Redbridge and Waltham Forest Framework Advice
This project is now completed. Please contact LB Redbridge and LB Waltham Forest for information.
This page contains advice for provider organisations on procurement of support services through a Framework Agreement by the London Boroughs of Redbridge and Waltham Forest.
Redbridge and Waltham Forest Councils have got together to develop a Framework Agreement through which to procure some of the housing support services delivered in their boroughs. LB Redbridge will be procuring the majority of their services using the Framework, and LB Waltham Forest will be procuring services for people with learning disabilities. They have engaged Sitra as independent advisers to support provider organisations participating in this process, with a brief to:
- Provide advice and guidance to providers in the participating boroughs seeking independent clarification of the adopted framework process.
- Deliver provider briefings and training courses at key stages of the project to ensure key factual and impartial information is available and understood by the provider sector.
- Facilitate provider consultation at key stages of the project to ensure that provider feedback can be considered by the local authorities and their advisors.
- Collate and report general themes from enquiries back to the Project Managers and project teams, ensuring that specific issues and potential barriers to participation for community, BME and smaller voluntary organisations are highlighted.
Throughout 2009 and in the early months of 2010 Sitra will be providing independent and impartial information and advice on the procurement process to provider organisations through these dedicated webpages and also through our:
- helpline at rwfprovideradvice@sitra.org
- question and answer mailings
- briefing meetings
- written guidance
- training events.
We aim to ensure that all current and potential providers get access to the information they need through the combination of telephone, written and face-to-face support we offer.
For further information contact us at rwfprovideradvice@sitra.org
NEW: How can Sitra help?
As you know Sitra have been providing independent advice and guidance to organisations in Redbridge and Waltham Forest Councils as part of a brief to support providers during the Framework Agreement process.
During this period we have facilitated briefing meetings and training courses and have set up a web-page and email helpline for all providers to access. These resources are intended to help providers gain access to up to date information and to offer an open communication channel for those seeking answers to questions or clarification on the process. Both this webpage and email helpline are free to providers:
The email helpline can be accessed at rwfprovideradvice@sitra.org
We will be continuing this work throughout the Framework Agreement set-up process, including call-off stage, and would like to know how we can best support providers during this time. It may be that providers have questions regarding the call-off stage/mini-competition process, interview skills or techniques, or TUPE issues.
Please let us know if you have any suggestions for how you can best be supported by Sitra.
NEW: Interviews
Interviews for the remaining client groups are scheduled as follows:
11 and12 January - People with Mental Health Problems: High/Complex Needs Accommodation Based Services and People with Mental Health Problems: Low to Medium Support Accommodation Based Services
13 January - Young People at Risk: Accommodation Based Services
14 January - People with Physical/Sensory Disabilities: Accommodation Based Services
15 January - People with Drug & Alcohol Problems: Floating Support Services
Providers have been notified of these dates (in case of them being called for interview).
Note re interviews:
Interviews have been intended to be used for clarification and/or further moderation of the method statements for each category where needed. In a few of the categories the method statement evaluation has been clear cut and interviews have not been required, therefore, to add any more clarity to the process. For the remaining categories it won't be clear until the method statements have been evaluated whether interviews are required. Providers will be informed as soon as a decision is made for each category.
Questions and answers
The questions raised to date by providers, with answers provided by the Boroughs’ staff, will be listed here as soon as they are made available. Providers can either approach the Boroughs individually to ask questions or they can email / call Sitra. Answers given will be collected up and sent around to all shortlisted providers regularly, as well as being included on these webpages.
These questions were asked by providers at the two briefings held on 6 July 2009.
These questions were asked by providers at the three Sitra training events held in August.
These questions were asked directly to the Boroughs. They include FAQs versions 2 and 4, plus additional questions asked. FAQs 1 and 3 were responses to questions asked by providers at the Sitra briefings and training sessions which is why they have not been collated into FAQs 5 which are all ‘direct to Borough’ questions.
This stage of the process has been completed.
Tender documents were sent to shortlisted provider organisations on Thursday 30 July 2009.
The timetable was amended and the deadline for submitting completed tenders was 4pm on Thursday 17 September 2009. The timetable can be downloaded under “other relevant documents” below.
Pricing document
This stage of the process has been completed. Revised pricing documents were returned by Friday 9 October 2009. See documents here:
<FONT face="Arial">-</FONT> Covering letter for Tender Pricing Document 25.09.2009
<FONT face="Arial">-</FONT> Label – for Pricing Document
<FONT face="Arial">-</FONT> Tender Pricing Document 25.09.2009
<FONT face="Arial">-</FONT> Tender Pricing Document - Questions & Answers
Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)
This stage of the process has been completed. Documents which were sent out for the PQQ can be downloaded below for information about the tendering process by LB Redbridge and LB Waltham Forest.
Events
Briefing meetings for providers
Two briefing meetings were held on 6 July at which a presentation was given by Sitra, see presentation download below. Questions were asked by provider organisations and verbal responses given by LB Redbridge and LB Waltham Forest officers.
These questions and responses were written up by Sitra and have now been added to by Redbridge and Waltham Forest officers. See questions and answers above (FAQs version 1) to download.
Sitra training courses for providers
A two day Tendering for services training course was run by Sitra on three separate dates in July and August. Questions raised by providers during the three courses have been sent to Redbridge and Waltham Forest officers for written response and will be sent around as soon as possible. These will also be put on the website.
Other relevant documents
Categories of service to be procured through the framework
Pre Qualification Questionnaire and information
PQQ B (i) for Learning Disability Services
PQQ B (ii) for all services except Learning Disability
Please note:
- While we are providing advice and guidance on the procurement process through this service, we are not able to assist any one organisation to develop a bid or to advise on their individual tender submission.
- Any requests for, or submissions of, questionnaires and tenders must be made directly to the local authority contact given in the documents, and must not be routed via Sitra.
