Published date: 10 January 2019

Last edited date: 10 January 2019

This notice was replaced on 11 March 2021

This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:

Awarded contract (published 11 March 2021)

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Contract summary

Industry

  • Research consultancy services - 73210000

  • Market research services - 79310000

  • General management consultancy services - 79411000

    • Financial management consultancy services - 79412000

Location of contract

London

Value of contract

£25,000

Procurement reference

R1218a Children's Services Finance Research

Published date

10 January 2019

Closing date

14 January 2019

Contract start date

21 January 2019

Contract end date

31 May 2019

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (below threshold)

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

This procedure can be used for procurements below the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

*The value of the contract has been registered as a minimum of £25K - this is not deemed to be the maximum contract value*

Introduction

London Councils represents London's 32 borough councils and the City of London. It is a cross party organisation that works on behalf of all of its member authorities regardless of political persuasion. London Councils makes the case to government, the Mayor and others to get the best deal for Londoners and to ensure that our member authorities have the resources, freedoms and powers to do the best possible job for their residents and local businesses.

Background

London boroughs are experiencing increased pressure on their children's social care and high needs budgets. Quantitative research completed by London Councils in October 2018 found a collective overspend of £112 million across London on Children's Social Care (CSC) in 2017/18. The survey also highlighted that every local authority except one recorded a shortfall in the high needs block of the Dedicated Schools Grant, resulting in a collective £77.6 million shortfall across the capital. Demand for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision has risen by a third since 2013/14. Therefore, making the case for sufficient funding for children's services, alongside taking steps to reduce demand and spend in this area, are key priorities for London boroughs.

Despite the overall trend of high spend on high needs and CSC, there is significant variation amongst the boroughs regarding levels of spend and demand. Therefore, there may be examples of practices and approaches in some boroughs that could support other boroughs to better manage their demand and costs.

The overall objectives for this children's services research project are to:
• Identify the causes of increased spending in children's services.
• Reach conclusions on the types of management action that can reduce cost while assuring quality and safeguarding.
• secure more government funding for children's services, both in children's social care and the high needs block.
• support the boroughs to make changes to practice and so reduce costs whilst maintaining positive outcomes for children.

The final outputs of this work will be: a report produced by the beginning of May 2019 (prior to the Spending Review) that provides robust evidence on the drivers of high demand and costs in high needs and CSC; and recommendations for actions that would support London boroughs to better manage the current pressures. The successful tenderer will also be expected to present the draft report at a roundtable meeting of senior borough officers, and to present the final report at a future meeting of senior politicians and officers across the London boroughs.

More information

Attachments

Additional text

Query log updated to 100119. There are no other changes. Please note that we will not be updating the query log further as the deadline for receiving queries has now passed.

Query log updated to 090119. There are no other changes.

There are 4 documents only for downloading.

The deadline for receiving completed submissions is Noon, Monday 14th January 2019.

The deadline for receiving queries is Noon, Thursday 10th January 2019. Queries received after this deadline will not be answered.

Please note that London Councils is closed between 25th December and 2nd January. Queries received during this time will not be answered until at least the 3rd - please factor this into your timings.

About the buyer

Contact name

Sima Maqbool

Address

59½ Southwark Street
LONDON
SE10AL
England

Email

Sima.Maqbool@londoncouncils.gov.uk

Website

www.londoncouncils.gov.uk