This item will recommend that the Director of Public Health approve the award of a four-year contract (with the option of two one-year extensions) for the Community Connector service, to commence on 1 February 2025.

On the 23^rd of January 2024, the Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee authorised the Director of Public Health to recommission Community Connector, ‘Connect Us’ Service in Wirral. The Committee, delegated authority to the Director of Public Health to award the tender to the successful bidder(s) following the tender process. This report provides an update on the re-commissioning process and advises on the outcome in relation to the Community Connector, ‘Connect Us’ Service.

The process has concluded, the tenders received have been fully evaluated according to the Council’s procurement rules and the Director of Public Health is recommended to award the contract to the successful bidder, Involve Northwest. Current commissioning arrangements expire at the end of January 2025.

The commission supports the implementation of the Wirral Working Together Plan 2023-2027 and its core purpose to work together to promote fairness and opportunity for people and communities in Wirral through working to local priorities using local resources to ensure Wirral residents receive the best possible services.

The proposed actions affect all wards within the borough and the decisions requested are

key decisions.

Appendix 1 to this report contains exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. It is in the public interest to exclude the press and public under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding the information).

The Director of Public Health, under delegated authority from the Adult Social Care and Public Health committee (23rd January 2024), has  approved the award of a four-year contract, with the option of two one-year extensions) in relation to the Community Connector ‘Connect Us’ Service, to Involve Northwest within the approved budget and as the highest scoring tenderer, in accordance with the most economically advantageous tender criteria at a total cost of £2,871,493.85 over the initial four-year term.

The current contract for the Community Connector, ‘Connect Us’ Service, delivered by Involve Northwest expires on 31^st of January 2025. A procurement exercise has been completed in accordance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules, utilising the competitive dialogue process.

The tenders that were submitted were evaluated against a 10% contract price,10% Social Value and 80% contract quality ratio. The successful bidder met all the quality requirements within the allocated budget.

The current commission was considered as part of the Public Health Grant Review process. Options, including contract length, contract value and service capacity, were explored. The impact of not recommissioning the service was also considered. Not reprocuring the service was not deemed to be a viable option. Given the level of increasing complex needs of residents experienced across the borough relating to mental health and social isolation, the grant review panel concluded that maintaining the service as a Wirral wide resource was the best option.