CONTRACT NOTICE – NATIONAL

1 Authority Details

1.1

Authority Name and Address

1.2

Address from which documentation may be obtained

1.3

Completed documents must be returned to:

2 Contract Details

2.1

Title

Provision of Sensory Support Services

2.2

Description of the goods or services required

SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH SENSORY IMPAIRMENT

Wrexham County Borough Council and Flintshire County Council are looking to commission three sensory impairment services and are seeking tender applications from organisations that are able to meet the required service outcomes as detailed below for the provision of a number of services for adults and children who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hearing impaired or deaf blind.

The Provider(s) will maximise well-being and promote independence of people with a sensory impairment, delivering a range of support including:

• Information and advice and support

• Registration.

• Specialist assessment

• Rehabilitation

• Equipment and technical support

The service will be commissioned for five years with a provision to extend by a further 2 X twelve months, to enable Wrexham County Borough Council and Flintshire County Council to complete a strategic review of sensory impairment services. The service will increase access to equipment and assistive technology and provide a personalised support plan and rehabilitation package to support the individual involving training and support in relation to mobility, communication and daily living skills. The provider(s) will be expected to work in partnership with local Social Services Teams, Audiology and Ophthalmology services, and signpost people on to appropriate communication support and wellbeing services as required, in a timely manner.

The outcomes of the services to be achieved are:

1. Work with adults and children with sensory impairments to enable them to secure their entitlements and understand their rights.

2. Support adults and children with sensory impairments to achieve positive social and economic well-being and promote positive physical, mental health and emotional well-being.

3. Enable and support citizens living with sensory loss to provide a positive contribution to society including access to education, training and recreation.

4. Support adults and children with sensory impairments to develop and maintain healthy domestic, family and personal relationships.

5. Support adults and children with fully trained BSL interpretation or signposting to appropriate advocacy services to support meetings/appointments.

6. Establish quarterly citizen engagement forums to obtain feedback from citizens on the services they are receiving, and include Commissioning Officers from WCBC and FCC twice yearly to understand on-going needs of the sensory support communities. It will be the provider responsibility to ensure appropriate interpretation/ representation at such events.

This is an outcomes-focused specification for adults and children with sensory impairments. As it focuses on outcomes, it leaves scope and flexibility for providers to organise service delivery in a range of ways to achieve the required outcomes. We welcome providers to bring their expertise to the table and outline how they will deliver on the outcomes set out within the specification. Innovation and creativity is encouraged.

The Agreements to be let:

• Lot 1 - Services to adults and children who are blind or have a visual impairment

• Lot 2 - Services to adults and children who are deaf or have a hearing impairment

• Lot 3 - Service to adults and children with deaf blindness (spot purchase)

We welcome submissions from specialist providers who wish to bid for all 3 lots as a complete service through a consortia approach, although separate bids for individual lots will be considered. The total cost of the complete service for Wrexham and Flintshire is not to exceed £300,000.00 per annum.

The anticipated contract start date would be 1st May 2024. It is to be noted that there is currently a waiting list for vision impairment support in the area, and should there still be a waiting list at the inception of the new contract date, the provider will be expected to pick this up and continue to work through the waiting list within the contract provision.

NOTE: The authority is using eTenderwales to carry out this procurement process. To obtain further information record your interest on Sell2Wales at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/search_switch.aspx?ID=136833

2.3

Notice Coding and Classification

2.4

Total quantity or scope of tender

3 Conditions for Participation

3.1

Minimum standards and qualification required

4 Administrative Information

4.1

Type of Procedure

Single stage

4.2

Reference number attributed to the notice by the contracting authority

Proc 23 - 100

4.3

Time Limits

4.5

Language or languages in which tenders or requests to participate can be drawn up

4.6

Tender Submission Postbox

5 Other Information

5.1

Additional Information

(WA Ref:136833)

Under the terms of this contract the successful supplier(s) will be required to deliver Community Benefits in support of the authority’s economic and social objectives. Accordingly, contract performance conditions may relate in particular to social and environmental considerations. The Community Benefits included in this contract are:

Non Core Community Benefit - Targets

The successful supplier will be encouraged to secure value-added, positive outcomes whilst maintaining the cost neutral position for the Authorities.

The below list is not exhaustive but provides a theme of what may be offered and conducted by a successful Supplier:

Non Core Community Benefits

1. Donations of equipment and materials

2. Donations of in-kind labour

3. Provision of work experience placements for 14-16 year olds and ‘disadvantaged’ persons

4. Participation in local community events

5. Sponsorships and cash donations to organisations / charities based in Wrexham

6. Visits to Schools to engage students and / or teachers in presentations (e.g. Internet Safety), with provisions for donations of classroom resources and lesson plans

7. Visit to Schools and Colleges to provide opportunities for students to participate in ‘Mock’ interviews, including providing feedback to the students

8. Environmental considerations such as:

o Recycling of eligible materials

o Managing business mileage

The buyer considers that this contract is suitable for consortia bidding.

5.2

Additional Documentation

5.3

Publication date of this notice