots and / or submit improved offers (prices). This information supercedes that published in the original notice (28th July 2021 - ref 2021/S 000-017949) & amended notice (7th September 2021 - ref 2021/S 000-022124). Please refer to these notices for further details.
CPV: Welfare services for children and young people
Lots and requirements (4)Procurement structure
4 lots · no lot values published · a supplier may bid for at most 4 of themLot #1(Standard Placements 0+ Years)Renewal
Lot 1 (Standard Placements 0+ Years) - full details provided in procurement documents. Additional information: Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 48 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 41 months will remain
Lot #2(Children with DisabilitiesRenewal
Lot 2 Children with Disabilities - full details can be found within procurement documents. Additional information: Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 48 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 41 months will remain.
Lot #3(Parent and Child Placements)Renewal
Lot 3 Parent and Child Placements - full details can be found within procurement documents. Additional information: Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 48 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 41 months will remain.
Lot #4(Enhanced Fostering Placements)Renewal
Lot 4 (Enhanced Fostering Placements) - full details can be found within procurement documents. Additional information: Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 48 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 41 months will remain.
What it takes to wini
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 morei
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).
- “A Framework Agreement for the Provision of Independent Fostering…” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.
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
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
Yes · This procurement is for applicants to join an open framework and for existing framework providers to apply for additional lots and / or submit improved offers (prices). This information supercedes that published in the original notice (28th July 2021 - ref 2021/S 000-017949) & amended notice (7th September 2021 - ref 2021/S 000-022124). Please refer to these notices for further details.
- First published
- 1 Aug 2022, 10:26 BST
- Last source update
- 24 Apr 2024, 13:49 BST
- Award evaluation window
- 2 Sept 2022 – …
- Authority reference
EC09/01/3096 (Proactis Reference: REQ/1000050)- FTS notice number
2024/S 000-013304- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0357bdFind a Tender
Publisher note: This published notice supercedes previously published "Additional Information" (notice references 2021/S 000-017949 and 2021/S 000-022124) to reflect the change in e-procurement portal now used by Southampton City Council. This procurement is being managed by Southampton City Council, on behalf of the South Central IFA Framework consortium, in accordance with Regulations 74-76 of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 ("Light Touch Regime"). For any additional information related to this tender please see the published procurement documents. Applicants will be required to apply via the 'Supply Southampton' website, accessible at: https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login where registration with the Council's Proactis procurement e-portal can be undertaken by selecting the 'register button'. Once registered, details relating to this procurement can be accessed by clicking on the "Opportunities" tile and using the search bar to search for " A Framework Agreement for the Provision of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) Services" (Proactis reference: REQ/1000050) Freedom of Information - Applicants are advised that Southampton City Council is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ('The Act'). If an applicant considers that any of the information supplied as part of this procurement procedure should not be disclosed because of its commercial sensitivity, confidentiality or otherwise, they must, when providing this information, clearly identify the specific information they do not wish to be disclosed and clearly specify the reasons for its sensitivity. Southampton City Council shall take such statements into consideration in the event that it receives a request pursuant to the Act which relates to the information provided by the interested party. Please note, it is not sufficient to include a statement of confidentiality encompassing all the information provided in the response. Southampton City Council shall not be responsible for any costs, charges or expenses incurred by applicants or tenderers and accepts no liability for any costs, charges or expenses, irrespective of the outcome of the competition, or if the competition is cancelled or postponed. Whilst every effort has been made to consider the full scope of the requirement the Council does not guarantee the volume of supplies/service/works required resulting from this tender or that it will accept any tender on completion of the tender exercise. Southampton City Council reserves the right not to award all or any part of this contract. All dates and time periods specified in this notice are only provisional and Southampton City Council reserves the right to change these. The Contracting Authority may be subject to governmental codes of practice or guidance relating to a transparency agenda, including the policy of publishing contracts and all other documents relating to public procurement activity. Accordingly and notwithstanding any other provision within this notice, it should be noted that the Contracting Authority will publish any documents relating to the procurement and subsequent contract award resulting from this notice (but with any information which is exempt from disclosure in accordance with the provisions of the FOIA redacted) in accordance with the aforementioned governmental transparency agenda. When executing the contract within the United Kingdom, the successful supplier will be required to comply with the recommendations of the Code of Practice for Employment, published by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. The suppliers will also be required to comply with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. Further information on the Council's requirements on the aforementioned will be included in the invitation to tender documents.
