Metropolitan Contracted Services Application 2014-15
Metropolitan Digital Inclusion Programme
Call for Submissions and Application Form: Digital Inclusion Programme
Closing date: 23rd May 2014
Approximate duration of assignment: 6-12 Months
Tentative contract starting date: 16th June 2014
Location/s:
1. Derby; Normanton, Arboretum, Sinfin
2. Nottingham; St.Ann’s
Contract value per location: £8,000.00
Total Programme Value: £16,000.00
1. Overview
Metropolitan is a housing and care & support organisation that seeks to assist our customers
in adapting to the changes that happen socially and politically. With the implantation of a
wide and far reaching range of welfare reforms, we endeavour to equip out customers
where ever possible with the tools to understand and cope with the changes. As such we
have put together an action plan and strategy do achieve this.
Metropolitan’s Financial Inclusion Strategy sets out our commitment in supporting our
customers to manage their financial affairs. Financial exclusion consists of a complex set of
overlapping barriers and, consequently, successful financial inclusion initiatives must address
many different issues. This includes barriers such as unemployment, lack of access and
knowledge of digital services, low income, poor skills, and health which prevent people
participating in society.
2. Digital Inclusion
With the recent changes to the benefit system and the move to online account
management, access to the internet and the skills to use it are more important now than
ever before. Many aspects of our society and economy are now digital - job adverts and
applications, goods and services, and increasingly public services, including benefits and
health checks. Being digitally excluded reinforces social exclusion and poverty.
Improving access for our customers can provide a great number of positive outcomes;
 Improving Education and Life Chances; Home access to a computer and the internet can
improve children’s educational performance.
 Aiding Employment and Skills; It is estimated that between 75%and 90% of jobs require at
least some computer use. Being online also gives people more opportunities to search
and apply for jobs.
 Saving Money; Offline households are missing out on estimated savings of £560 per year
from shopping and paying bills online.
 Preparing for the Welfare Reform; The benefits system is changing. From April 2013 a new
Universal Credit was introduced to replace many current benefits, including Housing
Benefit and Job Seeker's Allowance. The Government wants 80% of applications for
Universal Credit to be online by 2017.
3. Contract Value
We have allocated £16,000.00 for this Digital Inclusion programme which is broken down into
2 sub-categories;
 £8,000.00 Derby; Normanton, Arboretum, Sinfin
 £8,000.00 Nottingham; St.Ann’s
Note: potential applicants can apply for 1 or more of these elements.
Metropolitan Contracted Services Application 2014-15
Metropolitan Digital Inclusion Programme
4. Service Specification
4.1
Objectives
The specific objectives of the program are to:
1. Train 70 individuals per site, 140 in total, in IT skills, accredited or unaccredited, to a level
that would enable them to access services and welfare systems.
2. The training must target demographic groups that are high risk of being digitally
excluded.
3. To ensure that, if necessary, those that receive training are sign posted onto other
services (e.g Metroployment).
4. Set up an IT champion programme where by customers are trained act as champions
able to sign-post others, and provide some IT assistance. These will be selected from top
performers in each class. The successful organisation will give additional training to those
selected. Incentives will be used by Metropolitan to assist in this.
4.2
Methodology
The programme should include tutoring around central IT themes that are of relevance to
the cohort group. Cohort groups will range between pension age, and 18+. Topics covered
should include, depending on the needs of the cohort: basic IT skills for work; internet usage,
for welfare support access; safe internet usage; general internet usage; and recreational
use. Cohort groups should group together clients by age, and economic activity. Where
possible accredited courses should be used for those seek economic activity. Additionally
classes should cover accessing the Metropolitan website, and what services they can use
there.
4.3
Deliverables
1. Delivery in one or more out of a possible two geographical locations: Nottingham (St.
Ann’s) and/or Derby (Normanton).
2. IT lessons for 70/140 number of cohorts.
3. Review and monitoring information for cohorts.
4. Of those trained, top performers should be identified to become IT champions, able to
assist others with IT help.
5
Information for contracted organisations
5.1
Eligibility Criteria
Organisations and individuals must be properly constituted with an organisation bank
account and hold relevance insurance and safeguarding measures in order to be
considered as a supplier to Metropolitan.
5.2
Skills and Experience Required
 Have delivered similar training to a similar cohort group.
 Preference will be given to locally established organisations and/or those who are able
to run accredited courses.
5.3
Commissioning terms
Metropolitan Contracted Services Application 2014-15
Metropolitan Digital Inclusion Programme
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We are interested in attracting a range of organisations to work with us including
voluntary or community based projects that have a good knowledge of the local
communities across the UK
We welcome applications from individuals as well as larger organisations and
consortiums or partnerships
Commissioning decisions will prioritise proposals with the greatest demonstrable
experience in the areas to be evaluated and the most robust methodology
Payment terms will be negotiable
5.4 Data Protection and Confidentiality
The selected contractor will have access to customer and monitoring data and must comply
with the Metropolitan Data Protection Policy and Procedure. Terms will be outlined in the
contract.
5.5
Submitting and Application
In order to be considered in the commissioning round you must submit the accompanied
application form (below), completing all relevant fields. If clarification is required on any of
the questions please contact:
aidan.marshall@metropolitan.org.uk or ewa.vandeschootbrugge@metropolitan.org.uk
5.6 Applications process
Completed applications will be initially assessed in order to ensure they comply with the
eligibility criteria. Following that, an assessment panel will award points on each application
reflecting how closely the criterion has been met. The points awarded will be weighted as
below and a total score agreed for each application.
5.7 Appeals Procedure
Appeals can only be made regarding the process. Timescales are not a reason for appeal.
Feedback will be available from the Assessment Panel following the decision making
process. Any appeals regarding the process should be e-mailed only.
For any enquiries relating to the Contracted Service Specification and Application please
contact: Ewa Van De Schootbrugge – ewa.vandeschootbrugge@metropolitan.org.uk
Metropolitan Contracted Services Application 2014-15
Metropolitan Digital Inclusion Programme
Application
Please submit applications to Ewa Van De Schootbrugge
By email: ewa.vandeschootbrugge@metropolitan.org.uk by Friday 23rd May 2014
Deadline: 23rd May 2014, 5pm
Name of lead
organisation/ Individual
Address
Name
Number
Email and Website
Registered Company/
Charity No.
Description of
organisation
Brief description of
current work
Metropolitan Contracted Services Application 2014-15
Metropolitan Digital Inclusion Programme
1
Proposed service
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2
3
Please outline your proposed Digital Inclusion Service
Track Record
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(10 points)
Please outline where you have delivered similar services
Relevant Experience, Skills and Knowledge
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(10 points)
(10 points)
Please outline relevant experience, skills or knowledge as per the contract
specification
Metropolitan Contracted Services Application 2014-15
Metropolitan Digital Inclusion Programme
4
Added Value
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5
6
Please outline any added value you or your organisation can bring to the project
(e.g. integration of other Metropolitan services or additional resources)
Value for Money
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(10 points)
Please provide a cost breakdown for the programme based on the contract value
and how they represent value for money
References
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(10 points)
Please provide two references