Domiciliary Care & Home Care PQQ & Tender Tips
What is a PQQ?
A Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) is a form used in the early stages of getting public sector contracts. It helps buyers decide if your business is capable and suitable to bid for a contract. Most buyers who request a PQQ or Selection Questionnaire (SQ) as it is also known, will be from the public sector, however, you may also find larger nursing home groups, for example, use the same process. When it comes to domiciliary care PQQs and tenders and public sector bodies, this will largely be with Local Authorities. They will often set up domiciliary care framework agreements for the local area with several tiers of contractor. The higher the tier you can qualify for, the more opportunity for your business to support with higher volumes.
For home care businesses or domiciliary care providers, knowing how to complete a PQQ is important because:
- Eligibility: It's the first step to qualify for bidding on public contracts.
- Stand Out: A well-done PQQ shows your business is professional and reliable.
- Opportunities: It opens up chances to secure valuable public sector contracts.
- Compliance: It ensures your business meets industry standards and regulations.
- Improvement: The process helps you evaluate and improve your services.
In short, completing a PQQ correctly and competitively is key for domiciliary care providers to access public contracts, prove their worth, and ensure they meet required standards.
Thornton & Lowe Domiciliary Care, Home Care and Health & Social Care Tender Wins
At Thornton & Lowe health and social care bid writing is a big part of our business. We do a lot of work across allied health professionals, domiciliary care, home care, nursing - both for recruitment and provider delivery. From living well and supply of care, specialist providers, care at home services for children and young people, end of life care, home oxygen supply, supported accommodation, extra care, young people support, right through to hospital services.
See our case study.
We work with agencies and providers large and small bidding for regional Local Authority tenders or frameworks, as well as wider NHS opportunities, through to HTE and CCS frameworks, for example.
When writing this article, for example, we are working on:
- Enfield Council - Care and Support Services for people with Learning Disabilities
- Sutton Council - Children in Care
- Barking & Dagenham - Supported Living
- Manchester City Council Homecare Lot 1 and 2
- Scotland ExcelCare and Support Framework
- NHS Dorset integrated care boardCare at Home
- North Somerset District Council Complex Care
2023 Care Framework Win Examples
To demonstrate to breadth of our experience when it comes to bidding for care, please see several examples of our tender wins below:
- NHS Scotland - Temporary Allied Health Professionals & Other Clinical Professions NP50522
- Sutton Council - Provision of Homecare Services
- Kirklees and Calderdale - Domiciliary Care Services
- Norfolk County Council - Adults with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism
- London Borough of Redbridge - Provision of Homecare for Adult and Children Services in the London Borough of Redbridge
- Lancashire County Council - Living well and Supply of care
- Islington - Home Care Flexible Framework
- Brighton and Hove City Council - Adults Community Support and Supported Living
- South Gloucester - Specialist Provider DPS
- Powys County Council - Framework for Support Services for Children, Young People and Families
- Aberdeenshire County Council - Care at Home Services for Children and Young People.
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Contact us todaySQ and PQQ Home Care Guidance
A PQQ for domiciliary care or home care are largely on tender portals now, for example, London Tenders Portal or the Chest.
To successfully complete your care PQQ you need to understand your way around these tendering portals, be able to access the PQQ documents and wider tender pack, monitoring clarification questions and any updated documents, and submit your response once it is ready. And of course before the deadline.
A pre-qualification or selection questionnaire is often combined and made part of the full tender or ITT process.
Within the domiciliary care PQQ it is important you answer all questions carefully and fully. Incomplete answers will likely lead to disqualification.
Only add supporting documents if the Council indicates it is acceptable. Permissible formats often include Microsoft Word, Excel, Project, PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat, but always check, as again, compliance is key!
Parts of the domiciliary care PQQ or SQ:
- Part 1: Basic information about the supplier (e.g., contact details, professional memberships, parent companies).
- Part 2: Self-declarations regarding exclusion grounds. E.g. payment of taxes, bankruptcy etc.
- Part 3: Evidence and self-declarations of economic and financial standing, and technical and professional ability. That you meet the requirements they highlight, for example, they may include a minimum turnover level. If this is not clear always ask a clarification question.
- Self-Declaration: Suppliers must declare that none of the exclusion grounds apply. If they do, explain the measures taken to rectify the situation (self-cleaning).
PQQ Evaluation Criteria
- Evidence of Suitability: The buyer will evaluate the supplier’s business probity, economic and financial standing, and technical or professional ability.
- Qualification Criteria: Combination of financial and non-financial factors, such as experience and CQC.
- Self-Certification: Certain questions allow for self-certification. Successful suppliers will need to provide evidence at the contract award stage.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Exclusion: Failure to provide necessary documents upon request may lead to exclusion from the procurement process.
You may also find the following useful:
Bid Writing: Winning Health & Social Care Tenders
Request a free list of all frameworks in your sector
Click hereExpert Tips for Bidders: Succeeding in Home Care and Domiciliary Care PQQs, SQs and Tenders
1. Start Early
Begin preparing your PQQ (Pre-Qualification Questionnaire) well in advance. This gives you enough time to gather all necessary documents, information, and to craft thoughtful, detailed responses. Rushing through the process can lead to mistakes and incomplete answers. By finding other recent or live examples you can fully understand the format and what they will expect you to have ready. Or contact us and we can help you prepare for the domiciliary care PQQ and full tender or framework response.
2. Tailor Your Answers
Customise your responses to fit the specific requirements of each tender. Generic answers are less effective. Highlight how your services specifically meet the needs outlined in the tender documents.
3. Show Your Strengths
- Emphasise your quality assurance processes. Describe how you maintain high standards of care and effective governance, including any relevant certifications or accreditations, like CQC (Care Quality Commission) accreditation, and qualifications and experience of your team.
- Detail your experience in providing similar services. Use case studies or testimonials to illustrate your successful track record.
4. Highlight Staff Training and Qualifications
Describe the qualifications, training, and experience of your staff. Ensure the evaluators understand that your team is capable of delivering excellent care. Highlight any ongoing training programs that keep your staff updated with the latest practices.
5. Mention Innovative Practices
Showcase any innovative practices or added value your service brings. This could include the use of technology, personalised care plans, or community engagement activities. Innovations can set you apart from competitors.
6. Proofread and Review
- Double-check your answers for accuracy and completeness.
- Ensure your responses are clear and easy to understand.
- Consider having your submission reviewed by a professional bid writer or a colleague to catch any mistakes and improve the overall quality. It is what we are here for! hello@thorntonandlowe.com
7. Follow Up and Improve
After each tender, review any feedback you receive to improve future submissions. Understanding where you can improve increases your chances of success in subsequent bids.
Bidding Successfully for Home Care Tenders
If you want to bid successfully for home care tenders, you need to demonstrate your quality and innovation in delivering the service. Beyond the PQQ the quality method statement is a key part of your tender submission, where you answer specific questions about how you will meet the client's requirements and expectations. Here are some tips on how to write effective and persuasive responses to the most common quality questions in home care tenders:
- Explain how you monitor and evaluate the quality of your service, using relevant indicators, tools, and feedback mechanisms. Provide examples of how you use the data to improve your performance and outcomes for service users.
- Show how you ensure the continuity and reliability of your service, especially in times of disruption or change. Describe how you manage your resources, staff, and subcontractors to deliver the service efficiently and effectively. Highlight any environmental or social benefits of your approach.
- Demonstrate how you engage with and contribute to the local community, beyond your contractual obligations. Give examples of how you collaborate with other providers, stakeholders, and service users to promote social inclusion, diversity, and wellbeing. Mention any awards or recognition you have received for your community work.
- Describe how you protect the safety and dignity of your service users, staff, and subcontractors. Outline your policies and procedures for safeguarding, including training, reporting, and responding to incidents. Provide evidence of how you comply with relevant legislation and standards.
- Showcase your expertise and experience in delivering home care services to specific groups or needs, such as dementia care, palliative care, or learning disabilities. Explain how you tailor your service to meet the individual needs and preferences of your service users. Provide examples of how you deliver high-quality, person-centered care.
- Highlight how you use innovative methods or technologies to enhance your service delivery and user satisfaction. Explain how you adapt to changing needs and demands, and how you test and implement new ideas. Provide examples of how your innovation has improved your service or created added value for your clients.
Remember to follow the word limit and format for each question, and provide clear and concise answers with supporting evidence. Do not include any attachments unless requested.
