VCS Core Infrastructure Support Services

Concepts

• education and training
• vcs core infrastructure support services
• local core infrastructure support service
• core infrastructure support builds capacity
• vcs organisations
• local vcs organisations
• opportunity development support
• vcs
• community and personal services
• services for voluntary and community sector

Location

Description

This is a Prior Information Notice (PIN) issued by Westminster City Council (WCC) who is a public local authority and a Contracting Authority for the purposed of the Public Contract Regulations 2015. The PIN has been issued for operators to be aware of WCC's planned intention to procure the provision of a provider to deliver (i) a local Core Infrastructure Support Service and (ii) a Volunteer Outreach and Development (VOD) Services ("the Services"). This PIN shall not be used as a means for the call for competition for the Services. This PIN is to ask for expressions of interest from the market. The Contracting Authority intend to publish a Contract Notice for the call for competition on or around September 2021. The Contracting Authority will be recommissioning the Services for Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations to commence from April 2022. The proposed contract period for both will be for a term of three (3) years with the option for the Contracting Authority to extend for a further one (1) plus one (1) year for a contract period of up to five (5) years. The estimated contract value for service (i) is £200,000 per annum and for service (ii) is £81,693 per annum. VCS organisations play a unique and critical role in supporting local residents' and communities on the ground, working with partners to co-ordinate and deliver their services to respond to local needs. WCC's consultation with local VCS organisations in early 2021 indicates that strong leadership across the sector through the Services is needed now more than ever. Core infrastructure support builds capacity and systemic change, collaboration, facilitates and delivers learning opportunities and creates opportunities to share ideas and resources to promote innovation and good practice. Our local networks and forums work towards fostering community connections in a positive consortium space. The VOD Services provides dedicated volunteering opportunity development support to local VCS organisations to ensure they create volunteering opportunities which meet community needs and contribute to the delivery of the WCC's core City For All commitment to increase the number of people who volunteer in the WCC's local area. Our aim is support and facilitate sustained organisational resilience across the sector by commissioning the service which is specifically tailored around the needs of VCS organisations and one that will positively contribute to WCC's key priorities. Our intention is to commission the Services to lead the sector through a proactive and strength-based approach, delivering training, support sustainability in services through funding advice and maximise social return on investment.

CPV Codes

• 80000000 - Education and training services
• 85000000 - Health and social work services
• 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Indicators

• Contract is suitable for SMEs.
• Contract is suitable for VCOs.

Other Information

WCC welcomes expressions of interest from Voluntary Sector organisations who have experience of supporting local VCS organisations in Westminster. We would like to hear from you with regards the following: 1). Are you interested in this opportunity? Y/N 2). Have you got experience and can demonstrate how you have delivered core infrastructure support services to VCS organisations within Westminster's local area ? Y/N 3). Have you got experience and can demonstrate how have delivered volunteering opportunity services to r VCS organisations within Westminster's local area ? Y/N 4). What do you see as the opportunities and risks associated with tendering for or delivering these services? Free text. Kindly register your expression of interest via prj_WCC_19217 - VCS Core Infrastructure Support Services - Early Engagement by 12 noon on 31st August 2021. This PIN shall not be used as a means for the call for competition and a tendering exercise may be conducted at a later date on or around September 2021.