Shropshire Council: AMCV 322 - Advice, Advocacy & Welfare Benefits Service

UK-Shrewsbury: Provision of services to the community.
Section I: Contracting Authority
      I.1) Name and addresses
             Shropshire Council
             Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND, United Kingdom
             Tel. +44 1743252992, Email: procurement@shropshire.gov.uk
             Contact: Procurement Manager
             Main Address: www.shropshire.gov.uk
             NUTS Code: UKG22
      I.2) Joint procurement
      The contract involves joint procurement: Yes.
      In the case of joint procurement involving different countries, state applicable national procurement law: Not provided       
      The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body: No.
      I.3) Communication
      The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Shrewsbury:-Provision-of-services-to-the-community./E5K2335YZ2
      Additional information can be obtained from: the abovementioned address
      Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically via https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-title/E5K2335YZ2 to the abovementioned address       
      Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at: Not provided
      I.4) Type of the contracting authority
            Regional or local authority
      I.5) Main activity
            General public services

Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
      II.1.1) Title: AMCV 322 - Advice, Advocacy & Welfare Benefits Service       
      Reference Number: AMCV 322
      II.1.2) Main CPV Code:
      75200000 - Provision of services to the community.

      II.1.3) Type of contract: SERVICES
      II.1.4) Short description: Shropshire Council wishes to procure an Advice, Advocacy and Welfare Benefits preventative service for adults. This service is to replace an existing contract.

The Advice, Advocacy and Welfare Benefits (AAWB) service will deliver advice and non-statutory advocacy for all adults aged 18+ across a range of issues which impact on people’s wellbeing and will incorporate support for people who need help to be able to navigate the welfare benefits system.

As a guideline, over a 12 month period the current service has delivered advice, advocacy and welfare benefits support to over 9,500 people. This can be broken down by:
•Non-statutory advocacy = 1,900
•Advice = 7,600 people in total
•Over 50% of all individual issues are related to Welfare Benefits & Tax Credits
The provider will be expected to manage any increase in demand within the contract value.       
      II.1.5) Estimated total value:
      Value excluding VAT: 4,637,500       
      Currency: GBP
      II.1.6) Information about lots:
      This contract is divided into lots: No       
   
II.2) Description
      
      II.2.2) Additional CPV codes:
      Not Provided       
      II.2.3) Place of performance:
      UKG22 Shropshire CC
      
      II.2.4) Description of procurement: Shropshire Council wishes to procure an Advice, Advocacy and Welfare Benefits preventative service for adults. This service is to replace an existing contract.

The Advice, Advocacy and Welfare Benefits (AAWB) service will deliver advice and non-statutory advocacy for all adults aged 18+ across a range of issues which impact on people’s wellbeing and will incorporate support for people who need help to be able to navigate the welfare benefits system.

As a guideline, over a 12 month period the current service has delivered advice, advocacy and welfare benefits support to over 9,500 people. This can be broken down by:
•Non-statutory advocacy = 1,900
•Advice = 7,600 people in total
•Over 50% of all individual issues are related to Welfare Benefits & Tax Credits
The provider will be expected to manage any increase in demand within the contract value.

The contract will make a significant contribution to Shropshire Council’s strategic intentions that are in place to support prevention and early intervention. Chiefly this in in reference to the delivery of The Shropshire Plan and also the more recently agreed Prevention Framework which provides more context and detail for how we will deliver our strategic plans.

The Framework includes the following key priority area which relates to this contract:
•Priority 2: Integration and One Shropshire - Enable communities and the voluntary and community sector to take more of central role in the development and delivery of prevention programmes, ensuring all age groups are at the centre of the implementation of the framework. This includes the developing community and family hubs (and spokes)

Furthermore, the framework emphasises the importance of taking forward approaches that are neighbourhood led. This means joining up local services in the community, as well as with countywide provision, and fostering community connections so that everyone in a neighbourhood can thrive.

Providing more services closer to home and taking a neighbourhood approach is at the heart of our wider vision to improving wellbeing and preventing illness and poor health. Working in this way will allow us to fulfil the following priorities:
•The One Shropshire Vision aims to outline how Shropshire Council is working with its partners including the NHS and Voluntary and Community Sector to support people to live their best lives and centres around making it as easy as possible for people to stay happy, healthy and connected in their communities.
•One Shropshire is about coming together as a system (system meaning working with multiple partners, the community and people who live in Shropshire), with an integrated, complementary offer that meets identified and prioritised local needs and fills any gaps in provision.

