BHCC Adults Community Support and Supported Living Light Touch Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) Admission Round 2

Description

Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) has established a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the supply of services in respect of Community Support and Supported Living for adults for an initial period of up to 5 years + with optional further extension provisions for an additional 3 years + 2 years. This Contract Notice is for the second admission round onto the DPS. The services required fall under Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015). As a result, this procurement is undertaken under the 'Light Touch Regime' as detailed in Section 7 of PCR 2015. Any interested organisation or consortium with relevant experience may apply to be admitted onto the DPS. The DPS will have two (2) lots and be further divided into sub-lots as follows: Lot 1: Community Support Lot 1.1: Adults with Learning Disabilities and who may also be autistic Lot 1.2: Adults with Mental Health needs Lot 1.3: Adults who are Neurodivergent and who may also be autistic Lot 1.4: Adults with Acquired Brain Injuries (ABI) Lot 1.5: Adults with Physical Disabilities and/or sensory needs Lot 1.6: Adults with Substance Misuse and eligible Care Act needs Lot 2: Supported Living, for people with: Lot 2.1: Adults with Learning Disabilities and who may also be autistic Lot 2.2: Adults with Mental Health needs Lot 2.3: Adults who are Neurodivergent and who may also be autistic Lot 2.4: Adults with Acquired Brain Injuries (ABI) Lot 2.5: Adults with Physical Disabilities and/or sensory needs Lot 2.6: Adults with Substance Misuse and eligible Care Act needs Potential Providers are invited to apply for one lot or sub-lot; or multiple lots and sub-lots. The Brighton & Hove commissioning strategy is to reduce the number of people in residential care, placed out of the city and in long term services that do not meet their needs. Supported Living and Community Support are effective in meeting this goal. The aim of the DPS is to: - Ensure that all providers on the DPS have met quality requirements and signed up to a new service specification that reflects the needs that people who receive support and their carers have identified. - Attract new providers to the market and create a more diverse market that provides more choice for people who receive support. - Ensure a more strengths-based approach that focus on outcomes for people who receive support. - Enable the Council to meet the care and support needs of residents who have been assessed as having eligible social care needs in line with the Care Act 2014 For each Lot, there will be an 'Admission' stage, followed by a 'Commissioning' stage. BHCC intends to open the 'Admission' stage annually for new applications. The Council reserves the right to revise the number of rounds ('opening ceremonies') for Admission stage per year at its discretion. By applying to be admitted to the DPS, Providers are not obligated to bid for services at 'Commissioning' stage. These services are being procured under a multiple-Provider DPS. There will be no limit to the number of Providers admitted onto the DPS, providing they meet the minimum requirements as set out in the Invitation to Tender documents. There will be no guarantee of work or volume of work given under this DPS. Admission stage evaluation will be based on 100% Quality. For Lot 1: Community Support, Pricing will be requested and will be binding until 31st March 2026 but will not be scored. This pricing will be used at Stage 2: Commissioning Stage for Direct Awards. Lot 1: Community Support Lot 1: Community Support Community Support will be delivered to adults with learning Disabilities and who may also be autistic, mental health needs, Neurodivergent and who may also be autistic, acquired brain injuries, physical disabilities and/or sensory needs or substance misuse and eligible Care Act needs Accommodation is not part of the Service (e.g., the Individual has an independent tenancy or lives with family/others) and this would continue regardless of the support provided. The Community Support Service will provide outcome focused support that meets the aims and goals agreed with each Individual. The Service must provide person-centred support and a strengths-based approach. Estimated Aggregate Value across lifetime of the DPS (5 + 3 + 2 years) = £30,000,000 Admission stage evaluation will be based on 100% Quality. Pricing will be requested and will be binding until 31st March 2026 but will not be scored. This pricing will be used at Stage 2: Commissioning Stage for Direct Awards. Once Providers are admitted onto the DPS, the 'Commissioning' stage can be undertaken. Providers will be requested to respond to quality and price questions for the specific need to win the contract as outlined in the Individual Placement Requirement. Individual Placement Requirements will be published on an as and when basis. Stage 2: Commissioning Stage is divided into two routes: • Route 1: Direct Award • Route 2: Mini Competition For Route 2, all Providers admitted to the DPS will be invited to express an interest for all routes under the relevant sub-lot. Providers will be advised a time limit to respond. Stage 2 will be evaluated based on Quality and Price. Full details will be included at Commissioning Stage As the DPS is being let under the Light Touch Regime (Regulation 76 (8) of the PCR's 2015), which allows for direct award, the Council shall