UK Public Sector Contracts & Tenders

We are currently developing a new Community Living Ethical Framework which is intended to establish a strong partnership of the very best providers, all of whom share our values, attitudes and behaviours and an absolute commitment to helping people to live happy and fulfilled lives. This framework will be the key mechanism for commissioning with confidence, the best ethical providers who provide asset-based support to their customers, whilst rewarding and recognising the important role of their caring and compassionate workforce. We believe everyone should be able to live happy, healthy, and fulfilled lives in their local communities. Our approach moves beyond traditional service delivery to one that is person-centred, community-connected, and strengths-based, empowering individuals, families and neighbourhoods to thrive. What will we be looking for? The framework covers a broad range of care, support, housing, and community services for adults, children, and families, for example: 1. Home-Based Care and Support • General homecare for adults and children • End-of-life care at home • Non personal care such as cleaning and home support • Support at night 2. Housing-Related Support • Extra care housing • Supported living for learning disabilities, autism, acquired brain injury, physical disabilities, and mental health needs • Temporary and supported accommodation • Homelessness services • Leaving Care support 3. Specialist and Complex Support • Complex care including step down from long stay hospitals • Complex health and nursing-at-home services • Community rehabilitation and specialist services for drugs and alcohol • Counselling 4. Opportunities and Support in the Community • Respite, timeout, short breaks • Direct payments & personal budgets • Peer support • Wellbeing support • Education & Training • Employability & Skills

Our vision Is to create standalone contract providing a wide range of slings to support prescribers issuing equipment facilitating Hospital Discharge, avoid Hospital admittance and allow Residents to live independently within their own homes. The Contract is aimed to reduce cost by appointing one sole provider for the equipment detailed within the contract and it is envisaged that an open competitive flexible tender under the Procurement Act 23 will be utilised. This contract will sit alongside other contracts for individual types of equipment

Wigan Council intends to carry out a procurement to establish a Framework for the hire of various types of large plant. Some of the items of plant must be provided with an Operator. It is intended that the Framework will comprise of the following Lots: Lot 1 - Backhoe Loader (with Operator) Lot 2 - Paving Machine (with Operator(s)) Lot 3 - Road Planer (with Operator(s)) and Road Sweeper (with Operator) Lot 4 - HGV Tipper 6 Wheel / 8 Wheel (with Operator) Lot 5 - Grab Wagon (with Operator) Lot 6 - Mobile Welfare Units Lot 7 - Steel Lock-Up Container

The development of the Housing with Care Goods and Services Framework is intended to establish a strong partnership with like-minded businesses who share Wigan's values, attitudes and behaviours and demonstrates a commitment to Community Wealth Building. This framework will serve as a vital channel for obtaining goods and services that assist the Borough's most vulnerable residents. It is designed to support individuals in setting up their homes and, through an ongoing programme of works, help them maintain independence and live safely within their community. Under this agreement, the Client shall retain full discretion in selecting the supplier(s) from whom household goods and/or services are to be sourced.

In order to fulfil our statutory obligation, we are looking for dynamic partners to provide tutoring to Wigan children and young people who may otherwise not have a suitable education offer. We are looking for providers who are primarily able to offer face to face tutoring with the flexibility to offer online tutoring when this is in the best interests of the child. In a small number of cases Wigan children may need an out of borough education offer and we welcome providers who can offer this level of flexibility.

Wigan Council has been successful with a Round 2 National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) grant application for the restoration of Haigh Woodland Park. The Council is seeking to commission an appropriate contractor to undertake the restoration of the bothy cottages and potting sheds combined with a contemporary new-build range of glasshouses. The project will bring an under-used part of the site back into beneficial use and provide a focus for visitor experience combined with facilities for training, volunteering, events, and education. Wigan Council are seeking to procure a main contractor suitably experienced, resourced and with capacity to lead on this combination of both restoration and new-build, appointing specialist sub-contractors as required to deliver the specification of work. The programme of works targets the delivery of the specified works between October 2025 and January 2027. Wigan Council have appointed a design team which will be assisting the Authority to carry out the procurement. Details of the design team will be made available in the Invitation to Tender documentation on publication of the tender.

Wigan Council will be seeking a service provider to haul and treat it's mixed recycling collected from domestic properties. The contract is expected to start in 2026 and we propose medium term contract of six year. We would like to seek the views of service providers. During the contract term, legislation will come into force requiring the local authority to collect specific items. We would like to gather industry view on: A) Developing our specification/requirements B) Pricing Structure C) Flexible Terms. D) Performance Indicators (KPIs) E) Social value As part of the evidence gathering, we would like to visit material recovery facilities to gather evidence on progress towards meeting these requirements. The consultation is primarily aimed at operators of material recovery facilities, so we may limit the number of consultees based upon whether the service provider demonstrates the evidence of knowledge and experience to be able to deliver the capacity to process our material.

