A service provider for Hampshire County Council’s ‘Hitting the Cold Spots Project’

Hampshire County Council’s Adult Services invite suitably experienced providers to tender for the delivery of its fuel poverty alleviation scheme, ‘Hitting the Cold Spots’.

It is acknowledged that the impact of cold weather on health is predictable and mostly preventable. Those at greatest risk of its effects include the over 75 years of age (especially those living alone), young children, people living in deprived circumstances and from marginalised groups. Hitting The Cold Spots is Hampshire County Council’s response to the guidelines and recommendations of the Cold Weather Plan for England 2012 in order to reduce the number of people who die from the effects of cold weather and to reduce the impact of fuel poverty particularly during the winter months. The scheme is in line with the principals and recommendations of the Cold Weather Plan for England 2014 and the Fuel Poverty Strategy for England published in 2014.

The project, which is available across the Hampshire County Council administrative area,

is supported by a broad range of both statutory and voluntary sector partners, with their own wide networks of contacts that enabled the project to reach into the community to the most vulnerable. All 11 district/borough councils are also active partners in the project.

The service provider will be expected to provide suitably experienced staff to offer advice and support to vulnerable residents living in fuel poverty, both via a telephone service and through a range of other channels. They will also be responsible for successfully managing the installation of practical heating and energy efficiency interventions into resident’s homes, including emergency heating grants and services.  The provider will be experienced in successfully identifying and securing additional funding, both for the project as a whole and to assist individuals with the installation of practical measures.

The contract is for a maximum of 3 years, on a 1 year + 1 year + 1 year basis with an annual budget of £120k (totalling £360k over the 3 years).  This budget will cover both the running costs (e.g. staffing etc) and deliverables of the project. It should be noted that there is the possibility of additional funding from a range of sources which should be used for the ‘deliverables’ of the project, bringing the potential contract value up to a maximum of £750k over the life of the contract.

Organisations interested in being considered for this opportunity will be required to register with and apply through Hampshire County Council’s online tendering opportunities portal https://in-tendhost.co.uk/hampshire/

The closing date for submissions of Tender is strictly 14:00 on 12 October 2015.