Provision of an Independent Advocacy Service for Adults

{
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-FTS-4854",
    "name": "South Ayrshire Council"
  },
  "date": "2026-01-14T11:36:08Z",
  "description": "The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 30476. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343\nCommunity benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/\nA summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:\nIt has become clear that there is scope within the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 which applies to public contracts, to use contracts to deliver wider social benefits such as:\nTargeted recruitment and training (providing employment and training opportunities/Apprenticeships)\nSME and social enterprise development\nCommunity engagement\nAs part of your tender response, Tenderers are requested to provide an outline of all community benefits they can offer for this contract.\n(SC Ref:820572)",
  "id": "003040-2026",
  "initiationType": "tender",
  "language": "en",
  "links": [
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  ],
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0559f3",
  "parties": [
    {
      "address": {
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Ayr",
        "postalCode": "KA7 1DR",
        "region": "UKM94",
        "streetAddress": "County Buildings, Wellington Square"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "procurement@south-ayrshire.gov.uk",
        "telephone": "+44 3001230900",
        "url": "https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk"
      },
      "details": {
        "buyerProfile": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00405",
        "classifications": [
          {
            "description": "Regional or local authority",
            "id": "REGIONAL_AUTHORITY",
            "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE"
          },
          {
            "description": "General public services",
            "id": "01",
            "scheme": "COFOG"
          }
        ],
        "url": "http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/procurement/"
      },
      "id": "GB-FTS-4854",
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "South Ayrshire Council"
      },
      "name": "South Ayrshire Council",
      "roles": [
        "buyer",
        "centralPurchasingBody"
      ]
    },
    {
      "address": {
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Ayr"
      },
      "id": "GB-FTS-11690",
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "Ayr Sheriff Court"
      },
      "name": "Ayr Sheriff Court",
      "roles": [
        "reviewBody"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "tag": [
    "tender"
  ],
  "tender": {
    "awardPeriod": {
      "startDate": "2026-02-19T12:00:00Z"
    },
    "bidOpening": {
      "date": "2026-02-19T12:00:00Z"
    },
    "classification": {
      "description": "Health and social work services",
      "id": "85000000",
      "scheme": "CPV"
    },
    "contractTerms": {
      "electronicInvoicingPolicy": "allowed",
      "hasElectronicOrdering": true,
      "hasElectronicPayment": true,
      "performanceTerms": "During the period of the Contract Agreement, the Service Provider shall monitor and measure their performance against the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).  Regular meetings will be held between the Service Provider and the Council to deal with issues arising in the routine management of the Contract, to discuss changes in the way that the Contract is executed and/or to discuss performance or any other ad-hoc reasons."
    },
    "coveredBy": [
      "GPA"
    ],
    "description": "South Ayrshire Heath and Social Care Partnership requires a high-quality Independent Individual and Collective Advocacy Service in South Ayrshire for adults ages 16 years and over",
    "hasRecurrence": true,
    "id": "CE-147-25",
    "items": [
      {
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "description": "Social work services with accommodation",
            "id": "85311000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          },
          {
            "description": "Social work services",
            "id": "85310000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          },
          {
            "description": "Social work and related services",
            "id": "85300000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          }
        ],
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "region": "UKM94"
          }
        ],
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1"
      }
    ],
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "32014L0024",
      "scheme": "CELEX"
    },
    "lots": [
      {
        "awardCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "description": "85",
              "name": "Quality",
              "type": "quality"
            },
            {
              "description": "15",
              "type": "price"
            }
          ]
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "durationInDays": 1800
        },
        "description": "South Ayrshire Heath and Social Care Partnership requires a high-quality Independent Individual and Collective Advocacy Service in South Ayrshire for adults ages 16 years and over that is:\n- Independent and professional\n- Provides individual (one-to-one) advocacy that is issue focused\n- Provides collective (group) advocacy that is issue focused\n- Provides instructed and non-instructed advocacy\n- Meets statutory requirements and Scottish Government priorities\n- Provided by skilled and appropriately trained advocates\nThe service will follow the Independent Advocacy Guide for Commissioners and will serve persons who require advocacy under the Adults With Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 and the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007.  The service will also include adults seeking advocacy under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 who are:\n- People with mental health conditions\n- People with learning disabilities\n- People with Neurodivergent Conditions, including Autism\n- People with dementia\nThe service will also cover generic advocacy for adults.\nIndividual Advocacy \u2013 is also known as one to one, professional or issue-based advocacy. It is provided by paid and unpaid advocates. An advocate supports a person to represent their own interests and represents the views of the person if the person is unable to do this themselves. The advocates provide support on specific issues, and provide information, but not advice.\nCollective (Group) Advocacy \u2013 A collective voice can be stronger than that of an individual. Being part of a collective advocacy group can help reduce a person\u2019s sense of isolation when raising a difficult issue. The group may campaign on an issue.\nThis service will also include advocacy for persons connected with the Alcohol and Drug Partnership, with workers providing advocacy to this group based on their own lived experience. Additional information: This PIN is a request for information, the responses from this PIN will help the Council to understand the number of Providers who may be interested in bidding for a potential Contract.\nIf you are interested in the above requirement, please complete the attached expression of interest form and return, by email to procurement@south-ayrshire.gov.uk by Friday 5th August 2025.",
        "hasOptions": false,
        "hasRenewal": true,
        "id": "1",
        "renewal": {
          "description": "November 2030"
        },
        "status": "active",
        "submissionTerms": {
          "variantPolicy": "notAllowed"
        }
      }
    ],
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "otherRequirements": {
      "requiresStaffNamesAndQualifications": true
    },
    "procurementMethod": "open",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
    "recurrence": {
      "description": "November 2030"
    },
    "selectionCriteria": {
      "criteria": [
        {
          "appliesTo": [
            "supplier"
          ],
          "description": "It is a requirement of this procurement that Tenderers hold, or can commit to obtain, prior to the commencement of any subsequently awarded Contract, the insurance and financial requirements indicated below:\nInsurances:\nEmployers Liability Insurance (Compulsory) = 10 million GBP in respect of each claim without limit to the number of claims.\nPublic Liability Insurance = 5 million GBP in respect of each claim without limit to the number of claims.\nEvidence for insurance requirements will be requested at the \u201cRequest For Documentation\u201d Stage.\nDocumentation requested for the above insurances will include the names of insurers, policy numbers, expiry dates, limits of any one incident, annual aggregate caps, excesses and claims handling procedures.\nFinancial Standing:\nThe Council will access a Creditsafe report for a Tenderer\u2019s organisation and use the information contained within to assist with the assessment of the Tenderer\u2019s economic and financial standing.\nIn the event that this analysis is unavailable or unsatisfactory the Council will request the following information below:\nA copy of the organisation\u2019s audited accounts or equivalent for the most recent 2 years, along with details of any significant changes since the last year end.\nOR\nA statement of the organisation\u0027s turnover; profit and cash flow for the most recent full year of trading or where a full year trading has not been completed the same information for the period applicable. NOTE if this information is not available in an audited format Tenderers may be required to provide an end of period balance sheet or make the response specified below.\nOR\nIf Tenderers are unable to provide the information requested above, they may be required to provide additional information and documentation that will give the Authority the assurance that they are capable of carrying out any subsequent awarded contract. For example, a statement of their organisation\u0027s cash flow forecast for the current year and a letter from the organisation\u0027s bank outlining the current cash and credit position or other alternative means of demonstrating financial standing.\nOnce the Council has received and considered such financial information as is made available in line with the requirements above, the Council shall have discretion to ask Tenderers to provide either a parent company guarantee and/or a guarantee from an agreed financial institution as it considers appropriate (acting reasonably).\nIn the event that additional measures are requested, the Council shall, in its sole discretion, determine the terms of those measures that it deems as acceptable.  If Tenderers cannot provide measures to the satisfaction of the Council then their submission may be rejected.\nEvidence for this requirement may be requested at the \u201cRequest For Documentation\u201d Stage.",
          "type": "economic"
        },
        {
          "appliesTo": [
            "supplier"
          ],
          "description": "Tenderers will be required to provide evidence of having the necessary capacity and capability to deliver the requirements for the Provision of an Independent Advocacy Service for Adults.  The below requirements will be requested at the \u201cRequest for Documentation\u201d Stage:\nTwo (2) examples of the provision of similar services may be requested and must be from within the last 3 years for goods and services and within the last 5 years of work contracts.\nIf Tenderers are unable to provide two (2) examples the tenderer may be required to explain why examples cannot be provided.\nTenderers may also be required to provide:\nTechnical Skills\nA statement of the relevant professional and technical skills available within your organisation; or where applicable, consortium members and/or named sub-contractors in relation to this procurement exercise.\nGuidance\nThe buyer will use the information you provide to evaluate whether your organisation; consortium members and/or named sub-contractors have the relevant professional and technical skills required for this procurement exercise.\nTechnical Resources\nA statement of the relevant technical resources such as the tools, plant, facilities and technical equipment available to your organisation, or where applicable, consortium members and/or named sub-contractors in relation to this procurement exercise.\nGuidance\nThe buyer will use the information you provide to evaluate whether your organisation; consortium members and/or named sub-contractors have the relevant technical resources for this procurement exercise.\nTechnical Confirmation\nIf available, copies of completion certificates or customers\u0027 written declaration which validates the examples you have provided.\nGuidance\nIf you cannot provide certificates or customer declarations the Authority may choose to contact customers cited directly in order to validate the experience examples you have provided without any further reference to you.",
          "type": "technical"
        }
      ]
    },
    "status": "active",
    "submissionMethod": [
      "electronicSubmission"
    ],
    "submissionMethodDetails": "https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk",
    "submissionTerms": {
      "bidValidityPeriod": {
        "durationInDays": 120
      },
      "languages": [
        "en"
      ]
    },
    "tenderPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-02-19T12:00:00Z"
    },
    "title": "Provision of an Independent Advocacy Service for Adults"
  }
}