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The Department of Health's standard contract is due to be introduced by primary care trusts with all their suppliers from April 2009. There is widespread concern about this in the sector, because it is a very lengthy document which takes no account of the different scale and complexity involved in different types of public service delivery.
How are you being affected by this? Is your PCT changing its policy on grant funding as part of its new funding arrangements?
NAVCA's commissioning & procurement team has been working with DH to influence the content and scope of this. DH guidance on the contracts now states that..
"The standard contracts are not intended to be used for activity that would be more appropriately funded through a grant process"
the guidance reinforces the option of grants..
"Alongside the standard contracts we are reinforcing with PCTs the role of grant funding for organisations, particularly those providing lower level community based support"
We are monitoring with Local Infrastructure Organisations across the country how this is being interpreted in different areas and the impact on third sector providers. More details, including our contact details if you want to get in touch, are on our website.
John
