Decision

To award the Information and Advice Procurement contract to Citizen’s Advice Tendring at the £100,000 price point for a period of three years (totalling £300,000) with the possibility to extend for one further year followed by one further year.

Reasons for the decision

The Cabinet agreed in January 2025 to approve the provision of an information and advice service to local residents. Cabinet also agreed to the procurement of such services for a contract period of three years commencing 1 October 2025, and agreed to a modular procurement approach to determine what a provider could offer for various levels of potential funding e.g. £50,000, £100,000, or £150,000 per year.
Cabinet authorised the Portfolio Holder for Partnerships, in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive, to approve the specification for the provision of an information and advice service based on the broad principles set out within the Cabinet report. Decision - Information and advice service for Tendring Procurement - Approval to out to Tender
Following a compliant procurement process the winning bidder at the £100,000 and £150,000 price points was determined as Citizen’s Advice Tendring.
As part of the review of the services offered at both price points it was determined that the most effective provision which delivered a value for money service and accessibility for residents to access support is at the £100,000 price point.

Alternative options considered

1.To not award any contract following the procurement process, although this was discounted as there is a need in the community for an information and advice service.
2. To allocate at the £150,000 price point, although the most effective provision which delivered a value for money service and accessibility for residents to access support is at the £100,000 price point.
3. To allocate at the £50,000 price point, although this was discounted as there was no wining bid at the £50,000 price point as no bid met the specification requirements.