Contract

Universal Information and Advice Service

  • Cheshire East Borough Council

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-013739

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-040ef3

Published 29 April 2024, 1:36pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Cheshire East Borough Council

Westfields, Middlewich Road

Sandbach

CW11 1HZ

Contact

Ms Tracy Roberts

Email

tracy.roberts@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 1270686973

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKD62 - Cheshire East

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/

Buyer's address

http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Regional or local authority

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Universal Information and Advice Service

Reference number

DN685505

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Provider will offer a free to access, financially related, Universal Information and Advice

service that is available to all residents of Cheshire East. The service will be accessible

through a number of channels including face to face, telephone, email and online. As

residents are regularly presenting with complex needs that cover multiple issues, there will

be a clear single pathway to access the service to ensure that residents needs are assessed

appropriately.

Following initial contact, the Provider will assess the resident’s issue(s) and if the issue is

straightforward and can be dealt with during the initial contact they should do so, if not they

will then offer further appointments to provide more time to resolve the resident’s issue(s).

Referrals received from referring partners will need to be triaged and prioritised to support

those in greatest need first.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £1,635,000

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKD62 - Cheshire East

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Provider will offer a free to access, financially related, Universal Information and Advice

service that is available to all residents of Cheshire East. The service will be accessible

through a number of channels including face to face, telephone, email and online. As

residents are regularly presenting with complex needs that cover multiple issues, there will

be a clear single pathway to access the service to ensure that residents needs are assessed

appropriately.

Following initial contact, the Provider will assess the resident’s issue(s) and if the issue is

straightforward and can be dealt with during the initial contact they should do so, if not they

will then offer further appointments to provide more time to resolve the resident’s issue(s).

Referrals received from referring partners will need to be triaged and prioritised to support

those in greatest need first.

The universal information and advice service will:

“Provide timely, impartial and high quality support to residents in Cheshire East that require

independent, financially related advice and information.”

Overall aims and purpose of the service

• Cheshire East Council is committed to building financial resilience and inclusion by

supporting some of the most vulnerable residents in the borough, and the wider challenges

that they may be encountering.

• The Provider will provide a financially related Universal Information and Advice service to all

residents of Cheshire East. The service will be accessible via a single point of access to

ensure residents needs are assessed appropriately.

The information and advice service should be:

o free

o independent

o confidential

o impartial

o problem-solving

o accessible through a variety of channels including face to face, telephone and online.

• The service will help those accessing the service to clearly understand information, secure

their rights and support them to make informed decisions about any financially related issues

that they may have.

• The service must be available and accessible to those in greatest need and appropriate for

people with a physical disability, mental health problems or a learning disability. The service

should prioritise residents with the highest level of needs. This will include residents that

have been referred by the Council’s adult social care team, benefits and housing teams.

• The service should locate its main provision in the two main towns of Crewe and

Macclesfield, with outreach delivery in the eight care community areas and make use of the

Connected Community Social Franchise centres, libraries and relevant partner locations

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

The initial term is 36 months. There are options to extend the contract of 2 x 12 month

periods at the discretion of the Council. Notice of the Council's intention to extend will be

provided in writing as per the terms and conditions

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: Yes

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2023/S 000-031507


Section five. Award of contract

Contract No

C1137

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

20 December 2023

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 1

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: Yes

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

CHESHIRE EAST CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU NORTH

Sunderland House, Sunderland St

Macclesfield

SK11 6JF

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKD62 - Cheshire East
The contractor is an SME

No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

CHESHIRE EAST CAB LTD

GROUND FLOOR DELAMERE HOUSE, CHESTER STREET

CREWE

CW1 2BE

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKD62 - Cheshire East
The contractor is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot: £1,635,000


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Royal Courts of Justice

LONDON

Country

United Kingdom