White Goods Service (Discretionary Welfare Assistance Scheme)

Worcester City Council is inviting Tenders from Suppliers for the co-ordination, supply, delivery and installation of white goods to eligible applicants of the Worcester City Discretionary Welfare Assistance Scheme. Currently, applications are received from support agencies on behalf of their clients to the Worcestershire Hub, where they are assessed for eligibility and then forwarded onto the current Appointed Supplier to arrange the purchase, delivery and installation of white goods directly with the applicant and support agency.

This service is referred to as 'White Goods Service (DWAS)". This scheme will operate within the administrative boundary of Worcester City Council, i.e. within the city of Worcester only.

Worcester City Council previously operated the South Worcestershire Discretionary Welfare Scheme on behalf of Worcester City, Wychavon and Malvern Hills District Councils. This scheme has been in operation since April 2013 and was developed following the ceasing of Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans available through the Social Fund.

Government funding for the South Worcestershire Discretionary Welfare Assistance Scheme has been exhausted and the scheme therefore ceased from 31st May 2017, with the three district Councils developing their own local schemes to meet the needs of residents. Worcester City Council will be delivering a new Worcester City Discretionary Welfare Assistance Scheme from Monday 13th November 2017, which will only be available to eligible residents of Worcester City.

Please see Schedule 3 for details of the eligibility criteria for the new scheme. The scheme will be very similar to the current South Worcestershire Discretionary Welfare Assistance Scheme, with a few small changes.

The scheme will continue to provide assistance in the form of energy and food vouchers, and the provision of white goods. This tendering process is for the white goods element of the scheme.

Additional information: The Council is using the e-procurement portal known as the Due North Pro-Contract portal https://procontract.due-north.com to conduct this procurement exercise. To gain access to the Invitation to Tender documents (ITT) suppliers will need to register their company details at the above website.

Once registered, suppliers will be emailed a log-in and password which will allow them to gain access to the tender documents. Tenderers will need to electronically submit an expression of interest and then follow the instructions on screen to get copies of the procurement documents.

Any supplier questions will also need to be submitted via the Pro-Contract portal website. Any clarifications and further tender documents will be issued via the Pro-Contract portal.