United Kingdom473 days leftOpen

Approved List for Supported Accommodation for Children and Young People

Tender Overview

LOCATION

Surrey, East and West Sussex, United Kingdom

VALUE

£56,572,000

DEADLINE

May 21, 2027 at 16:00

CATEGORY

Other

CPV CODE

85000000

REFERENCE

014529-2023

Project Timeline

Contact Information

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Original Tender Description

East Sussex County Council are seeking applications for their Approved List for the provision of Supported Accommodation and Accommodation-Based Support for Children and Young People. This Approved List is for Service Providers that will provide supported accommodation and accommodation-based support for: 1) Care Leavers, UASC and young homeless aged 16/17 with high support needs. 2) Care Leavers, UASC and young homeless aged 16/17 with medium support needs. 3) Care leavers and UASC aged 18–21 with ongoing or enduring Multiple and Complex Needs. 4) Pregnant Care Leavers and young parents aged 16-21 with medium support needs. Following a Department for Education’s consultation in 2021, the Government will introduce mandatory national standards and Ofsted-led regulation for providers of supported accommodation who accommodate Looked After Children and Care Leavers aged 16 and 17. The latest information available indicates that registration for regulation will commence in the Spring of 2023, with inspections commencing from October 2023. If the application is received after 28 October 2023 (or such other date as specified under the regulations), the Bidder will Fail if they have not completed Stage 1 of the Ofsted registration process. Only East Sussex County Council are permitted to direct award or run a mini competition under this Approved List, which will remain open at all times, meaning applications can be submitted at any time and previously unsuccessful Bidders may reapply. The evaluation of applications will be undertaken at least twice per financial year, at the discretion of the Council and more frequently in the first 12 months of the Approved List being open. The Approved List is open until 21 May 2027. There is an option to extend for up to a further 24 months.
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MANDATORY EXCLUSION GROUNDS

  • Bidder will fail if they have not completed Stage 1 of the Ofsted registration process for providers of supported accommodation for 16-17 year olds, if the application is received after 28 October 2023 (or such other date as specified under the regulations).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • Be a Service Provider capable of offering supported accommodation and accommodation-based support for children and young people.
  • Be able to provide services for Care Leavers, UASC, and young homeless aged 16/17 with high support needs.
  • Be able to provide services for Care Leavers, UASC, and young homeless aged 16/17 with medium support needs.
  • Be able to provide services for Care Leavers and UASC aged 18–21 with ongoing or enduring Multiple and Complex Needs.
  • Be able to provide services for Pregnant Care Leavers and young parents aged 16-21 with medium support needs.
  • Be a legal entity capable of entering into a contract with East Sussex County Council.
🔧

TECHNICAL CAPABILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • Comply with mandatory national standards for providers of supported accommodation who accommodate Looked After Children and Care Leavers aged 16 and 17.
  • Be subject to Ofsted-led regulation for providers of supported accommodation who accommodate Looked After Children and Care Leavers aged 16 and 17.
  • Demonstrate the capability to provide supported accommodation and accommodation-based support for the specified client groups (16-21 year olds with varying needs).
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FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • No specific financial requirements are explicitly stated in the provided information.
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SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

  • Submit an application to be considered for the Approved List.
  • Applications can be submitted at any time as the Approved List remains open.
  • Applications will be evaluated at least twice per financial year, and more frequently in the first 12 months of the Approved List being open.
  • Previously unsuccessful bidders are permitted to reapply.
  • Ensure the application is received before the Approved List's closing date of 21 May 2027, if seeking inclusion before its potential extension.

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Official PDF Version
PDF014529-2023_official.pdf
Summary:
East Sussex County Council is establishing an Approved List for providers of supported accommodation for 16-21 year old Care Leavers, UASC, and young homeless individuals with varying support needs, requiring Ofsted registration for 16-17 year olds.

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70
Good

Tender Quality Score

This tender establishes an Approved List for critical supported accommodation services for children and young people. While the open-list approach promotes market access, the significant lack of detailed documentation, evaluation criteria, and financial requirements raises substantial concerns regarding transparency, fairness, and overall procurement quality.

