Planning

Community Voluntary Service Infrastructure

  • Essex County Council

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-017148

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03d6e9

Published 16 June 2023, 11:02am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Essex County Council

County Hall, Market Road

Chelmsford

CM1 1QH

Contact

Ms Lorna Baker

Email

Lorna.Baker@essex.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.essex.gov.uk/

Buyer's address

https://www.essex.gov.uk/

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

http://procontract-due-north.com/

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

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

Community Voluntary Service Infrastructure

Reference number

DN674578

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85000000 - Health and social work services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Council is seeking to commission provider(s) who will work in conjunction with external partners to facilitate, enable and support the development of the local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS)the development of the local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS).

As part of the Council's preparatory work to inform the commissioning intentions for this project, we are holding an online Market Engagement event on the 18th July 2023 11:00am to 12:30pm. If you wish to attend, please book a maximum of two places per organisation by emailing strengthening.communities@essex.gov.uk

Prospective bidders are advised that the Council will finalise the scope of the forthcoming procurement opportunity following the conclusion of the market engagement stage and reserves the right to amend the scope of this service accordingly.

For the avoidance of any further doubt, please be advised that any dates for the proposed procurement opportunity are provided for indicative purposes only and the Council reserves the right to amend this information following confirmation of the procurement timetable for this project. Full details of the structure of this procurement and associated timetable will be detailed within the corresponding Contract Notice in due course.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £4,561,718

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

ECC is looking to commission provider(s) who can lead the delivery of an Essex wide, place focused, asset led model to support the work of the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) with a proposed contract commencement date of 1st April 2024. The contract value has been estimated as an indicative budget of £651,674 per annum over a five plus two year term, subject to governance but with an additional 15% allowance for unforeseen potential services to be added at a later date.

We are seeking to identify provider(s) who can bring together the right partners with the expertise to deliver the outcomes focussed specification for this commission, to facilitate, grow and support the development of the VCS sector.

Please be advised that the successful provider(s) are not due to directly deliver services. The key outcomes for the new offer will be to build capacity and develop resilience within the VCS, the facilitation and connection of local assets, delivery networks and partners, supporting place-based working, by ensuring local place-based representation. In addition, the new offer will act as an advocate for the VCS in the wider system, facilitating their voice at strategic conversations and promoting and co-creating a Local First approach. Utilising hubs of local insight the provider(s) will convene the right local delivery partners to collaboratively address societal challenges where necessary. Flexibly deploying resource to data-led geographies and cohorts of greatest need.

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £4,561,718

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

The Council proposes that this service will be commissioned under an initial five (5) year term with the option to extend for a further two (2) years at the Council’s sole discretion; thereby resulting in a maximum possible contract duration of seven (7) years. Therefore the pin value indicates the value of a seven year term.

two.2.14) Additional information

The main place of performance will be within the administrative boundaries of Essex In addition, this service will also be open to the following classification of users: NHS Healthcare (including local Integrated Care Systems) both within the administrative boundaries of Essex and cross-boundary organisations.

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

15 September 2023


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes