Market Testing - Oxfordshire Single Point of Contact for Housing and Health Referrals

The subject matter of this process relates to the delivery of services which are listed in Schedule 3 of the Public Contract Regulations.

Oxfordshire County Council (the Council) is inviting suppliers to have a conversation to develop the future delivery model of a single point of contact (SPoC) for housing (including energy efficiency) and health referrals in the County.

The Oxfordshire County, District and City Councils work in partnership to fund a service providing local telephone energy efficiency advice, supporting the most vulnerable residents to stay warm and well in their homes. More recently due to COVID19 and the Cost of Living crisis the service has expanded and now includes home visits.

The Authorities in Oxfordshire wish to procure a single point of contact to support residents to stay warm and well in their homes to address their health and wellbeing needs, but also link into the work required to achieve a net zero Oxfordshire.

This includes targeting of priority groups where fuel poverty and poor housing conditions are more likely. The service will also contribute to the "Oxfordshire Way" supporting organisations such as the NHS, adult social care and VSCE groups by providing easy access expertise in housing conditions, local offers of support, training and onward referrals.

The conversation aims to provide suppliers in the market an opportunity to:

• Access a curated library of local data and insight on fuel poverty, energy performance of the housing stock and local health needs.
• Inform the SPoC for housing and health referrals model in Oxfordshire, so it is fit for the future.
• Contribute to ensuring the service delivery model is financially viable and supports the provider market.
• Ask questions of local commissioners and test your ideas around supporting residents to stay warm and well in their homes, whilst working towards a low carbon heating ambition for more vulnerable residents.
• Get a brief overview of the Oxfordshire procurement process and the draft timescales for this tender.

The conversation will take place in two parts; prospective suppliers can participate in either or both opportunities:

1. An opportunity to make comments on a draft service delivery model for a new Single Point of Contact for housing and health referrals between 20th February and 15th March 2023 at 12pm.
2. Arrange a 40-minute Teams conversation on Tuesday 7th or Wednesday 8th March between 9.30am and 4pm. Note there will a total of 6 slots available and it will be on a first come first served basis.

Following this market engagement, the Council's intends to run a full procurement as a single stage tender process following analysis of feedback, anticipated to be published mid to late April 2023.

For further information relating to this market testing and to express interest, please visit the South East Business Portal via the following URL: https://sebp.due-north.com/ The portal reference is DN656897.