PP17089 - Regional Adoption Agency, Voluntary Adoption Services

This contract is being tendered on behalf of the West Midlands Regional Adoption Agency, soon to be formed, Adoption@Heart, by City of Wolverhampton Council. The contract is for the provision of adoption services including: the strategic development, stakeholder engagement and quality assurance of the Regional Adoption Agency and adoption support services for adoptive families and those affected by adoption. The contract is for a term of five years and will deliver services to Dudley MBC, Sandwell MBC, Walsall MBC and City of Wolverhampton Council via the Regional Adoption Agency which will be a Local Authority Trading Company. The appointed provider will have access to data on any adopter gaps identified through tracking of child and adopter pipelines in order to support the ability of the Provider to recruit adopters and plan recruitment activity. Commencement of operation of Adoption@Heart and of this contract will be 2 July 2018.The tender process is a competitive process with negotiation; the authority reserves the right to award a contract on the basis of tenders received without entering into further negotiation. The initial contract might be formed with City of Wolverhampton Council; if this is the case the contract will be novated to Adoption@Heart at the earliest possible time and in tendering potential providers agree to this novation.