Decision details
Authority to Tender Contract for Independent Health Complaints Advocacy Service (Recordable Officer Decision)
Decision Maker: Assistant Chief Executive
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Purpose:
To request approval to invite tenders in respect of the Independent Health Complaints Advocacy (IHCA) Service as required by Contract Standing Orders 88 and 89.
Decision:
That the Assistant Chief Executive:
i) Approves inviting tenders for the Independent Health Complaints Advocacy (IHCA) Service contract for an initial term of two (2) years, with an option to extend for two consecutive one (1) year periods (4 years in total), with an anticipated commencement date of 4 July 2022.
ii) Approves officers evaluating bids on the basis of the evaluation criteria.
Reasons for the decision:
The Council requires the provision of an IHCA service as is prerequisite of The Health and Social Care Act 2012, which transferred the responsibility of commissioning NHS Complaints Advocacy Services form central Government to Local Government. It has been determined that the most appropriate means of providing the IHCA service is through the procurement of a contractor by way of a tender process.
Alternative options considered:
Officers have considered whether the IHCA service can be provided by the Council itself but have concluded that the contract is best provided by an independent specialist contractor because it is considered good practice that the service is delivered at a distance, due to the nature of the requirement.
Officers reviewed a range of procurement options, including the use of frameworks, but consider that a tender process is the most appropriate means of procuring a contractor to ensure the Council receives bids from across a wide market of suppliers that could have the necessary technical capabilities of meeting the requirement.
Interests and Nature of Interests Declared:
None.
Cabinet/Committee Decision or Scheme of Delegation: Officer scheme of delegation.
Parties Consulted: The Strategy and Partnerships Team is working closely with stakeholders to develop the service specification for this tender. The Strategy and Partnerships Service has also consulted with the Lead Member and plan to include service users as part of the evaluation panel.
Contact: Lorna Hughes, Director - Communities and Strategy Email: lorna.hughes@brent.gov.uk.
Publication date: 23/05/2022
Date of decision: 23/02/2022