Day Opportunity Services Framework

Description

Portsmouth City Council ('the council') has awarded an Open Framework Agreement for the provision of learning disability (LD) day services and opportunities based predominantly in the Portsmouth area but may also extend to surrounding areas. The Council currently spends approximately £6,100,000 per annum on LD day services and opportunities which currently support 305 residents. Fourteen providers have been admitted onto the framework however, the framework will remain open past the initial deadline for new applications. These will be reviewed in April and October each year following commencement of the framework. The framework opportunity is open to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and micro providers (for example a provider could apply to support 1 or 2 clients) as well as larger regional and national providers. In establishing this Open Framework Agreement, the council are aiming to create a diverse and varied 'highstreet' of services and opportunities for individuals to access. The Open Framework Agreement will be operational for a period of 8 years. Providers will be able to apply to join, or add new services to, the Open Framework Agreement any time during the 8-year framework period. There will be no limit to the number of providers who can join the Open Framework Agreement throughout its duration. However, the Council reserves the right to close the Open Framework Agreement to new entrants at any time, giving 3 months' notice via a Modification Notice to the original Find a Tender Service Contract Notice and updating the framework advert on both Contracts Finder and the council's e-sourcing system. Closure may be on a temporary or permanent basis and will be clearly stated in the updated notices and adverts. The Open Framework Agreement will be used for placements of individuals, which in some cases will together form a block contract, commissioned via the Further Competition or Direct Award call-off processes. Placements of individuals will be on a meet or beat Open Framework Agreement rate basis. Any Block 'call-off' contracts will be competed for on a quality and cost basis separate to the Framework rates. From the framework start date it is important to note that there will be no automatic transition of already existing arrangements to the new Open Framework Agreement. These will transition aiming for completion within a 12-month period. However, any NEW packages of day service provision set up for individuals must utilise the new Framework. This may be done on a block contract or individual basis. The Framework Agreement will commence on 1st November 2024. The total Open Framework Agreement value is currently estimated to be £6.1m per annum, £48.8m over the 8-year term. This is based on current contracted activity so actual spend may fall below or above these estimated figures. Lot 1: Learning disability day opportunity services available on the Open Framework Agreement will enable people with a learning disability to learn new skills, take part in meaningful activities which are outcomes focused, build relationships, and improve health and wellbeing outside of their home environment. They also provide families and carers with time to undertake tasks not possible whilst fulfilling a carer role, such as allowing family members to work, other essential living or alternative carer tasks. Via the Open Framework Agreement, the Council are seeking to develop, expand upon and broaden community opportunities and support so that people with learning disabilities and their carers can lead ordinary daily lives and improve outcomes in respect to health and independence, employment, lifelong learning, leisure, and relationships. The provision of Learning Disabilities Day Opportunity Services is to support people to achieve meaningful life outcomes based around four key outcome areas; Health, Independence, Community, and Employment. This outcome focus also supports long term efficiencies as people become healthier, more independent and are supported to both contribute to, and gain support from, their communities. Staffing ratios will be set at 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5+:1. Service providers do not need to offer all levels of staff support at a single service but will only set rates against these five staffing ratios (although not all staffing ratios need to be provided). All rates quoted in the Pricing schedule for services will be the maximum rate allowed on a meet or beat Open Framework Agreement rate basis and will be required to be held for a period of 12 months from the framework start date, thereafter, adjusted for inflationary uplifts. Hourly rates for Learning Disabilities Day Services may be uplifted on an annual basis in April in accordance with the percentage agreed by the council which will take into consideration inflation and other cost increases such as changes to national living wage. The Council will not consider other 'in-year' requests for uplifts unless in exceptional circumstances. Under the new Open Framework Agreement the council will be moving from the current commissioning of services by day or half-day, to commissioning by hours. This will be exclusive of any travel time to the service and only for the hours spent at the service. Hourly rates will need to be set against the following staffing ratios for each service. Where the service provides transport to and from the day service, where required, this will be purchased outside of the day service commissioned hours as a separate cost. Providers must include transport costs within the tender pricing spreadsheet. It is the service provider's responsibility, where required, to ensure they source suitable accommodation or properties to deliver the day opportunity services from. Portsmouth City Council currently have two (2) properties (owner/leased) which are available for the delivery of specific day opportunity services, and these may continue to be made available to providers under this framework under a lease agreement, which will be set out in any future contract agreement. During the course of this framework agreement the Council may also identify and make available other properties for the delivery of day opportunity services which would also be subject to a lease agreement. Any service involving Council properties are likely to require a competitively tendered block contract agreement from the framework (call-off). Additional information: The services covered under the contract are social services and fall under the Social and Other Services in Schedule 3 ("Light Touch Regime") of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 ("Regulations"). The Council has executed this procurement process in general accordance with the Open Procedure as set out within the Regulations. Pursuant to Section 7 of the Regulations, the council has established a pseudo framework which will not need to comply with the full extent of the Regulations governing framework agreements.