Supporting People Gypsies and Travellers floating support service

1. Supporting PeopleGypsies and Travellers floating support service December 2013

2. Purpose • Tender opportunity • Council officers to brief interested parties • Gauge the level and extent of interest in the provider market to deliver this service • Ascertain views of interested organisations about the future delivery of this service

3. Purpose SMBC will commence the tender process in December 2013 including the distribution of a service specification To present to interested parties an early indication of some key elements of the specification and procurement timetable

4. Background • Current service provider has issued notice on the current contract • As registered social landlord they are disposing of their entire West Midlands asset holdings to another social housing provider • Unable to maintain a presence in the West Midlands

5. Service Specification • a housing related floating support service (Supporting People) • to enable gypsies and travellers to achieve and/or maintain independent, stable lives in the community • gypsies and travellers are amongst the least likely in the community to know about, or take up, services

6. Service Specification: Outcomes • Think Local, Act Personal and so assist people to… • …live independently ~ stay healthy and recover quickly from illness ~ exercise control ~ participate ~ quality of life ~ dignity ~ respect

7. Service Specification: Core Objectives Assessment and Support Planning Security, Health and Safety Safeguarding and Protection from Abuse Fair Access, Diversity and Inclusion User Involvement and Empowerment

8. Service Specification: Core Provision Develop independent living skills Assistance and advocacy on gaining access to services and statutory rights Manage finances, assistance with benefit claims, debt, literacy Ensure accommodation is safe and secure Assistance with adaptations to property

9. Contract • Block Gross • An initial one year period from 1st April 2014 to 31st March 2015 with options to extend for 3 x 12 months subject to future funding. • Supporting People Commissioning Body will review further contract extensions during 2014.

10. TUPE The current support worker (1.0 wte) will be subject to Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations.

11. Timetable

12. If you have a query about the service specification please contact: Simon Barton, Solihull MBC, 0121 704 8292, simon.barton@solihull.gov.uk. Lucy McDonald, Solihull MBC, 0121 704 8544, lucy.mcdonald@solihull.gov.uk

13. Shared Procurement Service Solihull MBC Coventry City Council Warwickshire County Council District Councils – Nuneaton and Bedworth, Rugby, Worcester

14. Opportunities are advertised on: www.csw-jets.co.uk TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) – above the EU thresholds

17. The procurement process will be a open process – this means there will only be an Invitation to Tender (ITT) You can Express an Interest in the tender opportunity through www.csw-jets.co.uk where you can download the tender documents. The Procurement Process

18. Invitation to Tender The Award Criteria will be detailed in ITT Part 1 – Instructions to Tenderers. Read the document through as soon as possible so you can start collating your documents and planning your response.

19. No detail is too small! If you are unsure on what is required you can ask a clarification question through the e-tendering system which will be answered and sent to all bidders for their information. Clarification questions will not be accepted after the date specified in ITT Part 1 – usually about a week before the tender closing date.

20. You should regularly check the e-tendering system to see if there have been any communications from Solihull or clarifications that you will find useful. It is your responsibility to check for communications and stick to timelines etc. Before you raise a clarification, check to see if it has already been raised by someone else.

21. The weighting will give you an idea of the importance of each questions. • Read the question carefully – it is a bit like taking an exam, you have to answer the question that has been asked not the one you have prepared for! • Keep referring back to the question to make sure you are still on track with your response.

22. The price you submit in your tender must be your best and final offer. Prices are not open to negotiation. Do not wait until the last minute to upload your tender submission. Once the tender closing time has been reached the system will not allow you to upload anything else.

23. Solihull Compact The Compact is the agreement between the government and the VCS (independent voluntary organisations, charities, community groups, etc.) which outlines a way of working that improves their relationship for mutual advantage. Local areas are encouraged to follow the principles of the Compact Fair, transparent and consistent processes being carried out when developing or redesigning services

24. If you have a query about the procurement process please contact; Heather Boyd, Solihull MBC, 0121 704 6063, hboyd@solihull.gov.uk.

25. Thank you