1. Dynamic Purchasing System for Care Homes
Provider Forum November

2. Introduction
The purpose of the presentation is provide an overview of the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) that will be used to purchase care home placements
The Council spends annually about £60m on care home services for older people and about £25m on care homes for other client groups.
The Council wants to create a list of care home providers that are ‘preferred providers’ using a DPS
The County wants to introduce a more efficient method of purchasing placements. This will be almost exactly the same as the existing process but using an eBrokerage system

3. Dynamic Purchasing System
A DPS is a completely electronic system established to purchase goods and services. It is open for providers to apply at any time, although the Council may close and then reopen it.
Care home providers will have to be registered on the DPS and must meet certain pre-qualification requirements
The DPS allows providers to “bid” for individual placements, although direct awards can also be made.

4. Benefits to Providers
Providers that are accepted onto the DPS will be approached first by the Council for any placement
There is no obligation on providers to bid for a placement
Those providers on the DPS are placed on the Council’s eMarketplace with a the Council’s logo against their name showing that they are an accredited provider
Accredited providers will attract interest from self-funders who are increasingly approaching the Council for information and advice.
Providers will be able to update their details on the eMarketplace and these will feed through the DPS
This provider has met Oxfordshire County Council’s minimum standards for providing services that the Council commissions.

5. Application for the DPS
To be accepted onto the DPS the applicant must meet the Council’s selection criteria – in particular the home must not have an overall rating of Inadequate by the Care Quality Commission and/or be under the Council's Serious Concerns framework
The provider must first register on the South East Business portal as a supplier -
Registration will provide access to the application documentation
There is a self assessment form that need to be completed, identifying each home that is to be included on the DPS
Applicants must sign a copy of the DPS Agreement
Applicants will be notified whether or not their application is successful

6. Service Categories Category 1 Residential care Older People
Older People
Oxfordshire or within 10 miles of the border
Residential dementia
Nursing care
Nursing specialist
Intermediate Care
Adults
Respite residential
Respite nursing
Category 2
Learning Disabilities
Category 3
Physical Disabilities

7. Contract Issues No obligation to supply Council with Services
Indicative price can be changed at any time; requires Council approval but this will not be withheld
The provider can give the Council 1 month’s notice to terminate DPS agreement
Prices for placements will be reviewed annually
Termination clauses for placements the same as those for current spot contract
No more Annex 2s for those on the DPS

8. Calling off services from the DPS
A. Mini-competition for individual placements (spot)
The appropriate providers are selected and then invited to bid
Lowest prices ranked highest – approach the top ranked first
Placement awarded electronically
B. Without competition – Direct award (spot)
By price only with lowest prices ranked highest
Placement awarded electronically
C. Block contract
Providers on the DPS are invited to bid
Block contract awarded based on price/quality

10. Timetable Dates Activity 29 November Briefing on the eBrokerage system
Closing date for first applicants
5 December
Providers contacted. Those that have been accepted will receive login details and guidance
7 December
The Council starts to call off placements