Energy-efficiency consultancy services

Tender description

Coventry City Council are looking to provide a Keeping Coventry Warm Service across the city, with the aim of reducing fuel poverty in Coventry and protecting those who are most vulnerable to the health effects of living in cold homes. The Keeping Coventry Warm Service shall be supplied by a single provider, city-wide. Consortia partnership bids with a single managing agent are welcome. It is the responsibility of the service provider to appoint and manage all sub-contractors delivering services or works on this contract and ensure that they meet the mandatory service and quality requirements. The service provider will be responsible for three main functions: 1) Provision of information advice, guidance and training; 2) Coordination and management of the provision of physical interventions; 3) Offer technical expertise and support to the Council on fuel poverty strategy and policy. In 2018, there were 16 512 (12.1 %) households estimated to be living in fuel poverty in Coventry (latest national statistical release from the Dept. for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy). The definition of fuel poverty relates to households with required fuel bills which are higher than average, and payment of those bills would mean that householders are living below the official poverty line. The value of the contract is subject to change. Grant funding arrangements for all installation works and repair services are only agreed each financial year for the following 12-month period (April to March). Funding can therefore reduce or indeed be terminated (as per terms and conditions) if the budget becomes unavailable. The current funding value is only guaranteed until the end of March 2021. • Information, advice, guidance and training services shall be available to all residents in Coventry, but with a focus on those who are more likely to be living in fuel poverty, or more likely to experience the negative health impacts of living in a cold home. • Heating and insulation measures shall be targeted at those most vulnerable and will include the requirement for individuals to be dependent on benefits or on low incomes and have a health condition and/or disability that is exacerbated by living in a cold home. • Interventions shall run alongside and include other winter campaigns e.g. seasonal flu vaccination and exploit other opportunities for partnership working. Services shall support other council initiatives as appropriate, including those aligned to the Health and Wellbeing Strategy. • The provider, with approval and support from Coventry City Council commissioners, shall seek and apply for external funding/grant opportunities to support the Keeping Coventry Warm service objectives. • Interventions shall be complementary to the existing work of the City Council and any national schemes, e.g. Housing Health and Safety Rating System powers with regard to excess cold, and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO/ECO Flex), and other local and national initiatives. In particular, the provider shall supplement and complement the Keeping Coventry Warm Service by enabling households to have ECO funded insulation or heating work carried out. The provider will manage an ECO service in parallel with the Keeping Coventry Warm Service, and will work with obligated suppliers, intermediary organisations and contractors to optimise the amount and types of assistance available to qualifying households. The provider will be required to maintain a panel of suitable subcontractors to carry out insulation and heating work. The provider will exercise all due care and diligence in the selection, appointment and management of the sub-contractors, commensurate with best practice and in accordance with all applicable law and regulation.