Community advice and legal support services

This Notice is issued to inform providers of the Contracting Authority's intention to advertise an opportunity in the near future (see II.3 below) for community advice and legal support services. This is not a call for competition. The community advice and legal support services contract(s) will include 3 lots for (1) general community advice; (2) specialist legal advice, casework, and representation; (3) specialist community advice for disabled people (adults and children).Depending upon the outcome of the soft-market consultation exercise (see vi.3) the resultant procurement opportunity will either be as a single consolidated contract or for separate defined lots. It is possible the contract(s) may include the need for the contractor(s) to mutually develop, agree and implement a 10-year Local Community Advice, Legal Support and Training Plan with the Council with other local advice agencies. The Lots as described (including the main and additional CPV codes) are for holding purposes.

Depending upon the outcome of the soft-market consultation exercise the resultant procurement opportunity will either be as a single consolidated contract or for separate defined lots. It is possible the contract(s) may include the need for the contractor(s) to mutually develop, agree and implement a 10-year Local Community Advice, Legal Support and Training Plan with the Council with other local advice agencies.

An Information Note is available below (attached). If, after reading the note, you think you might bid and want to engage in pre-procurement dialogue, please convey your views by the means advised in the Note.

Information that may help you decide whether to look at the Note includes the following: (a) in 2016 current providers received c20,000 requests from residents; (b) funding of legal aid work will not be included; (c) an Open procedure will be conducted in accordance with Chapter 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, (Reg. 76(8) may apply); (d) no final decision has been taken on packaging (including on whether it might include management of a community library and neighbourhood centre (see II.1.4 above); (e) the contract(s) will be for 10-years to aid delivery of the longer-term, more holistic and strategic partnerships urged by Low; and (f) the provider(s) will be required to perform the services from premises in the borough of Hammersmith & Fulham and will need to source these.

Additional information: Please access www.capitalesourcing.com to access a detailed information note.