Issue - meetings

1.         Following receipt of indicative tenders, the suppliers named in the report be accepted onto the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for Social Care and Accredited Learning Training Services. 

2.         That authority be given to establish the DPS for an initial period of two years, with a possible extension of up to a further two years if the procurement approach continues to demonstrate value for money.

3.         That authority be delegated to the Head of Procurement, together with the Cabinet Member for Business Services to further admit new suppliers, in accordance with the criteria laid out in the terms of the DPS, during the life of the agreement, which will not exceed four years in total.

4.       Individual contracts be awarded through the DPS following a further competition, at which stage suppliers will have the opportunity to refine their offer and costs within the terms and conditions already agreed.

Reasons for Decisions:

The implementation of the Care Act is having a significant impact in the way Social Care staff work, and on their training needs to ensure compliance with the Act.  In order to support its staff, the Council must provide innovative and flexible training ensuring they have the skills and knowledge to meet these challenges.

The existing contracts under which Social Care and Accredited Learning Training are delivered will expire on 7 June 2015.  A full tender process, in compliance with the requirements of Public Contracts Regulations 2006 and the Council’s Procurement Standing Orders has been completed, and the recommendations provide best value for money and will ensure that contracts are awarded that meet the need.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee]

Introducing the report, the Cabinet Member for Business Services said that a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) was similar to a framework agreement, in which providers confirmed at the time of application that they would comply with the terms of the DPS and any call-off contract terms published at that time, in order to be accepted onto the supplier list.  The DPS also provided additional benefit over a Framework arrangement by allowing Suppliers to join at any point during the duration of the DPS.

This report sought approval to establish a DPS, and accept indicative tenders for the provision of Social Care and Accredited Learning Training Services that were specifically targeted for staff in Adult Social Care and Children, Schools and Families. This training was currently delivered through contracts which will expire on 7 June 2015.

The Cabinet Member also said that the DPS would be available for use by Surrey’s Boroughs and Districts, the Clinical Commissioning Groups, East Sussex County Council (and all its Districts, Boroughs and Health Authorities) and colleagues from the Police, Ambulance and Fire Services and that performance would be monitored through a series of key performance indicators.  

Finally, she said that financial and value for money information was set out in a separate report for discussion in the Part 2 section of the meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.         Following receipt of indicative tenders, the suppliers named in the report be accepted onto the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for Social Care and Accredited Learning Training Services. 

2.         That authority be given to establish the DPS for an initial period of two years, with a possible extension of up to a further two years if the procurement approach continues to demonstrate value for money.

3.         That authority be delegated to the Head of Procurement, together with the Cabinet Member for Business Services to further admit new suppliers, in accordance with the criteria laid out in the terms of the DPS, during the life of the agreement, which will not exceed four years in total.

4.       Individual contracts be awarded through the DPS following a further competition, at which stage suppliers will have the opportunity to refine their offer and costs within the terms and conditions already agreed.

Reasons for Decisions:

The implementation of the Care Act is having a significant impact in the way Social Care staff work, and on their training needs to ensure compliance with the Act.  In order to support its staff, the Council must provide innovative and flexible training ensuring they have the skills and knowledge to meet these challenges.

The existing contracts under which Social Care and Accredited Learning Training are delivered will expire on 7 June 2015.  A full tender process, in compliance with the requirements of Public Contracts Regulations 2006 and the Council’s Procurement Standing Orders has been completed, and the recommendations provide best value for money and will ensure that contracts are awarded that meet the need.