Framework for the Provision of Residential and Nursing Care Services

Description

The council is procuring a Framework for the provision of Older Adults Residential and Nursing Care Services in Cumberland. As part of the new framework, the Council aims to support providers to meet the changing needs of the Cumberland population. All providers of Older Adults Residential and Nursing Care Services are invited to submit a bid to provide high-quality services which support older, disabled and vulnerable people in maximising their independence, promoting health and wellbeing and supporting them to remain safe and comfortable, whilst maintaining their individual dignity, privacy, freedom of choice and treating them with respect. Providers are asked to assure Service User wellbeing through the delivery of Service User Focused Outcomes, which have been developed in line with Care Act guidance. All providers who wish to be considered to join the framework should submit a bid before the stated deadline (see 2.1). The framework will be ‘open’, which means that new providers can submit a bid to join at any time over the initial 4 year period (and during the four extension periods if these are used). A notice will be uploaded to The Chest to explain the future bidding process for providers after the initial bid submission deadline (stated at 2.1) has passed. The council discourages speculative applications from out of county providers, as these will not be evaluated unless a placement is required. The Council reserves the right to close the Framework to new applications if in its opinion, there is good reason to do so. Where this discretion is used, the Council will notify its intention and the period which the Framework will be closed. In order to maintain high standards and ensure the safety of Service Users, the Council reserves the right to reject any applications from Providers who have a CQC rating below “Good” and/or have received negative feedback from other authorities or key stakeholders. Applications may still be considered on a case-by-case basis at the Council’s discretion. Providers may be asked to provide supplementary information through the Councils Quality Improvement Process (QIP) The Framework Agreement includes requirements around delivery of Social Value and payment of the Real Living Wage to staff engaged in the delivery of Services. The Council shall review the contract term around the Real Living Wage annually. The Framework includes the provision for NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (“the ICB”) to purchase Residential & Nursing Care Services, subject to the ICB signing a Framework Access Agreement. The Cumberland Council potential spend on Residential & Nursing Care Services over the full 8-year term is estimated to be up to a max £600m. The initial period of the contract is 4 years. There are FOUR optional extensions of up to 12 months each. The use of these extensions are at the absolute discretion of the Council. The contract end date stated on this notice is where all four extension periods are used. If no extension periods are used, the contract will end in 2029. . The estimated total value of the Framework for the initial 4 year term is £210m excluding VAT. The estimated total value of the Framework for the initial 4 year term plus the 4 optional 12 month extensions is £600m excluding VAT. This includes an estimate of any potential uplifts. You must be registered on The Chest (https://www.the-chest.org.uk/) to access the tender documents. All bids must be received electronically via the Chest by the closing date stated in the ITT. For full details read the ITT and its Schedules. Any clarifications about the tender must be sent via messaging on the Chest by the closing date stated in the ITT. For further information please see Schedule 2 – Service Specification. Lot 1: Lot 1: The commissioning of Residential & Nursing placements by Cumberland Council on a spot-purchased basis at the Usual Price Bandings, ASC Agreed Price, Third Party Top Ups or Out of County Rates. Providers will only need to submit one tender to join the framework and if successful they will automatically be added on to Lots 1, 2 and 3. The tender is for an ‘Any Qualified Provider’ Open Framework. To gain entry onto this Framework, Providers must complete and meet the requirements of all the questions in the Schedule 3 – Provider’s Tender, Part 1, 2 and 3 as described below. Part 1 and Part 2 - mandatory questions which are not scored but the Council may reject applications based on the responses given. Part 3 - mandatory selection questions that will be assessed on a Pass/Fail basis to determine if a bid meets the required standards. A Provider must pass every question in this section in order to be appointed to the Framework. To clarify, a Provider who fails one question in this section will not be considered further and will not be appointed to the Framework. . If any question is failed, the Council may disregard the bid and the contract may not be awarded and you may not be appointed onto the Framework. Lot 2: Lot 2: The commissioning of Residential & Nursing placements by Cumberland Council through mini competitions. Currently there is no intention to set up alternative arrangements when the Framework Agreement goes ‘live’ in May 2025, but this will allow additional flexibility to setup alternative commissioning approaches throughout the term of the Framework (i.e., additional support around hospital discharge). Successful Providers joining the Framework will automatically be added on to Lots 1, 2 and 3. Work under Lot 2 will be awarded via mini-competition where Providers will be invited to tender. Lot 3: Lot 3: The commissioning of Residential & Nursing placements through the Framework Agreement by partner organisations (such as the ICB). Further discussions are being held with the Integrated Care Board (ICB) around scoping access to the Residential & Nursing Framework. Successful Providers joining the Framework will automatically be added on to Lots 1, 2 and 3. Work under Lot 3 will be awarded through a mixture of spot-purchase and mini-competition, once agreement has been reached with the ICB around how they will access the Framework Agreement.