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

Public Affairs Support Services

2.2

Description of the goods or services required

Social Care Wales is seeking to engage with the market in advance of procuring a provider of public affairs support and political intelligence services. The successful supplier will support Social Care Wales to monitor political and policy developments in Wales and, where relevant, at Westminster; provide strategic intelligence, stakeholder analysis and briefings; and support engagement with Members of the Senedd (MSs) and other key stakeholders.

The contract will include a combination of ongoing and ad hoc support, including political monitoring, horizon scanning, intelligence gathering, stakeholder mapping, production of briefings, strategic advice, and support for engagement activities and events. The supplier will be expected to provide experienced public affairs practitioners with strong knowledge of the Welsh political and policy landscape and the ability to respond flexibly to changing organisational and political priorities.

The purpose of the contract is to support Social Care Wales in building awareness and understanding of its statutory role and responsibilities, strengthening relationships with political stakeholders, increasing awareness of the social care sector in Wales, identifying emerging opportunities and risks, and ensuring access to timely political intelligence and analysis to inform organisational planning and decision-making.

Activities will be undertaken on a strictly non-partisan basis and will not include lobbying for changes to government policy. The contract is intended to provide consistent support through a period of significant political change, including the expansion of the Senedd and the next Senedd election cycle.

Aims and Objectives

The successful supplier will support Social Care Wales to:

- Provide timely and actionable political intelligence and analysis to support organisational planning and decision making.

- Identify emerging risks, opportunities and policy developments relevant to Social Care Wales.

- Build and maintain positive relationships with MSs, their staff, and other relevant stakeholders.

- Increase awareness and understanding of Social Care Wales and its statutory role and wider remit.

- Raise awareness of the importance and value of what social care is and how it works in Wales, the social care workforce, and the wider social care, early years and childcare sector, in Wales.

- Create engagement opportunities that position Social Care Wales as a trusted source of evidence, expertise and insight.

- Provide advice and support during key political events and periods of change, including elections, government formation and committee restructuring.

- Develop a strategic, evidence-based and outcome-focused approach to public affairs activity.

Desired Outcomes

The contract should enable Social Care Wales to:

- Maintain an informed understanding of the political and policy environment in Wales.

- Identify and respond effectively to emerging political and policy developments.

- Strengthen relationships with elected representatives and key stakeholders.

- Improve awareness and understanding of Social Care Wales amongst policymakers.

- Increase opportunities for meaningful engagement with political stakeholders.

- Enhance the organisation's reputation as a trusted and authoritative source of evidence and expertise.

- Maintain continuity of engagement and intelligence throughout periods of political transition.

Please see Specification for further detail

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=169930.

The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.

Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.

2.3

Notice Coding and Classification

2.4

Total quantity or scope of tender

Budget

There is a budget of £110,000 (inclusive of any applicable VAT) agreed for this tender.

The actual amount spent in any given contract year will be dependent upon operational requirements and the volume of Services commissioned and delivered.

Social Care Wales does not guarantee any minimum level of expenditure under the subsequent Contract.

The Supplier will provide full financial breakdown of the costs associated with the project for consideration through the evaluation process.

Prices must be quoted in pounds sterling and clearly state if VAT will or will not be charged.

Contract Duration

The contract will run initially from 25 October 2026 - 24 October 2027. The Contract may be extended for a further period of up to 43 months, giving a maximum total contract term of 4 years and 7 months, ending on 24 May 2031.

The Contract will be subject to break clauses at:

- 12 months from the commencement date (25 October 2027); and

- 36 months from the commencement date (25 October 2029).

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

N/a

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:169930)

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

5.2

Additional Documentation

5.3

Publication date of this notice