Decision details

Date of Decision:

4 February 2025

Title:

24-101 Contract Award – Technology Partner.

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Ian Spicer

Strategic Director, Adult Care, Housing and Public Health

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Appendix 9, Section 4C3, of the Council’s Constitution provides that “The Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health is authorised to discharge executive functions through the commissioning and provision of social services for adults and public health services for the whole population and delivery of housing for the Borough, including: (4) Strategic Commissioning; (a) Commissioning”. 

Decision:

Award of contract following a competitive process to Medequip Assistive Technology Ltd as a Technology Partner.  The Technology Partner will deliver the assistive technology elements of the Rothercare Service which include the identification of assistive technology solutions, installation, recycling, disposal and maintenance and procurement of assistive technology equipment.

The Cabinet – 14 10 2024

Minute Number 60 – Future Rothercare Model

Resolved:

2. Approve a competitive procurement process and award of contract on the basis of a 5-year initial term. The contract will include potential extensions for up to 3 years (to be taken in any combination). The new arrangements will commence April 2025.

The full value of the contract (8 year term) is estimated to be £10,406,168 (Revenue £4,703,320, Capital £5,702,848).

Reasons for the Decision:

The Council’s assistive technology offer is delivered via its in-house Rothercare service. This is an ‘end to end’ service which manages referrals and triage, installation of equipment, the monitoring and responding to alerts. The service also procures all technical aspects including the hardware and software (alarm receiving centre, digital box/pendant, licences and peripheral technology).

The service is intrinsic to a strength-based approach in supporting people towards independent living. A recent review of the service has identified opportunities to address the operational challenges of the analogue switch off and the remodel of the assistive technology offer.

An options appraisal has been completed with an outcome to  recommend a new model be developed where, the assistive technology elements of the service will be undertaken by an independent sector technology partner and Rothercare continue to deliver the core service elements.

In October 2024 Cabinet approved the implementation of the new technology enabled care delivery model and to progress a competitive procurement process to award a contract on the basis of a 5-year initial term. The contract will include potential extensions for up to 3 years (to be taken in any combination). The new arrangements will commence April 2025.

This is a new provision. The recent competitive procurement process has secured the services of a Technology Partner for an initial term of 5 years with an option to extend for a further three years from April 2025.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Option 1 – (recommended and approved) - A collaborative approach between an independent sector technology partner and Rothercare

Option 2: - Rothercare continues to deliver all elements of the service in-house (not recommended and rejected).

Option 3: Arm’s Length Management Organisation (not recommended and rejected)

Option 4 – A commissioned technology partner delivers all elements (not recommended and rejected).

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

No conflicts of interest declared.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

NA

Reports or parts of reports considered

Future Rothercare Model – Cabinet  - (Public Pack)Agenda Document for Cabinet, 14/10/2024 10:00

24-101 – Technology Partner – Tender Evaluation Report – YOR Tender REF – 93698 (exempt from publication)