Invitation to Tender
Project Name:
North West Faith Community Research Project Ref: PPRSH - 1
Date of Issue:
1st August 2008
Contact Details In the first instance please contact: Emma Charnock, Information Manager, NWDA Research Team Tel: 01925 400290 Email: Emma.Charnock@nwda.co.uk
Documentation Required 1. An electronic submission containing:: • •
Project Appreciation Methodology
• • •
Brief outline of similar work carried out Work plan and staffing (including a full schedule and milestone delivery) Financial proposals
•
CVs of staff involved
(Submissions are expected to be no more than 15 pages) 2. Appropriate financial and economic capacity documents as detailed in point 13 below 3. Copies of all your policy documents relating to the following Acts: Disability, Equal Pay, Rehabilitation of Offenders, Equal Opportunities, Sex, Race Discrimination and Age Discrimination. 1. Executive Summary To research recent and existing NWDA funded faith based projects, and others in the region, against the questions raised in the CLG (Communities & Local Government) document Face to Face and Side by Side in order to measure the additionality faith communities bring.
2. Background There is an emerging prominence given to faith issues in the public square. The NWDA recognises the social capital that faith communities represent, not least in the most deprived areas of the region. This makes them legitimate partners in sustainable economic development. Having already undertaken research which measures the economic impact of faith communities in economic terms, the NWDA wishes to commission a piece of work to perform an audit of existing faith based projects in order to further identify the added value faith brings. Regional Intelligence Unit: Telephone 01925 400291 Fax 01925 400401 -nwriu@nwda.co.uk
3. Aims and Objectives Primary Objectives 1. Measure the added value that faith communities bring to public life in the region. 2. Audit, identify and analyse a number of significant publicly funded faith based projects - A list of approx 12 projects to be used as case studies within the audit will be provided and agreed in advance. 3. Work within the context of current government policy on faith communities contained in Face to Face and Side by Side: a framework for inter faith dialogue and social action (CLG December 2007). Consultation with Stephen Timms’s office (Minister of state at DWP and Labour Party vice chair on Faith) and CLG confirms that further research on measuring the difference that faith can make would be welcome. 4. Collaborate with CLG in developing national indicators of faith based social action and engagement in civil society and pilot the use of national indicators that could be used in other regions. 5. Build on the two Faith in England’s Northwest reports (NWDA, 2003/2005) that continue to have national impact. Secondary Objectives
6. Acknowledge other research in the field e.g. Faith as Social Capital (Joseph Rowntree Foundation 2006) 7. Capitalise on the successful NWDA sponsored Face to Face and Side by Side consultation event held at Liverpool Hope University on 28 February 2008 and attended by Steven Timms MP 8. Promote the NWDA faith lead role.
4. Critical Issues
(Implementation, scope, and technical)
Its is expected that consultants will make use of existing data and research including: • Faith in England’s Northwest (NWDA 2003) http://www.nwriu.co.uk/informationresources/1936.aspx • Faith in England Northwest: Economic Impact Assessment (NWDA 2005) http://www.nwriu.co.uk/informationresources/1934.aspx • Faith in Wales: Counting for Communities (GWEINI 2008) • Faith & Community (LGA 2002) • Working Together (Home Office 2004) • Faith in the City (Church of England 1985) • Faithful Cities (Church of England 2007) • Faith Based Social Action and the Inter Faith Framework a report for CLG by the Faith Based Regeneration Network UK (to be published in July 2008). The sensitivity of faith groups to perceived government interference in their work could affect the response rate and subsequent robustness of the findings. Lessons learned in the Faith in England’s Northwest project(s) will be applied. To help to address these issues and to give potential tenderers a greater insight into the project there will be a pre tender meeting on 17 th September 2008 to which all interested parties are invited. The location and attendees are to be confirmed but representatives from involved parties will be present to talk through the project and potential issues. Tenderers are invited to ask any questions about the project at this meeting. Should you wish to attend this meeting please contact Mavis Barnsby, PA to John Devine on 01925 400366 or Mavis.Barnsby@nwda.co.uk by 3pm on 1st September 2008.
Regional Intelligence Unit: Telephone 01925 400291 Fax 01925 400401 -nwriu@nwda.co.uk
5. Methodology
(Required methodology)
We anticipate that the methodology shall cover the following areas:
1. Research will involve an audit of existing publicly funded faith based projects using
2.
criteria derived from the headings in the CLG document Face to Face and Side by Side (CLG 2007). Details of who to consult with will be provided but it is anticipated that the successful tenderers will consult with approx 12 projects. The audit will take the form of a mix of desk based research and interviews with the projects to obtain a range of qualitative and quantitative data on the impact that faith communities bring to public life using questionnaires and interviews. Faith in England’s Northwest survey findings might be also analysed in terms of ‘bonding’, ‘bridging’ and ‘linking’ social capital and the issues raised by Face to Face and Side by Side.
Respondents may provide different options for the methodology if appropriate. The respondents preferred methodology should be made clear and all options should be costed. Face-to-Face and Side-by-Side Possible headings drawn from the questions in this consultation document: • Inter-faith interaction and social action • Opportunities for learning to build understanding • Working together and retaining distinctiveness • Spaces for inter-faith dialogue and social action • Shared spaces for wider society • Social action and civil society • Promoting activity and sharing best practice • Opportunities for women • Opportunities for young people • Links with cohesion Face to Face and Side by Side identifies four principal Building Blocks: Structures which facilitate interaction; Opportunities for learning which build understanding; Shared spaces for interaction and social action; Confidence and skills that bridge and link. The above headings and building blocks will form the basis of questions to be asked and final report. Project case studies The sorts of questions that might be asked when digging down into projects are (though not all would be applicable to all): • What is different and special? Description of services/activity provided and/or how organised. • Description of the nature of additionality – what was it about the origins in a faith community(ies) that enabled it to go ahead? • Involvement – any good practice • Problems encountered and how overcome. • Overall and unit costs • Outputs and outcomes • Value for money. A list of projects to be used as case studies within the audit will be provided. It is anticipated that the successful tenders will consult with approx 12 projects to be agreed in advance.
Regional Intelligence Unit: Telephone 01925 400291 Fax 01925 400401 -nwriu@nwda.co.uk
6. Outputs
(Required outputs from the Research Project)
Project Report • This should include all the findings/results, clearly presented and defined. • A final report with executive summary.
• • •
A four-page (A3 folded) JRF-style findings (Joseph Rowntree Foundation) Single side project case studies (as appropriate) A list of project and other website and contact details as the basis for building an ongoing database.
Methodology Report & Data This will allow the work to continue into the future and develop. Full details of sources used, theories applied and technical developments should be included. Presentations The winning contractor will also need to cost in at least 3 presentations of outputs
7. Project Management John Devine (Churches Officer) will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the project and will be supported by Emma Charnock (Information Manager, NWDA Research Team). The contractor will be expected to attend 3 advisory group meetings (which will be identified by the tendering process) to discuss the progress and present the findings and outputs. The NWDA stipulates that a “Lead Contractor” be identified for this research project. Third parties working with the Lead Contractor on the delivery of this project must comply with the approval regulations of the NWDA and should be named on the submission. Issues outside of the cost of the project may be discussed with the Churches’ Officer, John Devine on 01925 400254 or john.devine@nwda.co.uk. If the Agency considers any question or request for clarification to be of material significance, both the query and the response will be communicated on the Agency`s website, www.nwda.co.uk/tenders in an anonymous form. It is the responsibility of Suppliers to check this website for information on a regular basis
8. Timing
(Timings and deadlines for delivery of this research project)
The deadline for responses to this specification is 12 noon Friday 26th September 2008. The contractor will be expected to commence work upon award of the contract. It is anticipated that the completion of the full project will be within 3 months. This project has been identified by the region as a priority research project and as such potential bidders should note their may be a tight timescale for outputs and that this is not negotiable.
9. Costs
(Costs accruable for this research project)
Regional Intelligence Unit: Telephone 01925 400291 Fax 01925 400401 -nwriu@nwda.co.uk
Whilst not all the headings below may be relevant, costings for the delivery of this project should be fully inclusive and should be itemised as follows: • • • • • • •
Project management and professional time required; Administration costs; Travel and subsistence with regards to conducting the audit interview and attending steering group meetings and dissemination events; Publication costs; Overheads; Other costs (to be specified); VAT
10. Format of proposal
(required proposal format)
The proposal should be structured as follows:
•
Project Appreciation Methodology
•
Brief outline of similar work carried out Work plan and staffing (including a full schedule and milestone delivery) Financial proposals
• • • •
CVs of staff involved
• • •
Financial & Economic capacity (see point 13 below) Policy Documents (see point 14 below) Terms & Conditions (see point 15 below)
(Submissions are expected to be no more than 15 pages) We will require an electronic version of the submission. Please email the electronic copy to Emma.Charnock@nwda.co.uk and follow up any email submissions with a telephone call to check that it has been received successfully. Please note that the deadline for response to the specification is 12 noon on Friday 26th September 2008
11. Criteria for Assessment Criteria for appraising tenders submitted for this project are: • • • • • • • • •
Knowledge and expertise of the subject area; Previous experience in conducting research in this field at a subregional/regional/national level; Clarity of definition in terms of work required to fulfil the aims and objectives contained herein; Clear proposed style of delivery of the requested outputs; Excellent understanding of faith communities, potential issues and what is needed to effectively deal with these issues; Ability to deliver on time; Costs and subsequent value for money offered. Financial & Economic Capacity (see below) Provision of Policy Documents (see below) and Accept of the NWDA’s Terms & Conditions (see below)
Regional Intelligence Unit: Telephone 01925 400291 Fax 01925 400401 -nwriu@nwda.co.uk
Weighting 15% 15% 10% 10% 15% 10% 15% 5% 5%
12. Ownership of Outputs All new research, reports and any other outputs, produced as a result of the completion of this research project, will remain the ownership of the NWDA once the project is finished. All intellectual property rights from this project will remain under the ownership of the NWDA and all data will be made available free of charge to members of the Regional Intelligence Network operated by the NWDA Research Team.
13. FINANCIAL and ECONOMIC Capacity The following financial information is required: (1) A copy of the most recent audited accounts for your organisation that cover the last two years of trading or for the period that is available if trading for less than two years. (2) A statement of the organisation’s turnover, Profit & Loss and cash flow position for the most recent full year of trading (or part year if full year not applicable) and an end period balance sheet, where this information is not available in an audited form at (1). (3) Where (2) cannot be provided, a statement of the organisation’s cash flow forecast for the current year and a bank letter outlining the current cash and credit facility position. (4) If the organisation is a subsidiary of a group, (1) to (3) are required for both the subsidiary and the ultimate parent. Where a consortium or association is proposed, the information is requested for each member company. (5) A separate statement of the organisation’s turnover that relates directly to the supply of this service for the past two years, or for the period the organisation has been trading (if less than two years). (6) If applicable, parent company and/or other guarantees of performance and financial standing may be required if considered appropriate. Confirm your organisation’s willingness and ability to arrange for a collateral warranty, parent company guarantee and /or performance bond if called upon.
Y/N
(7) Has your organisation made any application for third party funding – including State Aid assistance – in relation to the services you are intending to provide?
Y/N
(8) Please give address to which Payment/Remittances should be sent:
(9) Please also advise if your invoice address is different from the above:
14. Policy Documents Please attach copies of all your policy documents relating to the following Acts: Disability, Equal Pay, Rehabilitation of Offenders, Equal Opportunities, Sex, Race Discrimination and Age Discrimination.
Regional Intelligence Unit: Telephone 01925 400291 Fax 01925 400401 -nwriu@nwda.co.uk
15. Terms and Conditions of Contract Your organisation agrees to carry out all contracts and/or other awards of business in accordance with the Agency’s standard Terms and Conditions of Contract for Services. Failure to accept the Agency’s Terms and Conditions of Contract may result in Suppliers being disqualified from taking any further part in this process. You are advised to take legal advice on the Contract terms before answering this question. If you respond with a “Y”, no amendments will be allowed to the Contract terms at any later stage of this process.
Regional Intelligence Unit: Telephone 01925 400291 Fax 01925 400401 -nwriu@nwda.co.uk
Y/N