Decision details

Cabinet approval to:

Step One

Publish a PIN notice as a call for competition as this will allow us to test the market and see if there are any other providers who have an interest in delivering the required service.

Step Two

If there are expressions of interest and it is clear that there are other providers who want to/can deliver this service, we will procced with process A. If there are no expressions of interest we will proceed with process B.

·         Process A: Carry out a tender under the Light Touch Regime

·         Process B: Direct award to incumbent provider

This approval will allow us to put a new contract in place for Combined Sensory Services for Adults and Children.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the commissioning and procurement strategy developed by Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Procurement for the re-procurement of Children’s Vision and Sensory Loss Support and Adults’ Combined Sensory Services contract or contracts be approved.

2.    That the procurement of the sensory services contract(s) to commence on 1 April 2021 be approved. The new contract will be in place for three years with an option to extend for up to a further 36 months.

Reason for decision:

We are requesting approval of the commissioning and procurement strategy for the contracts for:

    a.        Children’s Vision and Sensory Loss Support, of value £132,000 from the Vulnerable Learners element within the Education budget, and

    b.        Adults’ Combined Sensory Services, of value £1,376,004.

This will enable Adult Social Care and Children’s Services to continue providing the services required in accordance with the relevant regulations.

This strategy incorporates publishing a Prior Information Notice (PIN), which will allow us to test the market with regard to the provision of these services. The outcome of the PIN notice will determine the actual procurement route: if there is no interest in the services other than the incumbent provider, SCC might consider whether a direct award the incumbent provider might be desirable rather than continuing with a full re-procurement.

The new contract(s) will ensure continued delivery of these services to the adults and children in Surrey who require these support services and addressing SCC‘s responsibilities under the Children Act 1989, the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Care Act 2014.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Children, Families, Lifelong Learning & Culture Select Committee and the Adults & Health Select Committee]