Technology Enabled Care Services (TECS)

Kent County Council are looking to commission a suitably qualified Partner to deliver its innovative new Technology Enabled Care Service. The contract will be awarded for 5 years with option to extend for a further 2 years. The service will form a cornerstone of the delivery of KCC's Adult Social Care approach, Making a Difference every Day (MADE), which seeks to drive consistent, high quality, person-centred and innovative support.

Technology Enabled Care will underpin our future care and support delivery and is critical to the Authority's vision for the social care and health landscape in Kent. The Technology Enabled Care Service will harness the potential benefits of digital technology to promote independent living and optimise a person's outcomes.

Since March 2022, KCC has worked with a Partner to trial the principles of a Technology Enabled Care Service in a build and test project which operated in the East Kent area. The build and test has delivered excellent learning opportunities and understanding of the full potential associated to technology, and has informed the service specification for our county-wide Technology Enabled Care Service. In addition, we have undertaken market engagement throughout August and during September held 121 meetings with providers to work through key questions, all in which have informed the specification. The draft specification was shared with the market for comment during October. There has been a co-production group working with us to design the service, specification and will play a key role in the procurement and implementation of the service.

KCC now wishes to appoint a Partner who will lead the implementation of the county-wide Technology Enabled Care Service, incorporating the delivery of a mobilisation from existing service provision, delivery of a wide range of digital technologies and apps, culture change management, utilising data and benefits realisation. The chosen Partner will work in a co-production approach with KCC and Kent residents to design and implement a service which aligns to our MADE approach.

The contract has been estimated at the value for adult social care however during the contract term it is expected that there will be opportunities with Health, Children's and District Councils to grow the service. We will consider consortia or where a lead Partner subcontracts and encourage Partners to consider working with SMEs.

In the first instance, Partners can register an interest and to obtain additional information via the Proactis. Submissions are due via the Kent Business Portal by 9 January 2023. Please allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic responses well in advance of the closing tie to avoid last minute problems.

Interested Partners are also asked to direct any questions via 'messages' feature within the Portal.