SBC 1220 Provision of an Accessible Financial Advice Service Including Specialist Housing Support

Stevenage Borough Council are currently seeking tenders for the provision of an accessible financial advice service including specialist housing support. The tender documents can be accessed from the ‘My Tenders’ area of the supply Hertfordshire website and selecting the ‘View Details’ button of this project. Please note the deadline for returns and allow sufficient time to make your return as late returns will not be permitted. Any questions relating to this tender should be made via correspondence on the website and can be addressed to the main contact as shown in the details above.

Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK.

The Council requires the provision of a free, tailored and confidential financial information and advice service within Stevenage. This information and advice must be impartial and accessible to all Stevenage residents irrespective of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief, disability or socio-economic factors. The service must result in added social value to the residents and town of Stevenage through increased uptake of benefits and other awards, increased wellbeing and life chances for residents, and a reduction in hardship. It must also add value to the work of the voluntary and public sector in tackling issues of social exclusion for residents living across the town. The contract will also cover the requirement for specialist support and advice through a Court Desk Worker and Welfare Benefits Officer. The contract period is for an initial term of 3 years, the Council shall be entitled at its absolute discretion to extend the contract period for a further 1 + 1 years.

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents.

Remotely through Intend.

The Council reserves the right to cancel the procurement at any stage of the procurement process and not to award a contract. The Council nor any person on whose behalf of whom this procurement is undertaken is to be liable for any costs incurred by those expressing an interest or tendering for this contract, including their associated entities or any other person. To access this procurement opportunity please visit:www.supplyhertfordshire.uk and follow the onscreen guidance. If you wish to be considered as a bidder you must complete and submit the Invitation to Tender (ITT) by the closing date and time. Any clarifications regarding this opportunity must be raised through the correspondence areas in the eTendering system. If you are experiencing problems with the eTendering system, In-Tend offer a help section which includes a dedicated UK support desk which can be contacted via email: support@in-tend.com or telephone +441144070065 for any website/technical questions, Monday to Friday 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. The Council undertakes to hold confidential any information provided in the proposal submitted, subject to the Council's obligations under the law, including Freedom of Information Act 2000. If the potential supplier considers that any of the information submitted in the proposal should not be disclosed because of its commercial sensitivity or for reasons of confidentiality, then this should be stated with the reason for considering it sensitive. The Council will then endeavour to consult with the potential supplier about such commercially sensitive or confidential information when considering any request received under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 before replying to such a request, but the decision of the Council in deciding whether an exemption applies is final. The Council reserves the right to carry out additional financial checks on all companies tendering for this contract at any time during the procurement process, to ensure that they continue to meet the Council's requirements and remain financially viable to perform the contract. The contracting authority will require a group of economic operators to whom the contract is awarded to form a legal entity. Any deposits or guarantees will be established as part of the procurement process. Any financing conditions and payment arrangements will be established as part of the process.

The contracting authority will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar days (when using electronic means) standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. This period allows unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the decision to award a contract before a contract is executed/signed (as appropriate). The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (‘Regulations’) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England and Wales). Any such action must be brought promptly and within the time-limits as defined in the above regulations. Where a contract has not been entered into the court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the contracting authority to amend any document and may award damages. If the contract has been entered into the court has the options to award damages and/or to shorten or order the contract ineffective.