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.

The Authority conducted this procurement under the Light Touch Regime for Social and Other Specific Services, as set out in the Public Contract Regulations 2015, at Section 7 (Regulations 74 to 77) and Schedule 3. The procurement process was not be conducted under the Public Contract Regulations 2015; however, it was be similar to that of an Open procedure. The Process was, unlike an Open Procedure, included the flexibility, as allowed under the Light Touch Regime with various evaluation stages as detailed in the Invitation to Tender documentation.