Tender

Request for Application for Voluntary and Community Sector Fund 2026-2029

  • Forest of Dean District Council

UK4: Tender notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-069710

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05d713

Published 30 October 2025, 12:31pm



Scope

Description

The Voluntary and Community Sector Fund (VCS Fund) aims to provide voluntary and community organisations with a flexible funding opportunity to support the delivery of services, projects and activities that benefit the local community and help to deliver the Council's corporate priorities.

From these priorities we have established a number of outcomes that we wish to achieve with our funding. This application forms part of a detailed commissioning process against those outcomes with the funding being awarded to those organisations who can best demonstrate that they can deliver to achieve our outcomes.

There will be 5 Funds as summarised in - Summary of the Funds detailed requirements is found in Specifications.

(e.g. one organisation may apply for Lot 1 and/or Lot 2 of the Fund A)

Applicants may only bid within one Fund.(Please ensure you identify which of the funds and lots you are bidding for)

Fund A - Advice

Fund B - Improved Voluntary and Community Sector Support in light of LGR

Fund C - Improved Mental Health and Wellbeing for Children and Young People who are victims of Domestic Abuse

Fund D - Improved Mental Health and Wellbeing for Older People with Long Term Conditions

Fund E - The Armed Forces Community is better supported locally

Total value (estimated)

  • £480,000 excluding VAT
  • £576,000 including VAT

Below the relevant threshold

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029
  • 3 years

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 75200000 - Provision of services to the community
  • 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Contract locations

  • UKK13 - Gloucestershire

Lot 1. Fund A - Lot 1

Description

Provision of advice to individuals including advice on legal, financial, benefits and rights

Lot value (estimated)

  • £255,000 excluding VAT
  • £306,000 including VAT

Same for all lots

CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.


Lot 2. Fund A - Lot 2

Description

The provision of home visits to vulnerable people

Lot value (estimated)

  • £45,000 excluding VAT
  • £54,000 including VAT

Same for all lots

CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.


Lot 3. Fund B - Improved Voluntary and Community Sector Support in light of LGR

Description

Advice and support for volunteers and community groups, including improved collaboration, provision of training, set up, networking and encouraging volunteering

Lot value (estimated)

  • £60,000 excluding VAT
  • £72,000 including VAT

Same for all lots

CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.


Lot 4. Fund C - Improved Mental Health and Wellbeing for Children and Young People who are victims of domestic abuse

Description

Children and Young people who are victims of Domestic Abuse are supported holistically and signpost to the help they need

Lot value (estimated)

  • £60,000 excluding VAT
  • £72,000 including VAT

Same for all lots

CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.


Lot 5. Fund D - Improved Mental Health and Wellbeing for Older People with Long Term Conditions

Description

People with long term conditions, including early onset, have access to holistic support using nature, arts and music

Lot value (estimated)

  • £30,000 excluding VAT
  • £36,000 including VAT

Same for all lots

CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.


Lot 6. Fund E - The Armed Forces Community is better supported locally

Description

Armed Forces Support in Communities which reduces isolation and improves wellbeing

Lot value (estimated)

  • £30,000 excluding VAT
  • £36,000 including VAT

Same for all lots

CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.


Participation

This procurement is reserved for

  • Suppliers from Gloucestershire
  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs)

Conditions of participation

Lot 1. Fund A - Lot 1

Lot 2. Fund A - Lot 2

Lot 3. Fund B - Improved Voluntary and Community Sector Support in light of LGR

Lot 4. Fund C - Improved Mental Health and Wellbeing for Children and Young People who are victims of domestic abuse

Lot 5. Fund D - Improved Mental Health and Wellbeing for Older People with Long Term Conditions

Lot 6. Fund E - The Armed Forces Community is better supported locally

This is a grant application process and is reserved for local VCSE's based in Gloucestershire

Particular suitability

Lot 1. Fund A - Lot 1

Lot 2. Fund A - Lot 2

Lot 3. Fund B - Improved Voluntary and Community Sector Support in light of LGR

Lot 4. Fund C - Improved Mental Health and Wellbeing for Children and Young People who are victims of domestic abuse

Lot 5. Fund D - Improved Mental Health and Wellbeing for Older People with Long Term Conditions

Lot 6. Fund E - The Armed Forces Community is better supported locally

Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)


Submission

Tender submission deadline

28 November 2025, 5:00pm

Submission address and any special instructions

Tenders may be submitted electronically

Yes


Award criteria

100% Quality

Price is not an evaluation criteria as this is a grant opportunity.


Procedure

Procedure type

Below threshold - open competition

Special regime

Light touch


Contracting authority

Forest of Dean District Council

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBWX-1235-CVGZ

High Street

Coleford

GL16 8HG

United Kingdom

Region: UKK13 - Gloucestershire

Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government