BSIP Community Transport Service Grant Funding July 2024 Early Market Engagement

The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to notify the market of a forthcoming market engagement event relating to grant funding available to Community Transport operators, as part of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) successful application for Phase 3 Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding allocation.

The BSIP seeks to integrate Community Transport (CT), Ring and Ride (R&R) and Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) services in to the wider integrated public transport network. The existing R&R and DRT services are tailored to provide travel for individuals. These services are not currently designed and do not have the capacity to provide travel to group sessions designed for citizens with specific needs or requiring support such as Age Concern, Community Support Groups, Stroke Recovery & Rehabilitation, mental health support networks etc. Due to the cost of transport a number of these groups are no longer meeting and supporting these citizens. Whilst we can provide travel for individuals to these group activities, we can't guarantee it due to the limited capacity and demand responsive nature of existing services. We will provide dedicated additional capacity through our 3rd Sector partners to meet this demand to July 2026. Benefit will be measured through reviewing passenger numbers service availability and sustainability / re-introduction of group activities.

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) is the public body responsible for co-ordinating transport services in the West Midlands and it is an executive body of the WMCA.

TfWM is announcing opportunities for third sector Community Transport operators to submit their proposals for community transport services that benefit individuals, groups and organisations. Proposals should include, but are not limited to:

- Door-to-door transport, using community transport, to enable people for whom lack of transport is a barrier to participate in community activities and groups, providing some social contact and connectivity (both whilst using the transport and at the destination) in the shorter-term and improved well-being in the longer term.

- Regular pre-bookable shoppers services, taking people for whom lack of transport is a barrier to carrying out everyday tasks, such as shopping and visits to vital services.

- Shared transport to take service users to regular day centres or clubs, where lack of suitable transport, or lack of confidence in using existing services is a barrier to their participation in these regular social activities enhancing their quality of life.

Additional information: The objectives for the project are listed below:

- Reduce levels of loneliness among targeted vulnerable groups (those most at risk from loneliness and those with protected characteristics) within deprived areas of the West Midlands by providing access to services / opportunities - Remove travel barriers faced by vulnerable groups and improve accessibility to community support and essential services / opportunities provided by support groups (and do so sustainably) in the West Midlands - Understand the effectiveness of transport schemes in providing access to services and the effect this has in reducing levels of loneliness among those groups with protected characteristics, and any differences in effectiveness between these groups - Demonstrate that transport schemes can encourage growth in the voluntary sector by helping to (re)establish groups and services and increasing their service take up among those with protected characteristics

There will be a requirement for providers to assist in monitoring and evaluation activities for this project. Providers will need to monitor and report on progress and usage of the services regularly.

To commence this process, TfWM is releasing an Expression of Interest to engage with potential suppliers to help inform our approach to the delivery of these services across the West Midlands - including gaining a better understanding from suppliers about what is possible in this area, and the likely costs that would be needed to deliver such services. In addition, we expect this process to allow suppliers to understand the timescales, scope and scale of the Grant funding available in order to prepare to meet the required demand.

TfWM will be undertaking an online event on the 8th of August 2024 at 14:00 for potential suppliers that are interested in funding opportunities and, subject to grant approvals, would be interested in a potential procurement within this programme. This will be followed up by a supplier questionnaire, which will assist the TfWM with their decision making. Interested parties should register through Bravo, and search for project_895 and express interest in attending the event via the message function under PQQ pqq_231 no later than the 6th August 2024 - 9:00. Your registration will ensure that you will receive the relevant details for the online event and any future correspondence regarding the grant funding opportunities. Please note, the information in this document represents TfWM's current plans and may be subject to change prior to a potential tender publication. TfWM reserves the right to amend or change all and any aspects discussed in this exercise.

This PIN is not a call to competition and the TfWM is not bound to enter into any procurement activity because of it. All procurement activity is subject to TfWM priorities, funding and any or all procurement activity is subject to change at the Authority's absolute discretion.