Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Essex County Council
County Hall, Market Road
Chelmsford
CM1 1QH
Contact
Ms Rachel Horne
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH3 - Essex
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://procontract.due-north.com/
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/
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
Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Support
Reference number
DN729186
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Essex County Council (“the Council”) is seeking to commission a new Voluntary and Community Sector support service as part of a wider offer to strengthen and champion a thriving and influential voluntary and community sector within the administrative boundaries of Essex (excluding the unitary authority areas of Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea). In addition, this service will also be open to the following classification of users: NHS Healthcare (including Integrated Care Systems) both within the administrative boundaries of Essex and cross-boundary organisations.
This procurement will incorporate the following lots:
Lot 1: Universal Standard Support Offer (USSO)
Lot 2: Community Participation
An overview of the Council's requirements for this service is outlined within the lot specific sections of this notice. However, prospective bidders are advised that the full details regarding the Council’s requirements for each of these lots can be found within the relevant service specification which will be published on the Council’s e-tendering portal, ProContract and can be accessed via:
https://procontract.due-north.com/
Please register for a user account to gain access to the procurement documentation for this opportunity. The Council envisages that this procurement will be published on the aforementioned e-sourcing portal on Friday 26th July 2024.
The proposed contract commencement date for both lots is 1st December 2024 until 31st March 2031 with a break clause at 31st March 2028. Please note that the maximum duration amounts to 75 months and 30 days. However, due to the constraints with the fields in this notice, this position has been rounded up to the nearest month. The stated budget for this service is based on £75,000 for the initial four (4) months per lot and £75,000 p.a. for each subsequent year of the contracts per lot. In addition, the Council understands that there may be scope for additional funding of up to 15%, although this matter remains subject to confirmation during the post-tender phase of the project.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
Tenders may be submitted for one lot only
Maximum number of lots that may be awarded to one tenderer: 1
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Universal Standard Support Offer (USSO)
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 98133100 - Civic betterment and community facility support services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Council is seeking to commission provider(s) to develop and maintain a Universal Standard Support Offer (USSO) to the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in Essex. This service is designed to allow users to self-assess and directs them to relevant, up to date and accessible business and compliance advice.
The overarching purpose of this lot is to provide equity in access to quality, practical guidance to ensure organisations have the strong foundations needed to support them to achieve their goals, plan for development, become more resilient, build capacity and contribute to flourishing communities.
The successful bidder must ensure that the service delivers the following commissioning requirements:
• Ensure the USSO is hosted as a digital platform
• Allow users the ability to complete self-assessments of their organisational health
• Automatically direct users to high-quality and relevant information, advice, guidance and resources based on the outcome of their self-assessment regarding business development and compliance (e.g. governance procedures, safeguarding, policy templates, legal updates, training).
• Be easily accessible to all VCS organisations regardless of size, skill or accessibility needs.
• Allow users to intelligently browse the resources within the USSO
Please note that the above information is intended to provide an overview of the Council's commissioning requirements for this service and full details of the scope of this provision will be published in the associated service specification which can be located via ProContract.
The proposed contract commencement date is 1st December 2024 until 31st March 2031 with a break clause at 31st March 2028. The stated budget for this lot is based on £75,000 for the initial four (4) month term followed by £75,000 p.a. for each subsequent year of the contract. In addition, the Council understands that there may be scope for additional funding of up to 15%, although this matter remains subject to final confirmation.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 60
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 10
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £525,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
76
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
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Community Participation
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 98133100 - Civic betterment and community facility support services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Council is seeking to commission provider(s) to deliver a strategic approach to building Community Participation across Essex.
This lot is for the development of a broad approach to community participation, developing a culture of active and engaged communities that can be driven forward and supported by place-based resources. Leading the development of an eco-system that enables and grows community participation within the boundaries of Essex County Council (excluding Southend and Thurrock).
• Lead the creation of an ecosystem that facilitates community participation
• Support and develop a positive environment in which the value of participation is recognised and community activity is flourishing
• Embrace digital technology to connect local efforts into an integrated whole
• Advocate for accessible participation, by creating, promoting, and fostering accessible and welcoming pathways into community participation
• Identify and scope opportunities to maximise the potential of corporate volunteering capacity and return on Social Value commitments.
Please note that the above information is intended to provide an overview of the Council's commissioning requirements for this service and full details of the scope of this provision will be published in the associated service specification which can be located via ProContract.
The proposed contract commencement date is 1st December 2024 until 31st March 2031 with a break clause at 31st March 2028. The stated budget for this lot is based on £75,000 for the initial four (4) month term followed by £75,000 p.a. for each subsequent year of the contract. In addition, the Council understands that there may be scope for additional funding of up to 15%, although this matter remains subject to confirmation during the post-tender phase of the project.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 60
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 10
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £525,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
76
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 three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions
As detailed within the tender documents.
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
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: 2024/S 000-013998
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
6 September 2024
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 4 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
6 September 2024
Local time
12:00pm
Place
Electronically via the system functionality within the Council's e-tendering system, ProContract
Information about authorised persons and opening procedure
Electronic process — The commercial officer will conduct the opening process via the
functionality within the Council's e-sourcing portal, ProContract. No postal responses or any
submissions which are issued outside the electronic portal will be accepted.
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.3) Additional information
The contracting authority considers that this contract is suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SME) and Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement. Candidates are advised this procurement will be conducted via the Council's e-tendering portal, ProContract, which can be accessed via the following website:
https://procontract.due-north.com/Login
Please register for a user account to gain access to the procurement documentation for this opportunity. The Council envisages that this procurement will be published on the aforementioned e-sourcing portal on Friday 26th July 2024. However, the Council reserves the right to postpone the publication in order to ensure suitable assurance that the tender documents are fit for purpose. Once the procurement is published a corresponding advertisement will be available via the Council's e-tendering portal, ProContract to enable prospective bidders to access, view and respond to this opportunity.
In order to submit an effective expression of interest in this opportunity, candidates must utilise the functionality within the Council's e-tendering portal.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The High Court
The Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom