Report - Contract Authorisation Report for Advice Services (RC-CPU-25-216)
Renfrewshire Council · 11 June 2026
Back to Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board — 11 June 2026 and its agenda
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PUBLIC ___________________________________________________________________ To: Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board On: 11 June 2026 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: The Director of Finance and Resources and the Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Contract Authorisation Report for Advice Services (RC-CPU-25- 216) ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The purpose of this report is to seek approval of the Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board to award a Contract for Advice Services to Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau (Co. No. SC282019). 1.2 The recommendation to award this Contract follows a procurement exercise which was conducted as a Negotiated Procedure without prior publication in accordance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, as amended, for a Social and Other Specific Services Contract and the Renfrewshire Council Standing Orders Relating to Contracts. 1.3 The contract strategy was approved by the Head of Policy and Partnership and the Corporate Procurement Manager on 25 March 2026. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations It is recommended that the Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board:
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PUBLIC 2.1 Authorises the Head of Corporate Governance to award the Contract for Advice Services to Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau (Co. No. SC282019). 2.2 Authorises the maximum approved Contract value of up to £840,000 excluding VAT for the Period of Contract. 2.3 Authorises the Period of Contract of 2 years. The Contract is intended to commence on 1 July 2026 (to 30 June 2028); however, the actual commencement date will be formally confirmed in the Council’s Letter of Acceptance. _________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 Across Renfrewshire Council area many people are affected by debt and money concerns, and it is recognised that advice plays a key role in supporting households through challenging financial circumstances. It is also recognised that people tend to seek support only once a crisis point is reached, and advice becomes vital to help them find a resolution. The Council wishes to commission a service that will not only support those in crisis, but encourage clients to engage earlier and obtain advice before crisis point is reached. 3.2 The Council requires a Service Provider to provide an advice services to the residents in the Renfrewshire Council area. In line with the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers (SNSIAP) (or CAS audit accreditation, where applicable), the Service Provider will provide free general advice and separate legal advice to residents in the Renfrewshire Council area. This advice will include advice on money, debt, financial capability, welfare benefits, and housing and employment issues. It is expected that the Service Provider will work closely with the Council’s Advice Works service, to ensure that clients across Renfrewshire will receive quality advice. 3.3 The Council currently holds a Contract with Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau for Advice Services. The current Contract will expire on 30 June 2026. 3.4 The procurement exercise was conducted as a Negotiated Procedure without prior publication in accordance with Regulations 33 (1) (b) (ii) and Regulation 76. (1) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 as amended for a Social and Other Specific Services Contract, and the Renfrewshire Council’s Standing Orders Relating to Contracts. 3.5 The Invitation to Contract was issued to Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau via the Public Contract Scotland Tender portal on 1 April 2026
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PUBLIC and their Tender Documents (response) was submitted at 12 noon on 22 April 2026. 3.6 In accordance with Regulation 76. (1) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 as amended and Renfrewshire Council’s Standing Order relating to Contracts 11.5, a Single Procurement Document (Scotland) was required to be completed as part of the Tender submission. The completed SPD (Scotland) was evaluated and met the predetermined criteria. 3.7 The tender response was evaluated against the Quality and Price award criteria as detailed in the Invitation to Contract. The evaluation was undertaken by representatives from the following Council Services: Chief Executive’s Department, Corporate Procurement Unit, ICT, Corporate Risk, and Health and Safety. Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau met all award criteria requirements as set out in the Invitation to Contract. 3.8 Community Benefits were requested as part of the procurement process and Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Service has agreed to deliver the following community benefits: Community Benefit Number Offered 16+ work experience placements 4 ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – The costs for this Contract will be met by the Chief Executive’s Service revenue budget with a maximum approved Contract value of up to £840,000 excluding VAT for the Period of Contract (2 years). 2. HR & Organisational Development - No HR & Organisational development implications have arisen or are anticipated 3. Community/Council Planning – • Our Renfrewshire is well – o Improve quality of life for the citizens of Renfrewshire, especially those in vulnerable groups and communities. o Equip citizens of Renfrewshire with increased financial stability and resilience, o Will contribute to the holistic wellbeing, building confidence and positivity about the future
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PUBLIC • Building strong, safe and resilient communities – o Build community capacity and resilience, empowering individuals and organisations to support themselves and others in a sustainable way through provision and access to robust and effective advice and information services. o Deliver advice which empowers communities, with an emphasis on early intervention and prevention • Tackling inequality, ensuring opportunities for all – o Enhancing the current advice provision in Renfrewshire. o Enhance client’s financial and other wellbeing. • Working together to improve outcomes o Working in partnership with other advice organisations, the service will contribute to the holistic wellbeing, building confidence and positivity about the future, their sense of wellbeing and ability to have control over their own lives. 4. Legal - This procurement process was conducted as a Negotiated Procedure without prior publication in accordance with Regulations 33 (1) (b) (ii) and Regulation 76 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 as amended for a Social and Other Specific Services Contract, and the Renfrewshire Council’s Standing Orders Relating to Contracts. 5. Property/Assets - No property/assets implications have arisen or are anticipated. 6. Information Technology - The cyber submission from Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau was evaluated by the Council’s Security and Compliance team and met the requirements. 7. Equality & Human Rights - The recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health & Safety - The Health and Safety submission from Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau was evaluated by Health and
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PUBLIC Safety Team and Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau met the Council’s requirements. 9. Procurement -This recommendation has followed procurement regulations and Renfrewshire Council Standing Orders relating to Contracts, to ensure that the Council meets its statutory requirements in respect of procurement procedures, efficiency and modern Government 10. Risk - The insurance documents submitted by Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau have been assessed by Renfrewshire Council’s Risk Officer and met the Council’s requirements. 11. Privacy Impact - As part of the procurement process, a data protection impact assessment (DPIA) was conducted by the Service and the Council’s Information Governance team. The Invitation to Contract contain Conditions of Contract which include Data Protection Conditions. Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau’s will be a Data Controller under the Contract and, as such, have a legal responsibility to comply with Data Protection legislation when collecting, processing and storing personal data. Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau agreed to the Conditions of Contract relating to Data Protection. 12. Climate Risk – The level of impact associated with the services was assessed using the Scottish Government Sustainability Test and is deemed as low impact. 13. Children’s Rights – This report demonstrates compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child with regards to tackling poverty, improving life chances, and enhancing wellbeing. 14. Cosla Policy Position – No Cosla policy position implications have arisen or are anticipated. _______________________________________________________ List of Background Papers (a) None ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Gillian Gordon, Senior Procurement Specialist, Corporate Procurement Unit, gillian.gordon@renfrewshire.gov.uk