Family Connect Services which deliver the national resource for advice and support.

Family Action currently hold the Intellectual Property Rights for this service. The decision is in line with schedule 5 section 5 of the Procurement Act 2023. The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract – (a) due to a particular supplier having intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works.

The direct award to Family Action (PAC-UK) is justified as the organisation already delivers the established FamilyConnect service and holds the specialist expertise, infrastructure and stakeholder relationships necessary to provide seamless continuity of support for adopted adults, birth relatives and professionals. Awarding the contract directly will prevent disruption to vulnerable service users, maintain access to essential advice and intermediary services, and enable the planned expansion of the service, including increased capacity and enhanced support offers. It also represents a proportionate and value-for-money approach, as they are the only supplier who can deliver the required services due to its established intellectual property right, specialist knowledge, systems, processes and exclusive service model developed through FamilyConnect. There are no reasonable alternatives that could provide the same level of continuity, expertise and national provision, making a direct award the most appropriate route.