Decision details

In response to demand across local authorities, the West London Alliance has developed three Dynamic Purchasing Vehicles (DPVs) across Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs), Residential Placements and Special Educational Needs (SEN) Placements.

Barnet was the lead authority for the DPV for IFAs.

This report seeks permission to select Panel Providers and to award overarching agreements to those Providers that have/are successful in joining the DPV and to call off contracts (individual placements and block contacts) from 2018 to 2024, for fostering services from independent fostering agencies under the newly established electronic purchasing framework , the West London Alliance (WLA) Dynamic Purchasing Vehicle (DPV) for Children’s Independent Fostering Agency Services (“IFA DPV”).

There is a separate DPR report detailing the approval to award call contracts for residential placements.

The Council’s existing Framework Agreement with WLA for Independent Fostering Agencies expired in April 2018 and is to be replaced by the IFA DPV.

As the lead borough for the IFA DPV, the Council will hold the overarching contract agreements with successful IFA providers. The Council will then be able to call off individual fostering placements to meet the needs of local children and young people. 

The IFA DPV is capable of use by the 9 WLA Boroughs, and by certain other interested Local Authorities named in the Official Journal of the European Union (“OJEU”) Notice. 

The aim of the IFA DPV is to ensure that there is sufficient good quality independent fostering agency provision for the period between 2018 to 2024, which represents value for money and is compliant with Contract Procedural Rules.