Contract for Consultancy Services to Assess the Potential Resources Required to Provide the Optimum Ombudsman Service by a New Public Service Ombudsman

The Government has published its response to the consultation on creating a single Public Services Ombudsman (PSO) organisation which would take on the functions of the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman and Local Government Ombudsman. It proposes to bring forward draft legislation to this effect by the end of the current Parliamentary session.

It is a vital piece of the legislative process to understand what resources must be set aside to deliver a high quality, cost-effective service available to all complainants. Within the context of the service that the PSO must deliver, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) requires consultancy support to provide an assessment of the potential resources required to support the delivery of the proposed new Public Services Ombudsman organisation, based on the provision of the optimum ombudsman service.

The objective of this Contract is to provide expert consultancy advice to assist Executives from the Local Government Ombudsman and the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman, to reach a view on the budget that would be needed to provide a high quality service to the public which meets the predicted level of demand and makes the most of opportunities to reduce costs via efficiency savings through the creation of a new organisation.

Additional information: To participate in this procurement, Potential Providers must first be registered on the Crown Commercial Service e-Sourcing Suite.

If you have not yet registered this can be done online at

https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk by following the link ‘Register for CCS eSourcing’.

Please note that, to register, you must have a valid DUNS number (as provided by Dun and Bradstreet) for the organisation which you are registering, who will be entering into a contract if invited to do so at the Invitation to Tender stage.

Full instructions for registration and use of the system can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier

Once you have registered on the eSourcing Suite, you will need to express an interest in this procurement. This is done by emailing ExpressionOfInterest@crowncommercial.gov.uk Your email must clearly state:

• the name of this procurement - Contract for Consultancy Services to Assess the Potential Resources Required to Provide the Optimum Ombudsman Service by a New Public Service Ombudsman
• the reference CPD/004/116/078
• the name of the registered supplier; and
• the name and contact details for the registered individual sending the email.

Crown Commercial Service will then process this email and assign your organisation to the opportunity. The registered user will receive a notification email to alert them once this has been done.

The deadline date for receipt of final outstanding requests for clarification will be 13/01/2016 at 12:00hrs.

The deadline for the receipt of proposals is 17:00hrs on 22/01/2016 and therefore suppliers can register on the e-Sourcing Suite between the issue date of this Contracts Finder advert and the deadline date. It is advised however that Potential Providers register as soon as practically possible in order to receive the Invitation to Tender and have a sufficient amount of time to respond.

For technical assistance on use of the eSourcing Suite please contact the Freephone: 0345 010 3503 Email: supplier@crowncommercial.gov.uk