Learning Disabilities Accommodation and Support Services Market Engagement Event

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council is carrying out a review of its accommodation- based Learning Disability supported living services with a view to going out to market later in 2018 in line with a large existing contract that is coming to an end in May 2019. The Council is undertaking a pre-procurement market engagement in relation to a revised model of provision.

You are invited to attend the event which will be held on 6th November from 09:30am to 12:00pm at the following venue:- Darwin Room, Tickfield Centre Tickfield Industrial Estate, Tickfield Ave, Southend-on-Sea SS2 6LL Please confirm your attendance via eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/learning-disabilities-acco... please note that spaces are limited to 2 attendees from each organisation Our aim is to commission flexible housing related support provision for people with a learning disability, which enables them to keep safe, to live independently, and to maintain good health and wellbeing so that they can access their local community. We wish to engage with the market to test market interest in the provision of housing support services and to discuss the service model options available.

The Council currently commissions a supported living service within five accommodation bases, across one main site (consisting of independent flats, mews and shared houses on one site). Placements are made primarily by the Council, although there have also been health-funded placements in the current service provision.

The hours of support to be offered to each tenant are currently agreed at the start of the person's tenancy between the tenant, the social work team and the provider, and there is an expectation that these will reduce over time. Please note, interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to this soft market testing exercise and a response to this notice does not guarantee any invitation to participate in any future public procurement process that the Council may conduct.

This notice does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services for the Council and the Council is not bound to accept any proposals offered. The Council is not liable for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any party participating in the soft market testing / sounding exercise.

Any procurement of any services by the Council in due course will be carried out strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Responses to the questionnaire will be treated as commercially confidential.

Organisations will have the opportunity to ask questions on the specifications once the procurement process is underway. The Council's tenders will be advertised on the Pro-contract portal and the following websites, please see links below: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk