Purpose

The purpose of the report is, in accordance with regulations 6 and 10 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 to:

(i)       to identify the most suitable provider for the delivery of Knowsley’s Integrated Recovery Service; and

(ii)       seek approval to issue a notice of intention to award that contract, and, subject to the decision not being called-in and the standstill period concluding without an unresolved challenge, for that contract to be awarded.

The justification for this decision, as required by relevant regulations, is that the Council is satisfied that:

(i)       Continuity of service is required due to the current contract coming to an end on 30 June 2024 and that there is an ongoing obligation to meet the Government’s drugs strategy targets;

(ii)       having taken into account the alternative processes available under the Provider Selection Regime, and deciding to adopt the Most Suitable Provider process, it has followed a transparent, fair and proportionate process in accordance with the regulations;

(iii)      the process followed has aimed for and the proposed contract to be awarded will aim to provide, stability in the delivery of quality health care services for people identified with a drug and alcohol treatment need;

(iv)      the proposed provider has demonstrated in their submission as part of that process that they are capable of satisfying the proposed contract to a sufficient standard considering the key criteria set out in Regulation 5 and applying the basic selection criteria outlined in Schedule 16 and Regulation 19 (as referred to in Section 4.3 of the report attached); and

(v)      the Most Suitable Provider process has given the Council the opportunity to develop a sustainable and integrated partnership with the proposed provider to improve the quality of services and efficiency in the provision of the services.

Decision

(i)       That, In accordance with regulations 6 and 10 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023:

(a)      Change, Grow, Live be identified as the Most Suitable Provider for the delivery of Knowsley’s Integrated Recovery Service; and

(b)      a notice be issued indicating the Council’s intention to award the contract to Change, Grow, Live for the period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2030; and

(ii)       That, subject to this decision not being called-in and the standstill period concluding without an unresolved challenge, the contract be awarded, and the Procurement Team authorised to issue the relevant contract award documentation.

Alternative options considered

Do Nothing: This option was considered and rejected. This option would leave Knowsley without a community-based alcohol and drugs service. The consequences of this would include poorer health outcomes for residents, increased pressure on primary, secondary, and acute care services, an increased risk of crime and homelessness. It also risks continuity of the service supporting delivery of Knowsley’s Drug Strategy and access to its associated supplementary funding.

Deliver in house: This option was considered and rejected due to the expertise, skills and resources needed to deliver a Care Quality Commission compliant service, which could not be undertaken within Council’s existing resources.

Alternative Provider Selection Regime Processes:

Direct Award Process A – This was rejected due to the current provider not being the only provider who could deliver this service.

Direct Award Process B – This was rejected as service users cannot select from a choice of providers; therefore, this process would not be relevant.

Direct Award Process C – This was rejected as although the current provider is satisfying the existing contract, the current contract has evolved and therefore the new contract would be considerably different.

Competitive Process –This has been rejected due to the provider selection process giving relevant authorities a mechanism for reasonable and proportionate decision-making without running a competitive exercise. To run a competitive exercise could be seen as disproportionate where the conditions for using the Most Suitable Provider process are met.