CAR for Provision of a Professional Independent Advocacy Service for Adults
Renfrewshire Council · 20 November 2025
Back to Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board — 20 November 2025 and its agenda
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OFFICIAL ___________________________________________________________________ To: Finance, Resource and Customer Services Policy Board On: 20 November 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: The Director of Finance and Resources and the Chief Officer Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (RHSCP) ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Contract Authorisation Report for Provision of a Professional Independent Advocacy Service for Adults (RC-CPU-25-063) ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The purpose of this report is to seek the approval of the Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board to enter into a Contract for Provision of a Professional Independent Advocacy Service for Adults, with VoiceAbility Advocacy. 1.2 The recommendation to award this Contract follows a procurement exercise which was conducted as an Open Procedure for an above Threshold contract in accordance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) 2015 Regulations 2015, as amended, Social and Other Specific Services, and the Renfrewshire Council’s Standing Orders Relating to Contracts. 1.3 A Contract Strategy was approved by the Chief Officer (RHSCP) and the Chief Finance Officer (RHSCP) on 1 August 2025 and the Strategic Category Manager on 31 July 2025. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations It is recommended that the Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board:
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OFFICIAL 2.1 Authorises the Head of Corporate Governance to award a Contract for the Provision of a Professional Independent Advocacy Service for Adults, reference RC-CPU-25-063, to VoiceAbility Advocacy (Company Registration number 03798884); 2.2 Authorises up to a maximum approved contract value of £761,352 (£190,338 per annum), excluding VAT, and notes that the maximum approved contract value is made up of the following: • Contract Value (confirmed) £621,352 (£155,338/annum) • Alcohol and Drugs advocacy* £140,000 (£35,000/annum) * Additional funding for Alcohol and Drugs focused advocacy is dependent on Scottish Government funding, which will be confirmed annually but is NOT guaranteed for the duration of the Contract. 2.3 Authorises the award of a Contract for a period of 3 years with the option to extend for up to a further 12 months on one occasion. The extension will be at the sole discretion of the Council; 2.4 Note that the anticipated Commencement Date for the Contract is 1 January 2026; however, this may be impacted by transitional requirements including TUPE therefore the actual Commencement Date will be confirmed in the Council’s Letter of Acceptance. _______________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 The Council has a requirement for the Professional Independent Advocacy Service for Adults within Renfrewshire as the current contract for this requirement is due to expire. The Service will be based within the Renfrewshire Council area and play an important role in supporting individuals to express their views and ensure that these views are heard and considered by the people who are involved in decision making that will affect the lives of these individuals. 3.2 The procurement process for the Contract was conducted using the Open Procedure in accordance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, as amended (Social and Other Specific Services) and the Renfrewshire Council’s Standing Orders Relating to Contracts. 3.3 A Contract Notice was published on the Find a Tender Service via the Public Contracts Scotland website on 01 August 2025. The Invitation to Tender was also published and available on this date from Public Contracts Scotland – Tender. The Tender Deadline was 12 noon on 15 September 2025.
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OFFICIAL 3.4 During the tender live period, 9 economic operators viewed the tender opportunity prior to the Tender Deadline: • 3 submitted tender responses • 5 did not submit a response • 1 declined to respond. Feedback was sought from those who declined or did not submit, and responses included insufficient resources, financial viability or that economic operators could not meet the scope of requirements. 3.5 The 3 Tender Submissions received were evaluated against a pre- determined set of criteria in the form of the Single Procurement Document (Scotland) (“SPD”), by: representatives from the Corporate Procurement Unit (CPU); representatives from RHSCP; representatives from Health and Safety; representatives from Risk and representatives from Cyber teams, against pre-determined bidder selection criteria which assessed competence, expertise and financial stability. 3.6 As part of the Quality requirements, the Technical Experience section of the SPD was evaluated by representatives from the RHSCP. Tenderers had to detail experience to demonstrate capacity and capability to deliver services within the Renfrewshire Council area. All 3 Tenderers passed the technical experience element of the SPD. 3.7 All Tenderers confirmed compliance with the minimum selection criteria set within the SPD. 3.8 Each Tender Submission was then evaluated against the published award criteria of 70% Quality/30% Price by representatives from both the CPU and the RHSCP. The Total Score achieved by each Tenderer is detailed below: Tenderer Quality (70%) Price (30%) Total Score VoiceAbility Advocacy 65.00% 30.00% 95.00% The Advocacy Project (Scotland) 64.00% 28.72% 92.72% You First Advocacy 60.00% 28.71% 88.71% 3.9 Tenderers were required to complete Renfrewshire Council’s Cyber Security Questionnaire, and this was evaluated by the Council’s Cyber Security team. The recommended Tenderer will be required to undergo an annual review to ensure ongoing compliance and/or improvement of their current Cyber Security status.
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OFFICIAL 3.10 Community Benefits were requested as part of this procurement process. The recommended Tenderer offered the Community Benefits detailed below: Community Benefit Number Work Experience Placement for an individual 16+ years of age 3 Industry Skill Transfer to Schools. 3 Non-financial support for a Community Project/Group 1 ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial - The maximum approved value of £761,352, excluding VAT, for the initial 3 year period plus further extension of up to a further 12 months, will be met from the RHSCP Adult Services Budget, and specific funding from Scottish Government for Alcohol and Drugs focused advocacy (as outlined in 2.2 above). 2. HR & Organisational Development - None directly arising from this report. 3. Community/Council Planning – • Place – working together to enhance wellbeing across communities - Developing local plans that reflect the voices of our communities, alongside strengthening our local partnerships, working together to deliver local priorities. • Fair – nurturing bright, happy and healthy futures for all – o Reducing inequalities in Renfrewshire, focusing on supporting our communities and empowering people to live fulfilled lives; o Working with a range of partners to support the improved health and wellbeing of our citizens. 4. Legal - This procurement was carried out in accordance with the procedures for an above Threshold Contract as permitted under part 3 Section 7 (Social and Other Specific Services) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, as amended, and the Council’s Standing Orders Relating to Contracts. 5. Property/Assets – None directly arising from this report. 6. Information Technology – The Council’s Security & Compliance team evaluated the cyber security evidence submitted by the recommended and this met the Council’s minimum requirements. ICT will support the review of cyber security evidence on an annual basis.
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OFFICIAL 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 because for example it is for noting only. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored. 8. Health & Safety – The Corporate Health and Safety team evaluated the Health and Safety evidence submitted by the recommended Tenderer and these met the Council’s minimum requirements. 9. Procurement – The procurement procedures outlined within this report shall ensure that the Council meets its statutory requirements in respect of procurement procedures, efficiency and modern Government. 10. Risk - The Council’s Risk team evaluated the insurance evidence submitted by the recommended Tenderer, and these met the Council’s minimum requirements. 11. Privacy Impact – The Council’s Information Governance Team and RHSCP conducted a data protection impact assessment as part of the procurement exercise. The recommended Tenderer will be a Data Controller and will be required to comply with the Conditions of Contract including Data Protection Conditions. 12. Climate Risk – The level of impact associated with the services was assessed using the Scottish Government Sustainability Test and is considered to be low impact. 13. Children’s Rights – None directly arising from this report. 14. Cosla Policy Position – None directly arising from this report. _______________________________________________________ List of Background Papers - none ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Shona Brydson, Senior Procurement Specialist, Corporate Procurement Unit, shona.brydson@renfrewshire.gov.uk