Adoption Recruitment and Support Services

The Council is procuring a Cumbria Adoption Recruitment and Support Services contract to be delivered by an Adoption Agency to ensure effective, efficient and timely adoption placements. The service shall recruit and support adopters, working with Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Councils, to match referred children with adopters. This service shall be delivered alongside the work of Cumbria Adoption, ensuring an integrated service for adopted children and their families.

The estimated total potential value of the Contract for the initial term, plus the two optional extensions of up to 12 months each, is £2,750,000 excluding VAT.

The inter-agency fees associated with the Contract, which cover recruiting and assessing adopters, matching and placing children, and providing supervision and support up to the point of adoption, are set by the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (CVAA) in agreement with The Association of Directors of Children's Services.

Details of expenditure are indicative only. The Council does not guarantee any spend against this Contract.

The Council proposes to enter into the Contract for a period of THREE years with the successful Tenderer from 1st April 2024. There are TWO optional extensions of up to 12 months each. Use of these optional extensions is at the absolute discretion of the Council. If the two extensions are used, the latest end date will be 31st March 2029.

To access the tender documents, including the service specification, and to submit a bid, please use our online procurement portal - The Chest (https://www.the-chest.org.uk). Registration on The Chest is free.

All bids must be received electronically via The Chest by the closing date stated in the ITT.

Any clarifications you have about the tender must be sent via messaging on The Chest by the closing date stated in the ITT.