Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
West of England Combined Authority
3 Rivergate, Temple Quay
Bristol
BS1 6ER
Contact
Mr Paul Smith
paul.smith@westofengland-ca.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 7436629523
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.westofengland-ca.org.uk/
Buyer's address
https://www.westofengland-ca.org.uk/
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://procontract.due-north.com/Register
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://procontract.due-north.com/Register
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local Agency/Office
one.5) Main activity
Environment
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Energy Advice
Reference number
DN711047
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72253000 - Helpdesk and support services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Authority is looking to procure service is to provide households in Bristol and Bath and NE Somerset (BaNES) energy advice and referrals for handling their energy bills and suppliers. The service is to be focused on those struggling with their bills, including advice on low and no-cost measures and behaviours to save energy; and advice and referrals on financial and other support.
This Invitation to Tender (ITT) is issued by West of England Combined Authority (CA) who are seeking to appoint a supplier to provide the services defined in the Scope of Requirements. The contract will be open to other Public Sector organisations as defined in the published Contract Notice.
The West of England Combined Authority is establishing an initial 12-month contract with the option to extend up to a further 36 months.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Nationally, central Government provides advice for those interested in retrofitting their homes with insulation and energy saving and generating measures1. Locally, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) have launched the RetrofitWest Home Energy Advice to support households in this endeavour.
However, there is little independent and offline accessible energy advice for households on low-cost non disruptive measures to save energy, or what to do if they are struggling to pay.
In South Gloucestershire residents are advised and referred to Warm and Well (www.warmandwell.co.uk) and its associated freephone energy advice service, managed by Severn Wye Energy Agency on behalf of South Gloucestershire Council and other Gloucestershire Local Authorities.
In Bristol the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) have operated a similar advice service for over 20 years. In Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES), there is ‘Energy at Home’ – a freephone advice line and website (www.energyathome.org.uk) run by the council.
To raise awareness and bolster the capacity of local energy advice, the MCA approved up to £150,000 of funding for a Local Energy Advice Pilot2 in the West of England during a peak in the cost of energy bills during the winter of 2022/23. A Committee Approval in March 2023 approved extending funding by £165k.
The details of this extension were approved as a delegated decision to the MCA’s Environment Director in consultation with their equivalent Environment Directors in the Unitary Authorities. This tender seeks to procure an energy advice service for the Local Authority areas of Bristol and BaNES.
Specification of Energy Advice Services being tendered
This service is to provide households in Bristol and Bath and NE Somerset (BaNES) energy advice and referrals for handling their energy bills and suppliers. The service is to be focused on those struggling with their bills, including advice on low and no-cost measures and behaviours to save energy; and advice and referrals on financial and other support.
This energy advice is to be provided in the form of:
Freephone advice line with human operatives answering calls Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm providing tailored support to people’s circumstances (heating use, house condition, income, health, vulnerabilities, occupancy and behaviours, etc)
B&NES have an existing freephone number through their Energy @ Home scheme – this would be transferred to this service
Online website advice materials with advice pages or downloadable literature
Residents to be provided by energy advisors trained in City & Guilds Energy Awareness NVQ (or similar energy advice accreditation agreed w/ the MCA prior to this ITT closing) to provide this tailored advice (either in answering phone calls or in call-backs from the service operator by suitably trained advisors).
As well as energy advisors having suitable training (detailed in paragraph above), the must have understanding and ability to refer to residents to:
Local and national support services (including those from local authorities, Household Support Grants, Priority Services Register, etc)
Energy grants (including ECO-flex, Home Upgrade Grant, Boiler Upgrade Schemes, pre-payment vouchers, etc)
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
14 February 2024
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
14 March 2024
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
West of England Combined Authority
3 Rivergate, Temple Quay
Bristol
BS1 6ER
paul.smith@westofengland-ca.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Royal Courts of Justice
Royal Courts of Justice
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom