COMMISSIONING FOR YOUTH23 June 2014Tri-boroughSharon Cohen

Engage London

Aims• To improve understanding of commissioning models across London;

• To improve understanding of what tendering means for organisations

Objectives

• Provide an overview of the current commissioning landscape across London

• To develop a framework around effective business planning for your organisation

• To have an increased knowledge of the policy context for children’s services

• To review further support and development needs around leadership and governance

Engage London

Key Findings• The picture across London is very varied• Party politics appear to make a difference• A very wide range of service delivery models• A budget reduction context• Greater emphasis on outcomes and impact• Demand for significant, evidenced young people’s

involvement at all levels• VCS groups finding it harder to obtain funding• Many VCS groups (especially smaller groups) not

prepared for tendering

Engage London

Key messages for the VCS• Local engagement and representation• Working across borough boundaries• Collaboration• Diversification of funding• Commissioning processes

• Due diligence and PQQ process• Skills and capacity• Contracts• TUPE

• Young people’s engagement

Engage London

Due Diligence

•Due diligence is the process of systematically checking an organisation to make sure they are suitable to contract, and can include checking that it …

• Is properly constituted• Has adequate insurance• Is financially sound

Engage London

PQQ

Pre Qualification QuestionnaireEnsuring that an organisation meets the minimum standards to deliver the work

In pairs – make a list of what documents you think you may be required to produce for a PQQ

Remember – if you don’t meet the PQQ, you don’t get invited to tender

Engage London

Tri-Borough – timescales• RBKC new contracts from April 2015• H&F contracts run to April 2015 – re-commission from then

• Westminster – decision to be taken after local elections; contract to October 2015

• Timescales often slip – the borough can make that decision BUT don’t assume it will – you might get caught out unprepared!

Engage London

The Commissioning Cycle: commissioning, procurement, tendering & contractingCommissioning describes the whole process of mapping, planning, delivery and evaluation of services for a local area.

A commissioner is anyone undertaking this whole process

Engage London

The ‘common’ tender process Advert Placed

Seek EOI

Send out

PQQ

PQQ Evaluation

ITT Submission of ITT

Interview

Award

Monitoring

RBKC– Indicative timescales• June-July stakeholder events (young people)• 5th July Launch event (stakeholders- providers). At this

event timescales will be confirmed. • July Specification complete (incorporating above) • September 2014 Invitation to tender • October 2014 tender submission deadline • Nov 2014 evaluation phase • Jan-March 2015 mobilisation period

Engage London

Tri-Borough – What they want• To commission against the outcomes framework

• Organisations with good community links

• To rationalise contracts – looking for local consortia

• To work with stakeholders (providers and young people) to develop the outcomes

Engage London

Tri-Borough – tendering• If the providers do not evidence BOTH an understanding of the

outcomes and how they can meet the outcomes they will not be funded

• A statement “This service will increase attainments at school” is not evidence!

• Tri-borough feedback – evidence is not coming through in bids – those that evidence outcomes get the contracts!! They want to see evidence and examples

Engage London

Contracts• Read the contract carefully• Ask questions about anything you don’t understand or

need clarified• Identify the legal responsibilities you take on if you sign

the contract• Is another organisation undertaking this work now? If so

does TUPE apply?• Are any transferring staff on different terms and

conditions?• How long is the contract for? Are you liable for

redundancies at the end of it? What will this cost you?

Engage London

Useful ResourcesHow to evidence outcomes:-http://www.ces-vol.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/CBB9D16E-8981-4170-8F5F-B2E649B995DB/0/managingyourprojectanditsoutcomes.pdf

Successful tendering guide:-http://secure.investni.com/static/library/invest-ni/documents/tendering-guide-the-tender-process.pdf

Quality Assurance:-www.qmsuk.com

Engage London