make Direct Award placements based on a number of factors including; (i) the Provider that best meets the specific needs of the individual; and/or (ii) personal choice of the individual; and/or (iii) has availability; and/or (iv) the best value for money; and/or (v) location. When a new service or a replacement service for a group of individuals is identified the Council will invite all Providers of the relevant sub-lot(s) who have indicated availability to express an interest based on the total Individual Placement Requirements. The expression of interest will be time-bound. Full details will be available at time of publication of Stage 2. TUPE may apply at Stage 2: Commissioning Stage. Full details will be included in the tender documents. Individual Service Funds (ISFs) The Council are committed to expanding the use of Individual Service Funds (ISFs). The service provider would receive the fund for each person but must work with them to identify how they want to use their personal budget to meet their needs. As needs change the overall fund can flex without having to reassess needs constantly and people can also 'bank' support hours to use flexibly. If the need for a ISF arrangement occurs, expressions of interest will be sought from admitted DPS providers and a Mini Competition will take place. Price and quality information will be requested specific to the service required, then evaluated. Lot 2: Supported Living Lot 2: Supported Living This lot covers Supported Living services where support is provided alongside a tenancy or licence agreement for adults with learning Disabilities and who may also be autistic, mental health needs, Neurodivergent and who may also be autistic, acquired brain injuries, physical disabilities and/or sensory needs or substance misuse and eligible Care Act needs. People will have their own individual tenancy or licence agreement for their accommodation and are liable to pay rent. When individuals are assessed as not having capacity to sign a tenancy or licence agreement the relevant Assessment team will make an application to the Court of Protection. Rent can be met by Housing Benefit or through Housing Costs under Universal Credit if the person is eligible for these benefits. Accommodation may have been identified in advance or Service Providers will be expected to source accommodation. This will be identified at the Call-Off Stage. The Supported Living Service will provide outcome focussed support that meets the aims and goals agreed with each Individual. The Service must provide person-centred support and a strengths-based approach. Support models will vary depending on a person's needs. Most Services will operate a model of shared care and may provide 24-hour Staff on site, where Staff work night shifts, either waking or sleeping at the Service. The Service Provider and the Council will discuss the support model at an early stage. The Service will provide a place of safety, security and stability. If the Service Provider is sourcing accommodation, they must meet the accommodation standards as detailed in the Specification. Estimated Aggregate Value of Lot 2: Supported Living across lifetime of the DPS (5 + 3 + 2 years) = £210,000,000 Admission stage evaluation will be based on 100% Quality. Once Providers are admitted onto the DPS, the 'Commissioning' stage can be undertaken. Providers will be requested to respond to quality and price questions for the specific need to win the contract as outlined in the Individual Placement Requirement. Individual Placement Requirements will be published on an as and when basis. Stage 2: Commissioning Stage is divided into two routes: • Route 1: Direct Award • Route 2: Mini Competition For Route 2, all Providers admitted to the DPS will be invited to express an interest for all routes under the relevant sub-lot. Providers will be advised a time limit to respond. Stage 2 will be evaluated based on Quality and Price. Full details will be included at Commissioning Stage As the DPS is being let under the Light Touch Regime (Regulation 76 (8) of the PCR's 2015), which allows for direct award, the Council shall make Direct Award placements based on a number of factors including; (i) the Provider that best meets the specific needs of the individual; and/or (ii) personal choice of the individual; and/or (iii) has availability; and/or (iv) the best value for money; and/or (v) location. When a new service or a replacement service for a group of individuals is identified the Council will invite all Providers of the relevant sub-lot(s) who have indicated availability to express an interest based on the total Individual Placement Requirements. The expression of interest will be time-bound. Full details will be available at time of publication of Stage 2. TUPE may apply at Stage 2: Commissioning Stage. Full details will be included in the tender documents. Individual Service Funds (ISFs) The Council are committed to expanding the use of Individual Service Funds (ISFs). The service provider would receive the fund for each person but must work with them to identify how they want to use their personal budget to meet their needs. As needs change the overall fund can flex without having to reassess needs constantly and people can also 'bank' support hours to use flexibly. If the need for a ISF arrangement occurs, expressions of interest will be sought from admitted DPS providers and a Mini Competition will take place. Price and quality information will be requested specific to the service required, then evaluated.