Narrowing The Gap II Bidding Framework

Many Reading residents enjoy prosperous and healthy lives, but some are at risk of being left behind. This may be because of finding it difficult to get work that pays enough to cover day-to-day essentials and to secure decent housing. Some people feel excluded or unable to access local facilities, and some of our citizens may be less able to maintain good health, through no fault of their own, and need support to stay well.

Outcomes funded through Narrowing the Gap II are broadly in two categories.

• a)Outcomes which contribute to maintaining thriving communities; a vibrant third sector; tackling poverty; and supporting cohesion and integration. These will be achieved through services which potentially benefit the whole population, although some are targeted at particular population groups.

• b)Outcomes which positively promote the preventative health and care agenda, i.e. supporting independence, re-enablement and wellbeing with the aim of managing demand for longer-term support. The services we aim to fund in this area are intended to benefit residents with identified health needs, or current or emerging care and support needs. This includes younger and older adults with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, long term health conditions or substance misuse issues, all older people and all adult unpaid carers.

Narrowing the Gap II is a key component of our response to the changing needs of our residents. We need to plan and cater for increasing demands for some services, whilst other services will need to continue to change so that the local authority is sustainable and able to meet its statutory duties with significantly less funding from central government.

Additional information:

Organisations interested in expressing an interest in this procurement should download the procurement documents which are available on the Council`s e-tendering system at: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/readingbc/aspx/Home and complete as instructed.

The Portal is free of charge - to register please follow the supplier registration guidance which is available on the Portal. Contractors wishing to be considered for this tendering opportunity must complete the tender documents and return them electronically via the Council`s e-tendering portal.

Please note: you must register your interest via the Council`s e-tendering portal if you intend to submit a tender. Interested parties must log onto the Council`s e-tendering portal at: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/readingbc, to express an interest and download the procurement documents. All communications regarding this procurement exercise will be conducted through the Council`s e-tendering portal including requests for clarifications or general enquiries. The procurement documents will be available for download up until the closing time and date for tender submissions, it is the organisation`s responsibility to ensure that they download the documents in ample time to ensure that they can be completed and returned electronically, along with supporting documents, prior to the closing time and date stipulated. Before completing the tender, potential providers/suppliers should ensure that the e-mail address that has been used to register their organisation will be checked regularly as the Council`s e-tendering system will generate automatic notifications to this e-mail address when there are updates, changes or messages sent relating to the project. Potential bidders should also check that their organisation`s details are correct and kept up to date.

Technical questions and assistance regarding the use and operation of the Portal should be addressed to the In-Tend Help Desk - e-mail: support@in-tend.co.uk, telephone number +44 8442728810.

Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No