Fosterline Helpline Contract Notice 2020 – 2022
We are proposing to contract for Fosterline, an independent advice, information and support service for current and prospective foster carers.
United Kingdom-London: Social work and related services
2019/S 214-525628
Contract notice
Services
Directive 2014/24/EU
Section I: Contracting authority
I.1)Name and addresses
Postal address: Sanctuary Buildings, 20, Great Smith Street
Town: London
NUTS code: UK
Postal code: SW1P 3BT
Country: United Kingdom
E-mail: jack.millward@education.gov.uk
I.3)Communication
I.4)Type of the contracting authority
I.5)Main activity
Section II: Object
II.1.1)Title:
Fosterline Helpline Contract Notice
II.1.2)Main CPV code
II.1.3)Type of contract
II.1.4)Short description:
We are proposing to contract for Fosterline, an independent advice, information and support service for current and prospective foster carers.
We would expect the service to provide a national telephone helpline across England and a website with digital support services.
Around three quarters of looked after children are in foster care. Foster carers therefore play a crucial role in our care system, providing much needed support and security for often very vulnerable children and enabling their successful transition into independent adult life. Through delivery of Fosterline, the Department for Education is committed to supporting foster carers so the children in their care achieve the best possible outcomes, alongside ensuring we have sufficient foster carers with the right skills and capacity to meet children’s needs.
II.1.6)Information about lots
II.2.3)Place of performance
II.2.4)Description of the procurement:
Fosterline is designed to offer an impartial source of up to date and accurate information and advice for prospective and existing foster carers on issues such as how to become a foster carer, allegations of abuse, benefits, training, breakdown of placements, matters relating to the legal position of carers and any other issues about fostering which enquirers raise. Fosterline has been funded by the Department for the last 13 years and is regarded as a valuable resource for foster carers to discuss issues of concern confidentially.
The objective of Fosterline is to:
— support the retention of foster carers by providing accurate, appropriate and sensitive information, advice and signposting on a wide range of issues of concern to foster parents, thus enabling them to meet the needs of the children and young people in their care,
— support the recruitment of foster carers by providing confidential, independent advice and information to prospective carers about how to become a foster carer, the issues involved, the training and support available to them before, during assessment and when fostering, and
— reach a wide range of people with the potential to foster, including currently under-represented groups to contribute to the Government’s objective of identifying a diverse pool of foster carers to address the gaps in foster carers for specific groups such as teenagers, sibling groups and looked-after children with complex needs.
The Department is seeking to award a 2 year contract to an organisation to provide this service through a national helpline across England and a website with digital support services. There will be a break clause after the first year.
There is currently an organisation delivering this service on behalf of the Department and they receive over 3 700 calls a year, with over 170 000 visits to their website.
II.2.5)Award criteria
II.2.7)Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
II.2.10)Information about variants
II.2.11)Information about options
II.2.13)Information about European Union funds
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1.1)Type of procedure
IV.1.8)Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
IV.2.2)Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
IV.2.4)Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted:
IV.2.7)Conditions for opening of tenders
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1)Information about recurrence
VI.4.1)Review body
Town: London
Country: United Kingdom
VI.5)Date of dispatch of this notice: