New Changes to the NAVCA Tender Support Project

Local groups will now find it easier to take advantage of a consultancy project designed to improve their ability to win public service contracts, following a change in the project's criteria.

The Tender Support Project aims to improve the tender submissions of community and voluntary sector organisations by providing individual guidance, advice and support. Administered locally by GMCVO and Tameside 3rd Sector Coalition, the project is targeted at organisations with an income of no more than £1 million that have prepared for delivering public services and are inexperienced in writing tender submissions.

Now, organisations can apply for consultant support to prepare for tenders as well as support at the time of submitting a tender. This means that tender suitability assessment, advice on policies and procedures, quality systems, pricing models as well as reviewing tenders submissions and preparing for interviews will all be permissible.

In addition, groups will have to contribute only £50 a day for the consultant, instead of £250.

Organisations making successful bids will be given an approved consultants list from which they can choose their preferred consultant. Once contact with the consultant has been made, it is up to each organisation, in discussion with the consultant, to decide how best to use the time.

Organisations working in Bolton that are interested in applying to the project, should contact Alison Crush at GMCVO on 0161 277 1022 or email alison.crush@gmcvo.org.uk.

The project is managed nationally by the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) and runs until the end of March 2011.