Provision of Independent Advice and Development Support to tenants and customers in South Lanarkshire

Description

South Lanarkshire Council are looking to notify the market of a potential future contract opportunity for the provision of independent Advice and Development Support to tenants and customers in South Lanarkshire. The Council’s Tenant Development Support Project (SLTDSP) was established in September 2002 to provide a range of development support to tenants across South Lanarkshire. The Council currently have one provider delivering independent advice to tenants and other customers. The current contract is anticipated to expire in May 2024. The Council is therefore seeking expressions of interest and engagement with potential bidders, in advance of publishing an Invitation to Tender, for a replacement contract. The Council is anticipating carrying out an Open procurement process, publishing the Invitation to Tender in February 2024. It is anticipated the contract will be awarded for 3 years with an optional extension of up to a further 24 months. The total value of the contract including extension option is anticipated to be 350000.00 GBP (a set budget of 70k GBP pa). The Council’s geographical area covers 700 square miles and contains sharp contrasts between rural and urban communities. The area encompasses all of the former Clydesdale, Hamilton and East Kilbride Districts and part of the former Glasgow District (mainly Cambuslang and Rutherglen). South Lanarkshire’s population is predominately located in urban areas however almost three quarters of the area is rural. This diversity requires flexibility for customer participation to allow customers to participate and become involved in ways that suit them. The provision of independent advice and support is a key element of the current and preceding Customer Involvement Strategies and is essential to facilitate effective customer involvement in policy / service development, implementation and review. Independent advice and support is effective for customer involvement, as this ensures that customers have access to the impartial information necessary to enable them to make up their own minds on important housing matters. The provision of independent advice and support is a key element of the current and preceding Customer Involvement Strategies and is essential to facilitate effective customer involvement in policy / service development, implementation and review. Independent advice and support is effective for customer involvement, as this ensures that customers have access to the impartial information necessary to enable them to make up their own minds on important housing matters. The service procured will have the following focus:- - The provision of independent, non-partial advice, guidance, and support to customers on housing and related matters. - To support the Council to deliver the four strategic outcomes of the Customer Involvement Strategy 2024-29. - To support the development and implementation of the annual scrutiny programme. (This would include supporting scrutiny panels in relation to a minimum of 2 scrutiny activities per year). - To support effective engagement in key regeneration programmes. - Contribute to and deliver staff development programmes in relation to customer involvement.