Score Breakdown

Legal Compliance100/100

The tender correctly identifies the mandatory Ofsted registration for 16-17 year olds, ensuring compliance with UK national standards for supported accommodation. However, the classification as a 'Restricted procedure' while describing an 'Approved List' that is open at all times suggests a potential procedural ambiguity, as this model typically aligns more with a Dynamic Purchasing System or Framework Agreement, which have distinct regulatory requirements. The absence of full tender documents prevents a comprehensive assessment of broader legal compliance.

Potential procedural ambiguity between 'Restricted procedure' classification and the 'Approved List' mechanism described.
Inability to fully assess legal compliance due to the absence of comprehensive tender documentation.
Clarity40/100

The description of the target client groups and the types of support required is clear. The process for applying to the Approved List (open at all times, reapplication permitted) is also well-articulated. However, the critical absence of detailed specifications, evaluation criteria, and explicit financial requirements significantly diminishes the overall clarity for potential bidders.

Lack of detailed specifications for the services.
Absence of explicit evaluation criteria for applications to the Approved List.
Completeness83/100

This is the tender's most significant weakness. The provided information is an extract, and the tender explicitly states 'No documents attached' and 'Missing evaluation criteria'. Key elements such as full tender documents, detailed service specifications, comprehensive financial requirements, and the methodology for evaluating applications are entirely absent, making it impossible for bidders to prepare a complete and informed submission.

Critical absence of full tender documents and detailed specifications.
Missing evaluation criteria for applications.
Fairness80/100

The 'Approved List' model, being open at all times and allowing reapplication, is inherently fair as it promotes continuous market access. However, the complete absence of explicit evaluation criteria and detailed financial requirements introduces a significant risk of arbitrary decision-making and a lack of transparency, potentially undermining the fairness of the selection process for individual applications or subsequent mini-competitions.

Absence of explicit evaluation criteria creates a risk of arbitrary decision-making.
Lack of detailed financial requirements could lead to unfair or inconsistent pricing expectations.
Practicality40/100

The 'Approved List' model with continuous application and evaluation is a practical approach for procuring dynamic social services like supported accommodation, allowing the Council to maintain a flexible pool of providers. The mandatory Ofsted registration is a practical and necessary quality assurance measure. However, the lack of detailed financial requirements could create practical challenges during subsequent direct awards or mini-competitions.

Potential practical challenges in establishing consistent pricing or service levels due to missing financial requirements.
Data Consistency100/100

The provided information is internally consistent regarding the description of services, target groups, and the Ofsted registration timeline. The extracted requirements align with the general description.

Sustainability0/100

The automated check correctly flags 'Not green procurement, No social criteria, No innovation focus'. For a critical social service tender of this value and duration, the complete absence of explicit social value, environmental, or innovation criteria is a significant oversight, missing opportunities to drive broader public policy objectives.

Complete absence of social value criteria.
No explicit environmental sustainability requirements.

Strengths

Clear identification of target client groups and specific service needs.
Open 'Approved List' model allows continuous market access and reapplication, promoting competition.
Mandatory Ofsted registration ensures a baseline quality and regulatory compliance for 16-17 year olds.
Long contract duration (48 months with 24-month extension option) offers stability for providers.

Concerns

Critical lack of full tender documentation, detailed specifications, and contract terms.
Absence of explicit evaluation criteria for applications to the Approved List.
No specific financial requirements or pricing mechanisms detailed, impacting fairness and clarity.
Lack of social, environmental, or innovation criteria, especially relevant for social services.
Potential procedural ambiguity between 'Restricted procedure' classification and the 'Approved List' mechanism.

Recommendations

1. Publish comprehensive tender documents, including detailed service specifications, full evaluation criteria, and clear contract terms.
2. Clearly define financial requirements and pricing mechanisms for both Approved List entry and subsequent mini-competitions/direct awards.
3. Integrate explicit social value, environmental, and innovation criteria relevant to supported accommodation services.

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Tender Quality Score
70/ 100 · Good

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