Planning

Preliminary Engagement Notice - Closing the Gap - VCSE Infrastructure Support

READING BOROUGH COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

02 Jun 2025 at 09:23

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Reading Borough Council, a sub-central government public authority located at Bridge Street, Reading, aims to procure a service under the tender titled "Preliminary Engagement Notice - Closing the Gap - VCSE Infrastructure Support". This tender process, currently in the planning stage, falls within the social services industry category and is expected to have a contract value of £130,000 per annum, totaling £650,000 over five years. An engagement session is scheduled for June 12, 2025, via Teams, to facilitate the exchange of the procurement timetable, draft service specification, and to gather feedback from providers. The re-procurement of this service is planned towards the end of 2025 with the new contract commencing from April 1, 2026.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses, particularly those within the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, to engage in the provision of preventative community-based services in Reading. With a focus on supporting the local VCSE infrastructure, this contract is well-suited for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as VCSE organisations, looking to expand their services and influence in the region. Engaging in the upcoming engagement session will allow interested parties to better understand the needs and strategic objectives of Reading Borough Council, thus positioning themselves advantageously for the forthcoming competitive procurement process.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Preliminary Engagement Notice - Closing the Gap - VCSE Infrastructure Support

Notice Description

Closing the Gap (CTG) is a contract opportunity for providers to deliver preventative community-based services. As part of this we currently commission an Infrastructure Support Service to support to the local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises. We plan to re-procure this service towards the end of 2025 with the intention of starting the new contract on the 1st April 2025. The contract value for this service is expected to be PS130,000 per annum for up to 5 years for a total value of PS650,000. Engaging with providers is a key part of developing what this service will look like. As such, we are holding an engagement session to share our procurement timetable and draft service specification. This will be an opportunity for us to gather feedback which will shape the final service. The draft service specification being shared has been based on learning from the current Closing the Gap service, a Needs Analysis, feedback from stakeholders, a working group of cross-council colleagues and external stakeholders and consultations with funding stakeholders regarding alignment to funding outcome requirements. This engagement session will be held via Teams on June 12th at 12:00 am. Please reply via a correspondence message via the Reading Borough Council In-Tend system to this notice with any email addresses you wish to be sent an invitation to this meeting.

Planning Information

This engagement session will be held via Teams on June 12th at 12:00 am. Please reply via a correspondence message via the Reading Borough Council In-Tend system to this notice with any email addresses you wish to be sent an invitation to this meeting.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-052a51
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029027-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85320000 - Social services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Jun 20258 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Nov 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
READING BOROUGH COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
pchub@reading.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
READING
Postcode
RG1 2LU
Post Town
Reading
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ16 Berkshire West
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Reading
Electoral Ward
Abbey
Westminster Constituency
Reading Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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