Edinburgh firm is poised to win health work in Angus

An Edinburgh-based company is to be awarded the contract to provide mental health services across Angus.

Penumbra, which has provided various services across Scotland since 1985, is favoured by Angus Council officials as the new provider of mental health services from September 2010 to September 2013.

It was one of four companies invited to tender for the contract after the council told current service provider Angus Mental Health Association (Amha) it no longer fulfilled the criteria.

Two of those companies – Community Integrated Care and Mental Health Matters – subsequently withdrew from the tendering process without submitting a bid.

The recommendation to award Penumbra a three-year contract worth £749,721 will be discussed by the council’s social work and health committee at a meeting at Forfar today.

The news has been greeted with anger by Amha chairman Ron Scrimgeour.

He said: “It is an outrage that two of the four organisations evaluated and credited to provide level-one mental health services have withdrawn from the tender process.

“Furthermore, it is an insult that two local Angus mental health organisations were barred from proceeding to the last stage of the tender process.

“It casts further doubt on the validity of the entire exercise.”

Mr Scrimgeour also criticised the decision to award the contract to a company that has no presence in Angus.

He said: “I believe there will be less money available to deliver the service because some of the money will have to be spent on set-up costs.”

He said Amha would have been able to match the price tendered by Penumbra “without any doubt” but was not given the chance.

Forfar councillor Glennis Middleton, a vocal supporter of Amha throughout the tendering process, was also concerned by the latest development.

She said: “Amha was not allowed to put forward a bid because they fell at the first hurdle. However, I’m convinced that they could have provided an excellent service and that is evidenced by the fact that they were twice asked to continue providing a service because of issues with the tendering process.

“I also think Amha may well have been able to provide a cheaper service, especially given the high number of volunteers.

“I have reservations regarding this whole process and I will be pursuing that.”

Amha, which had its contract extended for six months earlier this year because the tendering process had not been completed by the original cut-off date of March 31, will continue to provide the service until September 30.

Penumbra will begin providing services from September 20 to ease the transition.

Social work and health director Robert Peat said: “The award of the contract will ensure that best value is achieved in the procurement of support services for adults with mental health problems in Angus.”

A council spokeswoman said: “Angus Council social work and health committee will be asked (today) to approve Penumbra as the provider of mental health support services for Angus.

“This company has much experience in the delivery of such services and, if chosen, will make appropriate arrangements to deliver services locally.

“Arrangements are in hand for a smooth transition to the new service, to ensure continuity for people who are currently receiving a service from Amha.

“This transition process will begin as soon as the provider of the new service is approved by committee.”