Decision details

Specialist Co-Located IDVA Service and Criminal Justice Case Progression Performance and Review Coordination Service

Decision Maker: Strategic Director for the Environment

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Contract award for provision of a Specialist Co-Located Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy (IDVA) Service, with IDVAs co-located in children's social care, housing and criminal justice services. The contract is due to commence on 1st April 2023 and run for two years, with the option to extend for a further two years.

Decision:

That the Strategic Director for the Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Community Safety:

 

1.    Notes that Appendix 2 and Appendix 3 are not for publication on the basis that they contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) as set out in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

 

2.    Approves the recommendation to not award the contract for Lot 1 and instead to bring this service in-house for two years (total two-year service value of £400,000), effective from 1 April 2023.

 

3.    Approves the award of the contract for Lot 2 to Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse for a period of two years with the possibility to extend for two 12-month periods (total maximum four-year contract value of £100,000), effective from 1 April 2023.

 

Reasons for the decision:

1.         Lot 1: To enable the council to continue to deliver the service with minimal disruption whilst ensuring victim/survivors accessing the service are receiving the highest quality support possible. Bringing the service in house for two years rather than awarding a contract for Lot 1 is recommended. The tender received did not meet the standards expected and did not pass the tender evaluation. During the period the service is in house, the will Council re-assess, plan and undertake further work to engage with the market to inform future tendering.

 

2.         Lot 2: To award the contract for Lot 2 to Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse (STADA) because the tender evaluation highlighted this as the best option for delivering the highest quality service at the most advantageous cost. This service is best delivered by a specialist ‘by and for’ service from the Violence Against Women and Girls sector and Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse has the specialist expertise in this field to deliver this service to a higher quality. Their bid was evaluated as having met the criteria in all aspects. STADA are the incumbent provider and are currently delivering the service to a high standard. There will be little to no disruption to the current service as it is fully staffed and operational.

 

Alternative options considered:

Options Considered for Lot 1:

 

1.            Award the contract to the bidder – Not recommended

2.            Do not award the contract and go out to tender again – Not recommended

3.            Do not award the contract and bring the service in-house – This is the recommended option

4.            Do not award the contract and do not bring the service in-house (no service provided) – Not recommended

5.            Direct Award the contract to another provider – Not recommended

Options Considered for Lot 2:

 

1.            Award the contract to the only bidder – This is the recommended option

2.            Do not award the contract and go out to tender again – Not recommended

3.            Do not award the contract and bring the service in-house – Not recommended

4.            Do not award the contract and do not bring the service in-house (no service provided) – Not recommended

 

Publication date: 02/02/2023

Date of decision: 30/01/2023

Effective from: 08/02/2023

Accompanying Documents: