--- title: "Universal Information and Advice Service" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-040ef3" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-040ef3" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-040ef3.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-040ef3.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "CHESHIRE EAST BOROUGH COUNCIL" published: "2024-04-29" --- # Universal Information and Advice Service Buyer: CHESHIRE EAST BOROUGH COUNCIL Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-040ef3 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-040ef3) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-040ef3.json) ## Summary The Cheshire East Borough Council has recently awarded a contract for the provision of the Universal Information and Advice Service. This service, aimed at all residents of Cheshire East, offers free, financially related advice and information through various channels. The contract, valued at £1,635,000, was signed on December 20, 2023, and the procurement method used was an open procedure. The main procurement category is services, and the contract has an initial term of 36 months with options for two additional 12-month extensions, at the discretion of the Council. This contract presents an opportunity for businesses providing community, social, and personal services to engage with Cheshire East Borough Council. The service aims to build financial resilience and inclusion for vulnerable residents. Businesses that can offer accessible and independent advice services are well-suited to compete for this tender. As the primary service locations are in Crewe and Macclesfield with outreach in care community areas, businesses with a regional presence and experience in similar projects will find this tender suitable for growth opportunities. ## Notice The Provider will offer a free to access, financially related, Universal Information and Advice service that is available to all residents of Cheshire East. The service will be accessible through a number of channels including face to face, telephone, email and online. As residents are regularly presenting with complex needs that cover multiple issues, there will be a clear single pathway to access the service to ensure that residents needs are assessed appropriately. Following initial contact, the Provider will assess the resident's issue(s) and if the issue is straightforward and can be dealt with during the initial contact they should do so, if not they will then offer further appointments to provide more time to resolve the resident's issue(s). Referrals received from referring partners will need to be triaged and prioritised to support those in greatest need first. ### Lot Information Lot 1 The Provider will offer a free to access, financially related, Universal Information and Advice service that is available to all residents of Cheshire East. The service will be accessible through a number of channels including face to face, telephone, email and online. As residents are regularly presenting with complex needs that cover multiple issues, there will be a clear single pathway to access the service to ensure that residents needs are assessed appropriately. Following initial contact, the Provider will assess the resident's issue(s) and if the issue is straightforward and can be dealt with during the initial contact they should do so, if not they will then offer further appointments to provide more time to resolve the resident's issue(s). Referrals received from referring partners will need to be triaged and prioritised to support those in greatest need first. The universal information and advice service will: "Provide timely, impartial and high quality support to residents in Cheshire East that require independent, financially related advice and information." Overall aims and purpose of the service * Cheshire East Council is committed to building financial resilience and inclusion by supporting some of the most vulnerable residents in the borough, and the wider challenges that they may be encountering. * The Provider will provide a financially related Universal Information and Advice service to all residents of Cheshire East. The service will be accessible via a single point of access to ensure residents needs are assessed appropriately. The information and advice service should be: o free o independent o confidential o impartial o problem-solving o accessible through a variety of channels including face to face, telephone and online. * The service will help those accessing the service to clearly understand information, secure their rights and support them to make informed decisions about any financially related issues that they may have. * The service must be available and accessible to those in greatest need and appropriate for people with a physical disability, mental health problems or a learning disability. The service should prioritise residents with the highest level of needs. This will include residents that have been referred by the Council's adult social care team, benefits and housing teams. * The service should locate its main provision in the two main towns of Crewe and Macclesfield, with outreach delivery in the eight care community areas and make use of the Connected Community Social Franchise centres, libraries and relevant partner locations Options: The initial term is 36 months. There are options to extend the contract of 2 x 12 month periods at the discretion of the Council. Notice of the Council's intention to extend will be provided in writing as per the terms and conditions Renewal: It will be renewed (up to 12 months prior) by the end of the initial contract period March 27 or by the end of the full 4 year extended period March 28. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013739-2024 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Large | | All stages | Tender, Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 29 Apr 2024 | | Submission deadline | 27 Nov 2023 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 20 Dec 2023 | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £1,635,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | £1,635,000 | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Cancelled | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Active | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | CHESHIRE EAST BOROUGH COUNCIL | | Locality | SANDBACH | | Post town | Crewe | | Postcode | CW11 1HZ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD6 Cheshire | | ITL 3 | TLD62 Cheshire East | | Local authority | Cheshire East | | Electoral ward | Sandbach Town | | Westminster constituency | Congleton | | Delivery location | TLD62 Cheshire East | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 2 | | Supplier names | CHESHIRE EAST CAB; CHESHIRE EAST CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU NORTH | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 98 - Other community, social and personal services ### Codes - 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services ## Release History - 29 Apr 2024 at 12:36 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013739-2024 - 25 Oct 2023 at 14:41 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031507-2023 ## Notice URLs - http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ - https://www.the-chest.org.uk/ ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-040ef3. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-040ef3.json.