Bidding for Contracts

• The changing Government Agenda
• Implications for organisations
• Difference between a grant and a contract
• The tendering procedure
• Golden rules of Statutory Fundraising

• Partnership & improved delivery at the sub-regional level
• Double devolution to ensure funding meets local needs and is responsive
• Changing role of Local agencies acting as commissioners
• Efficiency savings of 3% p.a. required.

• A new duty to ensure community participation, involvement and choice
• Sustainable community strategies will deliver social inclusion and partnership
• Mixed use of grants and contracts available for 3 years+
• Principles of commissioning to be established with a 'level playing field'

• Switch from grant aid to contracts
• Funding concentrated in fewer hands. Over two thirds of funding is in the hands of 2% of organisations
• Increased competition from Community Interest Companies, private & statutory sector (partnership opportunities)
• Efficiency gains continue to drive funding, integration will grow in importance.

• Fundraising; more streamlined, bids completed quicker and to a higher standard
• Local knowledge, partnership and flexibility is becoming more important
• This must be underpinned by systems and support that can deliver consistency, standards and innovation
• Demands for an evidence based approach will grow

• Outcomes: what the project is trying to achieve for beneficiaries, employers, organisations, the community and/or region.
• Activities: are what you are doing.
• Outputs: what is achieved by a project e.g. staff trained, qualifications, numbers into work.
• Use a sentence and paragraph structure providing aims, activities and outputs (use the commissioner's outputs and provide evidence where possible)

• A gift
• Non EU compliant
• Conditions guide the recipient
• Repayment may be required
• Award is subject to Grant Agreement
• Qualities and experience of partner critical
• Conditional
• No financial advantage

• A fee
• EU Compliant
• Conditions set out obligations
• Remedy is damages
• Extensive terms and condition
• Award based on Value for Money
• Contractual relationship
• Financial advantage

• No scores
• Weightings for each section
• Scores for each section
• Scores for each section with explanation of what will provide a high score.
• Be aware! Bids may be considered on a met or exceeded basis
• Check for critical or 'gateway' questions

• Provides a fair and transparent system
• Gives confidence that an organisation is capable of delivering for the period of the contract
• Benchmarks against best practice
• Separates winners and losers
• Sets an acceptable standard
• Ensures that the contract meets the aims of the funders

1. Convince the commissioner that your bid demonstrates that you understand and can meet their aims, outputs and concerns.
2. Developing a project to fit a bid will make it much more likely to be funded than trying to fit a project into the funding.
3. Use an evidence based approach when answering questions; rely on your track record and evidence framework.
4. Technical answers must be underpinned by good practice.
5. Follow instructions exactly; provide what is asked for.
6. Lead with the need; beneficiary, community and funder
7. Statutory Fundraising is about margins not turnover

• Criteria can be pre-researched as they tend to be similar across funding bodies
• Use the opportunity to attend meetings and training to seek additional information.
• Consider what your organisation can provide over and above your competitors
• Provide answers that reflect a partnership approach, what is it you will be doing on their behalf?
• Demonstrate that you have an understanding of good practice and can deliver to standard, benchmarked if possible
• Ensure your final bid is checked by someone that has the knowledge to comment