URL: https://democracy.southend.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1517

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Social Care and Healthier Communities

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: The current Direct Payment Support Service contract is due to expire on 30 September 2025, with an option to extend until 31 March 2026. Approval is sought to extend the contract for a further 6 months, until 31 March 2026. This will provide sufficient time to consider and plan the appropriate next steps for the future of the service. The annual cost of the service is £198,670. The proposed 6-month extension would therefore be £99,335 The service commenced on 1 May 2018. If the extension is approved, the contract will have been in place for 7 years and 11 months, with an aggregated total contract value of approximately £1.46m.

Content: That it be agreed the Cabinet Member:   1.       Approves the extension of the contract for the Direct Payment Support Service with Vibrance for a further period of 6 months, commencing on 1 October 2026, at the pro rata current annual price of £99,335.   2.       Delegates authority to the Executive Director for Adults and Communities to finalise the terms of the extension and associated contract terms.   This decision is a key decision as the total contract value since 2018 is over £500k.  If the contract is not extended, without another service having been commissioned, a cohort of people will be without support to manage their direct payments.   Extending the contract until 31st March 2026 will enable the Council to undertake a compliant procurement exercise pursuant to the Procurement Act 2023 and thereafter award the contract for the future service.   Do not extend / Decommission - This is not recommended as this service will need to be replaced with some level of provision to effectively meet the Council’s statutory duties under the Care Act 2014. Not extending the contract would leave a cohort of individuals who need support with their Direct Payments without support and there is insufficient time to procure a new contract before 1st October 2025.

Date of Decision: September 25, 2025