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Tenders

Dynamic Purchasing Vehicle (DPV) for the Provision of Supported Living Services in Buckinghamshire

Open
Deadline
72 days left
June 07, 2026
Contract Details
Category
Restricted Procedure
Reference
004188-2021
Value
£35,000,000
Location
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Published
March 19, 2026
CPV Code
Project Timeline

Tender Published

March 02, 2021

Deadline for Questions

May 31, 2026

Submission Deadline

June 07, 2026

Contract Start Date

June 07, 2021

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Budget
£35,000,000
Duration
60 months
Location
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Type
Restricted Procedure
73
Quality Score/100
Good

Original Tender Description

Buckinghamshire Council (the Council) and Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group is seeking to establish a Dynamic Purchasing Vehicle (“DPV”) for the provision of Supported Living in Buckinghamshire (the Services). The Council is conducting the procurement via the "Light Touch Regime" as set out in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015). The DPV will primarily be used for spot procurements and will enable the Council to facilitate greater choice and flexibility for Supported Living services, as well as drive improvements in quality in the market. The Council will expect prospective Suppliers to use innovation and efficiencies in service provision to ensure improved delivery of individual's outcomes as well as enhanced partnership working in order to provide an integrated service that works across health, social care, voluntary and other agencies within Buckinghamshire. Suppliers should note that the DPV will not be an exclusive arrangement and the Council may in certain circumstance award contracts to other suppliers on any alternative basis. The Council will first utilise existing block arrangements before utilising the DPV, if a suitable arrangement is not found utilising the DPV then the Council reserves the right to seek tenders from the wider market. The DPV will be divided into 4 lots, representing the range of services to be delivered. The Lots are: Lot 1: Visiting Support Lot 2: Day Time Support Lot 3: 24 Hour Support Lot 4: Bespoke Support The Council cannot guarantee demand or volumes for the Services or for any of the Lots over the lifetime of the DPV. Appointment of a Supplier to the DPV is no guarantee of business. The Council is extending the time frame for the evaluation of initial Requests to Participate to up to 6 weeks. The DPV will operate for a period of five years commencing on or around 8th June 2021. The Council will have the option, at its discretion, to extend the period of operation of the DPV for a further period or periods of up to two years. Suppliers that wish to be appointed to the DPV are required to complete a Selection Questionnaire (“SQ”). All those Suppliers who satisfy the selection requirements set out in the SQ, as evaluated by the Council, will be appointed to the DPV to the Lots for which they have applied. Suppliers will be required to put forward a compliant price within the price range provided for each Lot except Lot 4 which does not have a specified range. A compliant price for Lots 1, 2 and 3 will not exceed the price cap specified for that Lot and must exceed the minimum price specified for that Lot. Lot 4 pricing is not fixed at the point of application to the DPV. There is no limit on the number of Suppliers that may be appointed to a Lot. Following the establishment of the DPV the Council will issue mini competitions for specific contracts, as and when the need arises. All the Suppliers within the relevant Lot will be invited to submit tenders for such contracts. The Council will award each contract to the Supplier in that Lot based upon evaluation criteria which will include service user needs in terms of geographical location, specific types of needs and/or choice or other requirements. Suppliers who wish to participate in this process need to register with the Buckinghamshire Business Portal and will be unable to take part if not registered. Please use the link below and follow the instructions on the website: www.supplybucksbusiness.org.uk The Council anticipate mini competitions to commence early June 2021. Should Suppliers wish to take part in the initial mini competition suppliers will need to complete the SQ and submit by midday on Friday 16th April 2021. Further details on the operation of the DPV are set out in the Procurement Documentation.

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Requirements & Qualifications

17 requirements across 5 categories

Submission (5)
Mandatory (1)
Compliance (4)
Technical (5)
Financial (2)
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS5
--Complete and submit a Selection Questionnaire (SQ).
--Submit the completed SQ by midday on Friday 16th April 2021 to participate in the initial mini-competitions (if applicable).
--Submit the completed SQ by 11:00:00 on 7th June 2026 to be appointed to the DPV (overall deadline).
MANDATORY EXCLUSION GROUNDS1
--Comply with all mandatory exclusion grounds as stipulated in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) and detailed in the Selection Questionnaire (SQ).
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS4
--Register with the Buckinghamshire Business Portal (www.supplybucksbusiness.org.uk).
--Satisfy all selection requirements detailed in the Selection Questionnaire (SQ).
--Be capable of providing Supported Living Services in Buckinghamshire.
TECHNICAL CAPABILITY REQUIREMENTS5
--Demonstrate the ability to use innovation and efficiencies in service provision.
--Ensure and demonstrate improved delivery of individual's outcomes.
--Demonstrate enhanced partnership working capabilities to provide an integrated service across health, social care, voluntary, and other relevant agencies within Buckinghamshire.
FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS2
--For Lot 1, Lot 2, and Lot 3, submit a compliant price that falls within the specified price range (not exceeding the price cap and exceeding the minimum price).
--Acknowledge that pricing for Lot 4 is not fixed at the DPV application stage and will be determined during mini-competitions.