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 10 Feb 2022, 12:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- {"written"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bid validity
- 90 days from the deadline
- Bids opened
- 2 Sept 2022, 13:00 BST
Timeline
10 Feb 2022 → 24 Apr 2024 · 3 dates- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown10 Feb 2022, 12:00 GMT
- Bids opened2 Sept 2022, 13:00 BST
- Notice published24 Apr 2024, 13:49 BST
Notice history
2 events · 10 releases on Find a Tender · since 2 Sept 2022- Deadline moved to 17 Nov 2022, 12:00 GMT2 Sept 2022, 12:08 BST+76 days · was 2 Sept 2022, 12:00 BST
- Deadline moved to 10 Feb 2022, 12:00 GMT13 Dec 2022, 08:53 GMT-280 days · was 17 Nov 2022, 12:00 GMT
Published amendments (9 · 7 deadline changes)
| When | What | Before | After | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | DeadlineIV.2.2 | 2 Sept 2022 | 17 Nov 2022 | +76 d |
| — | TextDuration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system · II.2.7 | Duration in months - 41 | Duration in months - 38 | |
| — | TextReference Number · II.1.1 | — | REQ/1000126 | |
| — | DeadlineTime limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate · IV.2.2 | 17 Nov 2022 | 10 Feb 2022 | -280 d |
| — | Bid openingConditions for opening of tenders · IV.2.7 | 17 Nov 2022 | 10 Feb 2022 | -280 d |
| — | TextDuration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system · II.2.7 | 41 | 35 | |
| — | TextAdditional information · II.2.14 | Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 48 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 41 months will remain | Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 48 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 35 months will remain | |
| — | DeadlineTime limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate · IV.2.2 | 10 Feb 2023 | 18 May 2023 | +97 d |
| — | TextDuration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system · II.2.7 | 35 | 32 | |
| — | TextAdditional information · II.2.14 | Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 48 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 35 months will remain | Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 48 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 32 months will remain | |
| — | TextVI.3 | — | his published notice supercedes previously published "Additional Information" (notice references 2021/S 000-017949 and 2021/S 000-022124) to reflect the change in e-procurement portal now used by Southampton City Council. This procurement is being managed by Southampton City Council, on behalf of the South Central IFA Framework consortium, in accordance with Regulations 74-76 of the Public Contrac… | |
| — | DeadlineIV.2.2 | — | 17 May 2023 | |
| — | Bid openingIV.2.7 | — | 17 May 2023 | |
| — | TextII.2.14 | — | Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 29 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 41 months will remain. | |
| — | DeadlineIV.2.2 | — | 2 Nov 2023 | |
| — | TextII.2.14 | — | Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 48 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 27 months will remain. There is the option to extend the framework agreement by up to two additional twelve month periods, i.e. from 1st April 2026 - 31st March 2027 and from 1st April 2027- 31st March 2028. | |
| — | TextII.1.1 | — | A Framework Agreement for the Provision of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) Services (Proactis Reference: REQ/1000184) | |
| — | DeadlineIV.2.2 | 2 Nov 2023 | 25 Jan 2024 | +84 d |
| — | TextII.2.14 | Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 48 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 27 months will remain. There is the option to extend the framework agreement by up to two additional twelve month periods, i.e. from 1st April 2026 - 31st March 2027 and from 1st April 2027- 31st March 2028. | Duration of the framework agreement as originally published was for 48 months (four years) Framework duration, of which 24 months will remain. There is the option to extend the framework agreement by up to two additional twelve month periods, i.e. from 1st April 2026 - 31st March 2027 and from 1st April 2027- 31st March 2028. | |
| — | DeadlineTime limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate · IV.2.2 | — | 25 Apr 2024 |
9 amendments published without a description.
Routine re-releases (10)
- 2023-08: 1 release · 18 Aug 2023
- 2023-05: 1 release · 17 May 2023
- 2023-02: 1 release · 8 Feb 2023
- 2022-12: 1 release · 13 Dec 2022
- 2022-10: 1 release · 20 Oct 2022
- 2022-09: 1 release · 2 Sept 2022
- 2022-08: 1 release · 1 Aug 2022
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
16 public bodies on the noticeConsortium members and other public bodies
- Achieving for Children for the Royal Borough of Windsor and MaidenheadContracting authority
- Bournemouth Christchurch & Poole CouncilContracting authority
- Bracknell Forest CouncilContracting authority
- Brighter Futures for Children for Reading Borough CouncilContracting authority
- Bristol City CouncilContracting authority
- Dorset Council (incorporating the former Dorset County Council, except the former Christchurch Borough Council )Contracting authority
- Isle of Wight CouncilContracting authority
- Oxfordshire County CouncilContracting authority
- Portsmouth City CouncilContracting authority
- Slough Children's Services Trust (Slough Borough Council)Contracting authority
- Surrey County CouncilContracting authority
- Swindon Borough CouncilContracting authority
- West Berkshire CouncilContracting authority
- Wiltshire CouncilContracting authority
- Wokingham Borough CouncilContracting authority
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Public Procurement Review ServiceReview body
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.