Wigan Council wishes to establish a contract for the provision of domestic relief furniture packages across the Borough. The contract will be for an initial period of 3 years with the option to extend for two further separate 1-year periods. Therefore, a 5-year contract term. We would like to identify one or multiple organisations to deliver and sustain a furniture service for crisis furniture referrals without the reliance of future funding, which will form part of the evaluation and scoring criteria of submissions. The service will commence on 1st April 2025 and the successful bidder will be required to deliver and sustain a furniture service for crisis furniture referrals which should be easily accessible across the borough and deliver positive outcomes for those in crisis. Provision of furniture will be considered for vulnerable people in financial crisis to support a return to or to allow a person to remain in the community or to ease exceptional financial pressure on families. An application for furniture through Local Welfare Support does not give automatic entitlement to an award of a domestic relief furniture pack. The discretionary nature of this scheme will require the consideration of individual needs on all applications and the availability of funds within the limited budget. The wide variety of individual circumstances will mean a decision in one case does not constitute a precedent for others.

Wigan Council are looking to undertake a procurement exercise, during the Autumn of 2024, to appoint a provider to deliver an Independent Visitor Service for children who are looked after by Wigan Council. The provider will recruit Independent Visitors (IV) who are independent from Wigan Council, and they will ensure that children and young people are offered the opportunity to request an Independent Visitor who suitably reflects their ethnicity, language, religion or gender, and that the request is accommodated wherever possible. The Independent Visitor Service will provide support from a reliable, consistent, and dedicated volunteer who will promote a sense of normal life to the children and young people in addition to any statutory support they receive. The Independent Visitor will promote their welfare including their development, social, emotional, educational, religious, and cultural needs and ensure these are met. If this opportunity is of interest to your organisation please email People's Procurement: peppro@wigan.gov.uk to register your interest.

North West (NW) local authorities are exploring a regional welfare and advice offer to international recruits working in adult social care. The three NW sub regions: Cheshire and Merseyside, Lancashire with Westmorland and Furness, and Greater Manchester (comprising of 23 local authorities) have been collaborating in relation to oversight of ethical international recruitment for Adult Social Care. Work to date has been funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and in part facilitated by North West Association of Directors of Adults Social Services (NW ADASS).

Wigan Council wishes to establish a contract for the provision of welfare benefit, information and debt advice services across the borough. The contract will be for a period of 3 years with two separate 12-month contract extensions. Therefore, potentially a 5-year contract term (if extension clause exercised). The service will commence on 1st April 2024 and the successful bidder will be required to provide advice and support to residents aimed at maximising income and reducing debt and homelessness. The services should be easily accessible across the borough and deliver positive outcomes including increased income for the council and a reduction in demand for public services. The service is required to support our Deal 2030 priorities and address issues linked to the cost-of-living crisis and any future economic challenges. It should provide independent and impartial advice that is efficient and effective in preventing and reducing the problems faced by residents in relation to, but not limited to: • benefits • debt • employment • health and social care • housing • immigration

Wigan Council wishes to establish a contract for the provision of welfare benefit, information and debt advice services across the borough. The contract will be for a period of 3 years with potential 12-month contract extensions. Therefore, potentially a 5-year contract term (if extension clause exercised). The service will commence on 1st April 2024 and the successful bidder will be required to provide advice and support to residents aimed at maximising income and reducing debt and homelessness. The services should be easily accessible across the borough and deliver positive outcomes including increased income for the council and a reduction in demand for public services. The service is required to support our Deal 2030 priorities and address issues linked to the cost-of-living crisis and any future economic challenges. It should provide independent and impartial advice that is efficient and effective in preventing and reducing the problems faced by residents in relation to, but not limited to: • benefits • debt • employment • health and social care • housing • immigration Please note, this is a soft market testing exercise and the deadline for expressions of interest in this opportunity is 12pm on Friday 18th August 2023.