Given the breadth of experience and range of activity required, we would welcome proposals which bring together a number of organisations to deliver this service. This may be a formal or informal partnership, a consortium, a lead provider / sub-contractors arrangement or similar. Additionally, the Council recognises the importance of the strong brand, identity and recognition that individual organisations have and a solution which retains choice for people within the contracting arrangement is desirable.

The contract will be for an initial term of 4 years with an option to extend the contract by a further 3 years subject to contract performance and budget availability.
      II.2.5) Award criteria:
            Criteria below
            Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 80
                        
            Cost criterion - Name: Price / Weighting: 20
                              
      II.2.6) Estimated value:
      Value excluding VAT: 4,637,500       
      Currency: GBP       
      II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system:
      Start: 01/10/2024 / End: 30/09/2028       
      This contract is subject to renewal: Yes       
      Description of renewals: This contract can be extended for a further period of up to 3 years
      
      II.2.10) Information about variants:
      Variants will be accepted: No
      II.2.11) Information about options:
      Options:       No             
      Description of options: Not provided
      II.2.12) Information about electronic catalogues:
      Tenders must be presented in the form of electronic catalogues or include an electronic catalogue: No
      II.2.13) Information about European Union funds:
      The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No       
      Identification of the project: Not provided             
      II.2.14) Additional information: To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/E5K2335YZ2       


Section III: Legal, Economic, Financial And Technical Information
   III.1) Conditions for participation
      III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
      List and brief description of conditions:          
      See tender documents    
      III.1.2) Economic and financial standing       
      List and brief description of selection criteria:
      See tender documents    
      Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :       
      See tender documents    
      III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
      List and brief description of selection criteria:       
      See tender documents    
      Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :          
      See tender documents
      III.1.5) Information about reserved contracts (if applicable)   
      The contract is reserved to sheltered workshops and economic operators aiming at the social and professional integration of disabled or disadvantaged persons: No       
      The execution of the contract is restricted to the framework of sheltered employment programmes: No    
      
   III.2) Conditions related to the contract
      III.2.1) Information about a particular profession    
      Reference to the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision:          
      Not Provided    
      III.2.2) Contract performance conditions       
      See tender documents          
      III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
      Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract: No

Section IV: Procedure
   IV.1) Description OPEN
      IV.1.1) Type of procedure: Open   
   
   IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system    
         The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement - NO    
         In the case of framework agreements justification for any duration exceeding 4 years: Not Provided    
   
   
   IV.1.6) Information about electronic auction:
      An electronic auction will be used: No
      Additional information about electronic auction: Not provided
   IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
      The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No       
   IV.2) Administrative information
      IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure:
         Notice number in the OJ S: Not provided       
      IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
       Date: 03/06/2024 Time: 12:00
            
      IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: English,       
      IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender: Not Provided      
      IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders:
         Date: 03/06/2024
         Time: 12:00
         Place:
         Shirehall
      

Section VI: Complementary Information
   VI.1) Information about recurrence
   This is a recurrent procurement: Yes    
   Estimated timing for further notices to be published: 7 years
   VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
   Electronic ordering will be used No       
   Electronic invoicing will be accepted No       
   Electronic payment will be used No       
   VI.3) Additional Information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Shrewsbury:-Provision-of-services-to-the-community./E5K2335YZ2

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/E5K2335YZ2
   VI.4) Procedures for review
   VI.4.1) Review body:
             Shropshire Council
       Shirehall, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND, United Kingdom
       Tel. +44 1743252992
   VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures:
             Shropshire Council
          Shirehall, Abbey Foregare, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND, United Kingdom
          Email: procurement@shropshire.gov.uk
          Internet address: www.shropshire.gov.uk
   VI.4.3) Review procedure
   Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:    
    Not Provided    
   VI.4.4) Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained:
          Shropshire Council
       Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND, United Kingdom
       Email: procurement@shropshire.gov.uk
       Internet address: www.shropshire.gov.uk
   VI.5) Date Of Dispatch Of This Notice: 02/05/2024

Annex A



   IV) Address of the other contracting authority on behalf of which the contracting authority is purchasing
      Purchased on behalf of other contracting authority details:
      1: Contracting Authority
       Shropshire Council is purchasing on behalf of itself and any wholly owned local authority company or other entity that is deemed to be a contracting authority by virtue of the Council’s involvement.
       Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND, United Kingdom
       Email: procurement@shropshire.gov.uk
       Main Address: www.shropshire.gov.uk
       NUTS Code: UKG22