Market Interest in Care Home Provision

Members of The Highland Council’s Care Home Sub-Committee, who meet next on Friday, have been advised that there is significant interest from the independent sector in bidding to provide care homes in Fort William, Grantown, Inverness, Muir of Ord and Tain, replacing care homes in these areas currently owned and managed by the Council.

Following the Council’s decision on 4 May to modernise services for older people by seeking tenders to provide 168 places in the five locations, the Council conducted a market consultation exercise to assist prepare the specification for the project.  Questionnaires were sent to 140 providers, including organisations which had previously expressed interest in the project; existing care home providers in Highland and other organisations identified as possibly having an interest in the project as well as organisations responding to a Europe-wide Prior Information Notice.

The consultation has indicated the sector’s views about the project specification, in aspects such as: -

• New builds, rather than refurbishments;
• Inclusion of assets, such as current buildings and equipment within the tender;
• The provision of facilities with 40-50 beds.

Additionally, the exercise has provided confirmation that there is significant interest in delivering all aspects of the project and that the programme is achievable.

Bill Alexander, Acting Director of Social Work, said: “The purpose of the exercise was to check, before procurement formally commences, the deliverability of key aspects of the tender specification. This helpful information can be used to shape and refine the detail of the tender to ensure the highest standards for residents and best value for the Council Tax payer.

“A significant response rate has been generated. The exercise has provided invaluable and encouraging information and will be of great assistance in moving forward to the next stage of the exercise, which is to formally invite expressions of interest. We have also confirmed that the Council’s requirements are in line with what the sector is willing and able to deliver.”

Click here for the agenda and background reports to the Care Home Sub-Committee.