Wigan Council is seeking expressions of interest from sexual healthcare providers who are able to deliver community and specialist sexual and reproductive healthcare services in the borough. A 2017 review of sexual health provision in the Borough informed the development of a new delivery model and procurement of the current provider. We have since worked with our delivery partner to make changes to improve how these services are delivered in the Borough. These changes included things like increasing the amount and type of places support can be accessed, introducing a digital offer, and ensuring that the right support was available for the people who need it the most. During the course of the contract, we have put new models of care in place, driven by the need to reduce face to face contact during the pandemic, which has provided an opportunity to learn from and build on these changes. The current contract has been extended until 31st March 2024, to enable a thorough review of the current provision to be completed. A public consultation has now been commenced, and will run until 4th July 2023. We anticipate the review to be completed during July 2023, with the available commissioning opportunities being released to the market during August 2023. Delivery will commence from 1st April 2024. This Prior Information Notice will enable Commissioners to understand the level of interest from the marketplace in the delivery of sexual healthcare services in Wigan. Please note, this is a soft market testing exercise and the deadline for expressions of interest in this opportunity is 5pm on Wednesday 5th July.

Wigan Council are currently exploring options for the future procurement of a customer relationship management system (CRM) for be Well Outdoor facilities based within our residential Centres in the Lake District (Low Bank Ground and Hinning House). An overview of our current arrangements, our headline requirements and our priorities are set out in the brief. You are invited to submit an Express of Interest (EOI) for this opportunity by completing the Questionnaire Response Form detailed on our procurement portal the Chest - please follow the link in this form to access the opportunity advertisement on the Chest. Registration details can also be found on the same link. There will also be an opportunity to present your current solutions to the established procurement team as part of the EOI process.

Haigh Woodland Park. Invitation to Tender: For the provision of an Ice Cream Concession (Non Static). Haigh Woodland Park invites tenders from experienced mobile Ice Cream Companies for the provision of non-static (mobile) ice cream retail and service. The Business Opportunity Pack provides detailed information on the Concession opportunity and the process of application, this can be accessed by registering via the Chest (See link). The Pack includes: Concession Specification. Concession (Response) Questionnaire / Application to Tender. Site (Trading) Plan. Applicants are requested to complete the Concession (Response) Questionnaire / Application to Tender form and return it via Email to keith.bergman@wigan.gov.uk on or before Tuesday 31st January 2023.

Wigan Council invites expressions of interest for the provision of a Leisure Management System The expression of interest and market engagement brief sets out at a headline level the core operating system requirements for the facilities and services managed by Wigan Council within the Be Well movement. The document defines the scope of Be Well, sets out what is important to Be Well when considering the future procurement of our core leisure operating system and outlines the intended procurement approach. Interested parties are requested to complete an Expression of Interest Document via the Council's Procurement Portal - The Chest ( https://www.the-chest.org.uk/ ) Please follow the link in the additional information.

Call for Expressions of Interest Wigan Council, on behalf of the GM HR collaboration, are currently exploring options for an Applicant Tracking System and Website function to ensure the continuation of our already established greater.jobs brand. Interested parties are invited to submit an Express of Interest (EOI) by completing the Greater_Jobs pre-market engagement Response Document 03_10_22. The Response Document is available on the Chest Procurement Portal https://www.the-chest.org.uk/) you will need to register to see the requirement - The links is detailed below. At this stage, the Council is only gathering information therefore an expression of interest does not guarantee an invitation to tender.

Wigan Council are currently exploring options for the delivery of catering services at an Outdoor adventure centre, Low Bank Ground based in Coniston. The estimated value of the contract is £70,000 pa Interested parties are requested to confirm interest by completing the questionnaire. The questionnaire is available by registering your details on the Chest procurement portal - https://www.the-chest.org.uk/

Wigan Council Education Services are seeking expressions of interest from Alternative Provision providers or education settings who are able to establish Alternative provision for Wigan Pupils. This provision would be to support the councils Excellence in Education Strategy and SEND priority plan ensuring an education system that is inclusive of all pupils. Alternative provision would provide complementary support to secondary age pupils, this would enhance the curriculum offer in their school/setting or offer an alternative to school for pupils who are permanently excluded from their setting and in need of a registered AP provider to support their reintegration into a suitable setting. Any provider expressing interest would need to be compliant with national statutory guidance for AP, safeguarding and other guidance relating to education settings. For those providers expressing an interest in supporting permanently excluded pupils there would be a requirement to be OFSTED registered to allow pupils to go on the 'school roll'.

Wigan Council recognises the value of unpaid carers and is committed to the ongoing support for carers in their role. The Council currently commissions a wide range of services to support carers in maintaining their own health and wellbeing, reducing the negative impact of the role and enabling carers to live a fulfilled life alongside their caring role. This includes services that enable carers to take a break from their caring role. The significant benefits of providing carers with a break is well understood. With carers reporting that having a break has a positive impact on their health and wellbeing, ability to cope with their caring role and their levels of isolation. The council is looking to commission a support offer which enables carers to take a break which is person centred and explores innovative break 'experiences' to meet the needs of those with different caring circumstances and enhances the current traditional offer.