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Documents

1 documents available with AI summaries

Official PDF VersionPDF
004188-2021_official.pdf

Buckinghamshire Council is establishing a Dynamic Purchasing Vehicle (DPV) for Supported Living Services across four lots, requiring suppliers to register on the portal, complete a Selection Questionnaire, and submit compliant pricing to be appointed and participate in future mini-competitions.

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73
Good

Tender Quality Score

This tender establishes a Dynamic Purchasing Vehicle for Supported Living Services, emphasizing innovation, social criteria, and integrated care. While the DPV structure offers flexibility, the complete absence of tender documents is a critical flaw, hindering proper assessment and fair competition.

Score Breakdown

Legal Compliance100/100

The tender explicitly states it's conducted via the 'Light Touch Regime' as set out in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) and refers to mandatory exclusion grounds from PCR 2015. This indicates an intention to comply with relevant procurement legislation. The use of a DPV under the Light Touch Regime is a valid procedure for social and health services.

Clarity40/100

The description of the DPV, its purpose, the lot structure, and the general expectations (innovation, integrated service) are clearly articulated. The distinction between DPV application and mini-competitions is also clear. However, the absence of actual tender documents (SQ, specifications) means the detailed requirements and evaluation criteria are not available, leading to significant ambiguity for potential bidders.

Lack of detailed specifications and evaluation criteria due to missing documents.
The mention of an initial SQ deadline (16th April 2021) for 'initial mini-competitions' might cause confusion if not properly contextualized within the DPV's ongoing nature, though it is consistent with an active DPV.
Completeness83/100

The basic information, description, and high-level requirements are provided. However, the tender is critically incomplete due to the explicit statement 'DOCUMENTS (0 total)' and 'No document content available.' This means essential documents like the Selection Questionnaire (SQ), full service specifications, terms and conditions, and detailed evaluation criteria are missing from the provided information.

Absence of all tender documents (e.g., Selection Questionnaire, full specifications, terms and conditions).
Missing detailed evaluation criteria for both DPV admission and subsequent mini-competitions.
Fairness80/100

The DPV structure itself, being open for new suppliers to join throughout its duration, generally promotes fairness and market access. The division into four lots also allows for specialization. However, the complete lack of accessible tender documents (SQ, specifications, evaluation criteria) severely undermines fairness, as potential bidders cannot fully understand the requirements or how they will be assessed, creating an uneven playing field. There is no indication of requirements being tailored to a specific company based on the provided text.

Lack of transparency and equal access to information due to missing tender documents.
Absence of detailed evaluation criteria makes it impossible to assess the objectivity and fairness of the selection process.
Practicality40/100

The DPV model is practical for dynamic markets like supported living services, allowing for flexibility and continuous market engagement. The lot structure is also practical for addressing diverse needs. However, the absence of documents makes it impractical for a supplier to prepare a compliant and competitive submission. The mention of 'up to 6 weeks' for initial evaluation is a reasonable timeframe for a DPV.

Suppliers cannot practically prepare a submission without access to the Selection Questionnaire and detailed specifications.
Data Consistency100/100

The provided data is largely consistent. The DPV start date (around 8th June 2021) and the overall submission deadline (7th June 2026) align with a DPV operating for five years with an option to extend. The mention of an earlier SQ deadline (16th April 2021) for 'initial mini-competitions' is consistent with a DPV that has been active for some time, and new suppliers can join until the overall deadline.

Sustainability50/100

The tender explicitly lists 'Social Criteria' as a procurement characteristic and emphasizes 'improved delivery of individual's outcomes' and 'enhanced partnership working' across health, social care, and voluntary agencies. This indicates a strong focus on social sustainability and integrated care within the service provision.

The automated check flags 'Not green procurement,' indicating a lack of explicit environmental sustainability criteria. While the focus is social, a comprehensive sustainability approach would ideally include environmental aspects.

Strengths

Strategic Procurement Approach: Utilizes a Dynamic Purchasing Vehicle (DPV) under the Light Touch Regime, well-suited for complex, evolving social care markets.
Focus on Outcomes and Integration: Emphasizes innovation, efficiencies, improved individual outcomes, and integrated partnership working.
Market Segmentation: Division into four distinct lots allows for supplier specialization and caters to diverse service user needs.
Social Criteria Emphasis: Explicitly includes 'Social Criteria' as a characteristic, aligning with public value objectives.

Concerns

Critical Absence of Tender Documents: Complete lack of any attached tender documents (e.g., Selection Questionnaire, full specifications).
Missing Detailed Evaluation Criteria: Specific criteria and methodology for evaluating DPV applications and mini-competitions are unknown.
Limited Transparency: Absence of documents severely limits transparency regarding the full scope of services and contractual obligations.
NUTS Code Missing: While Buckinghamshire is mentioned, the NUTS code is listed as N/A.

Recommendations

1. Immediately Publish All Essential Tender Documents: Ensure the Selection Questionnaire, full service specifications, and detailed evaluation criteria are made available.
2. Clarify the DPV Application Process: Provide a clear, step-by-step guide for suppliers on how to apply to the DPV, especially regarding document access and submission.
3. Consider Environmental Sustainability: Integrate explicit environmental sustainability requirements or considerations into the DPV framework where relevant.

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