ASC0267 - Direct Payments Support Service

This is a contract award notice. Leicester City Council ('the 'Authority') invited Tenders for the provision of Direct Payments Support Service. Leicester City Council (LCC) led the procurement on behalf of Leicester City Council and the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Groups (LLR CCGs).

The Direct Payment Support Service (DPSS) will support and enable people who choose to take all or part of their Personal Budget/Personal Health Budget as a Direct Payment (DP), to use and manage their DP as easily as possible and, where they wish, independently. The requirement is that for each organisation that is awarded the Framework Agreement it must then provide all the following key functions/Services in respect of the Direct Payments Support Service: • Initial support and set up of a DP, including advice and guidance • Recruitment and selection support for Personal Assistants • Payroll services and employment advice • Managed accounts (Third Party)

The DPSS service will be available to people and families assessed by Leicester City Council as being eligible for both Adult and Children's Social Care Services living in Leicester, as well as people assessed by the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Groups (LLRCCG) as being eligible for a personal health budget across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The Authority is to establish Framework Agreements, with up to three providers for the provision of Direct Payments Support Service. The Authority provides no guarantee of any work to any successful provider/s.

Up to a maximum of 3 providers are awarded the Framework Agreement. The initial term of the Framework Agreements is approximately 5 years from the Service Commencement Date 7th November 2022 to 7th November 2027 with the option to extend, subject to satisfactory performance outcomes and agreement by the Authority, for 2 further periods of up to no more than 24 months in total, to up to 4th November 2029, i.e. potentially up to 7 years from and including Service Commencement Date. The Invitation to Tender document and its appendices and all other documentation issued to Tenderers sets out the details of the Authority's requirements.

The Framework Agreements (FAs) will be Open FAs. Throughout the duration of the Framework, the Authority may review the Framework and may open the Framework at its own discretion when a service need arises. A service need includes (but is not limited to): • a lack of capacity from current Providers and therefore there is a need to supplement the Framework List of Providers beyond the numbers operating on the Framework Agreement at that time; • an increase in the volume of Service Users requiring Services under the Framework; and • to replace (if required) Providers who have been removed, suspended from the Framework Agreement or did not agree to provide Services within any Extension Period.

Additional information: Contract Award Notice