Planning

W4174 Contract for the delivery of advice and guidance to Walsall residents in specific Walsall locality areas (Making Connections Walsall)

  • Walsall Council

UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-077923

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05eab9

Published 28 November 2025, 9:01am



Scope

Reference

W4174

Description

The aim of this procurement for the delivery of advice and guidance to Walsall residents to address loneliness and social isolation to residents of all ages in Walsall. The service is designed to empower residents to take responsibility for their own health and well-being by helping them to engage in community activities and build social networks.

Walsall Council is seeking Voluntary Sector/ Community led organisations to deliver this service in the specific Walsall locality areas which are:

Hub 1: North Walsall - AP 3 - Bloxwich East, Bloxwich West, Birchills Leamore, Blakenhall

Hub 2: West Walsall - AP5 - Bentley and Darlaston North, Darlaston South, AP6 - Willenhall North, Short Heath, Willenhall South

Hub 3: East Walsall - AP1 - Pelsall, Brownhills, Aldridge North, Rushall-Shelfield and Walsall Wood, AP2 - Aldridge and Beacon

Hub 4: South Walsall - AP4 - Walsall South, St Matthews, Paddock, Palfrey, Pleck

The service offers one-to-one support and a simple referral process, making it accessible for those who might benefit from it. It's part of a broader effort to create a more connected and supportive community, where individuals feel valued and included.

The Hubs are delivered through a hub and spoke locality model with each hub connecting residents, to other appropriate community-based provision. The hubs provide a flexible approach and over the years have continued to adapt to meet the needs of residents.

The main focus of the service is around tackling loneliness and social isolation, improving wellbeing and reducing preventable health and social care service use. It takes a "strength-based approach" to improve the social connectivity of all residents across Walsall.

Total value (estimated)

  • £1,000,000 excluding VAT
  • £1,200,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029
  • Possible extension to 31 March 2031
  • 5 years

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 75200000 - Provision of services to the community

Engagement

Engagement deadline

12 December 2025

Engagement process description

This Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) process aims to inform potential suppliers and gather market intelligence.

The objectives of the PME process is as follows:

1.) To provide potential suppliers with insights into the service and to engage with them where appropriate.

2.) To better understand the current market and those suppliers already operating in the locality areas described above and whether there are potential organisations who are able to meet the delivery requirements of the specification.

3.) To inform the procurement process.

Completion and submission of the pre-market engagement questionnaire via the council's e-procurement portal.


Participation

Particular suitability

  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
  • Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)

Procedure

Special regime

Light touch


Contracting authority

Walsall Council

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHGR-7481-DHXR

Civic Centre, Darwall Street

Walsall

WS1 1TP

United Kingdom

Region: UKG38 - Walsall

Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government