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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SQ 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
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Expert 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.
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Let's speakDomiciliary Care Tender Questions
What tender questions can you expect to answer when competing for domiciliary care tenders?
By understanding what you will be asked during the PQQ and tender process when bidding for Local Authority domiciliary care tenders you can prepare your bid library!
Please note, you won't be asked all of these in a single tender or PQQ! Sometimes it is 5 or 6 sometimes 10 to 12. They will have varying word counts and restrictions - however 750 words to 1000 is a good general rule to help you prepare.
Domiciliary Care Frequently Asked Tender Questions
| Please tell us about the organisation’s culture and values and how these are embedded throughout the organisation. |
| How does your organisation support the implementation of Social Value Policy and Framework? |
| How does your organisation promote equality, diversity, and inclusion across your workforce and service delivery? |
| Please explain your approach to environmental sustainability and how your organisation reduces its carbon footprint while delivering services. |
| Please describe your workforce strategy, including recruitment practices, training plans, development approach including developing skills, competence and resilience, and staff support programmes. |
| How do you ensure your workforce is fully trained, competent, and supported to deliver high-quality services in line with best practice and regulatory requirements? |
| Describe how your organisation ensures safe recruitment, including vetting, background checks, and ongoing staff monitoring. |
| Please provide an overview of your organisation’s quality approach and how you ensure continuous improvement. |
| Describe how your organisation ensures compliance with all contract terms, KPIs, and SLAs throughout the contract lifecycle. |
| Explain how your organisation measures and monitors service performance, ensuring continuous improvement and learning from past performance. |
| What processes does your organisation have in place to effectively manage and respond to complaints and feedback from service users, families, and stakeholders? |
| How does your organisation ensure person-centred care and support, including co-production with individuals receiving services? |
| Please describe how you ensure service user dignity, choice, and independence are upheld in your service delivery. |
| Please provide a case study that tells us about a person or people you support and demonstrates how you have supported them to achieve their outcomes and/or goals. |
| How do you ensure service continuity and business resilience, including contingency planning for staff shortages or operational disruptions? |
| How do you manage risk within your service, ensuring that risks to service users, staff, and the organisation are effectively identified, assessed, and mitigated? |
| How does your organisation ensure effective communication with service users, families, and professionals to enhance service delivery and outcomes? |
| Please describe your mobilisation and transition process for new contracts, ensuring minimal disruption and a smooth handover. |
| What systems and processes do you have in place to safeguard individuals receiving support, ensuring compliance with all safeguarding legislation and best practices? |
| How does your organisation ensure compliance with the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)? |
| How do you ensure effective partnership working with key stakeholders, including multi-agency collaboration to deliver joined-up services? |
| What measures do you have in place to ensure the safe and appropriate use of digital systems and technology in service delivery? |
| What steps does your organisation take to ensure effective data protection, information governance, and confidentiality compliance? |
| Explain how your organisation supports service innovation and adapts to new ways of working to improve efficiency and service user outcomes. |
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Contact us today for a quote or demoHow Thornton & Lowe Can Help
When preparing to bid for domiciliary care tenders with Local Authorities, it's important to understand the key requirements and develop a comprehensive bid library. Thornton & Lowe can assist in creating this. Speak to us today!
Tender Library, is our AI bid writing and management solution, and this also provides access to first draft answers and more specifically to the questions above!
Key requirements often focus on organisational culture, values, social value, equality, diversity, inclusion, environmental sustainability, workforce strategy, training, support, safe recruitment, quality assurance, continuous improvement, contract compliance, performance management, complaint handling, person-centred care, co-production, service continuity, risk management, safeguarding, communication, partnership working, mobilisation, transition processes, compliance with legislation, digital systems, technology, data protection, information governance, service innovation, and adaptability.
To prepare, develop clear narratives around your organisation's approach to these areas, provide evidence of your practices, showcase your processes, highlight your commitment to key aspects, and demonstrate your ability to deliver high-quality, person-centred care. Outline your strategies, plans, and procedures, and provide case studies to illustrate your support for individuals in achieving their goals and outcomes.
By developing a comprehensive bid library addressing these key areas, you'll be well-equipped to respond to frequently asked questions in domiciliary care tenders. Thornton & Lowe and Tender Library's AI solution can provide valuable support and resources to streamline your bid writing process.
Urgent Tender or PQQ Support?
Contact us today for a free quote to write your domiciliary care tender responses! hello@thorntonandlowe.com or 01204 238046
