Decision details

Proposed Decision

Award a short extension to the current contract for a maximum of six months (to 30 September 2022) to allow procurement to progress; procure a new People’s Voice Contract, which includes the delivery of Healthwatch Kent, for a maximum of five years (3 years plus 2 single year extensions);and delegate authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health to take relevant actions, including but not limited to finalising the terms of and entering into required contract or other legal agreements, as necessary to implement the decision.

Reason for Decision

The current contract shall expire automatically on the 31 March 2022. This contract was extended using Procurement regulations during the COVID pandemic. To allow a procurement process to take place a further short extension to the current contract is required for six months.  It is proposed to also have a three-month notice period, should the procurement conclude in such times that allows a transition to the new contract.

The current contract is a collaboration with the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group to support a joined-up approach for seeking views from people across the county. There is current agreement from the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group to continue funding the activity through to 31 March 2023 through a Section 256 Agreement. The council is currently seeking assurances that the agreement will continue beyond that date.

This contract has not been competitively tendered since it was first awarded in 2015. This is the first opportunity to test the market since that time.  Approval is sought to begin the procurement process for a new contract.

Further Information

The current Contract commenced in April 2015 with an initial five-year contract period. The contract has expanded to include funding from KMCCG through that time. The contract includes the statutory provision of Healthwatch Kent and includes support for People’s Voice forums.

The present contract is due to expire 31 March 2022 and the contract will automatically expire unless it is extended.

Extending the contract by 6 months to 30 September 2022 will provide the necessary time and resource to procure a new contract.

As Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, I agree to:

a)       APPROVE procurement of a new People’s Voice Contract, which includes the delivery of Healthwatch Kent, for a maximum of five years (three years plus two single year extensions);

b)       APPROVE a direct award contract, to the current provider (EK360), for a maximum of six months (1 April 2022 to 30 September 2022) to allow procurement to progress; and

c)       DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health to take relevant actions, including but not limited to finalising the terms of the contract modification or other legal agreements, as necessary to implement the decision.