Decision details

To approve the procurement arrangements or the provision of Medical Advisers for Adoption and Fostering Panels following the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) competitive process.

(1)       To approve inviting tenders for a contract for the provision of Medical Advisers for Adoptionand FosteringPanels on the basisof the approved pre - tenderconsiderations.

(2)       To approve officers evaluating the tenders referred to in (1) above on the basis of the approved evaluation criteria.

The Council requires the provision of a contract for the provision of Medical Advisers for Adoption and Fostering Panels. It has been determined the most appropriate means of providing this contract is through the Provider Selection Regime Competitive Process.

Officers considered whether the Council could itself provide the contract for the provision of Medical Advisers for Adoption and Fostering Panels. However, they concluded that the specialist medical expertise required could not be delivered internally.

Since 2023, the Council has actively sought to engage the Northwest London Integrated Care Board in establishing joint arrangements for the provision of Medical Advisers for Adoption and Fostering panels. Despite these efforts, the Board has confirmed that it is unable to progress joint arrangements or assist on this procurement.

Efforts are also underway to establish if there are any opportunities with the North Central Integrated Care Board to establish joint arrangements in advance of a merger of the NCL and NCWL ICB’s in April 2026. Officers await a further update on the outcome.

Therefore, this request for approval to invite tenders is running alongside the above activities. Officers’ preferred approach is a joint commissioning arrangement and solo tendering is a pragmatic approach given the current contract ends on 31 May 2026 and the current provider does not wish to extend.

Medical Advisers services are subject to the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). Officers having considered other procurement processes under the PSR have concluded that direct award processes A or B do not apply and have not been able to identity the most suitable provider. Therefore, Officers recommend the Contract for the provision of Medical Advisers for Adoption and Fostering Panels to be procured following the competitive process under the PSR.