CVS Fife - 23-27 Randolph Street, Buckhaven KY8 1AT (Map)
T: 01592 567001 - F: 01592 567009 - E: cvsfife@cvsfife.org
Implications for the Voluntary Sector in Fife
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- Introduction
- EU Procurement Framework
- Impact - Fife's Voluntary Sector
- The National Picture
- Documents & Publications
Related Documents
- Fife Council Commissioning Event 10/12/09 Report
(58KB MS Word) - Advocacy Briefing paper
(65KB PDF) - Voluntary Sector Brief
(100KB MS Word)
To date in Fife, we have not seen wholesale moves by Fife Council or NHS Fife towards retendering of service areas previously delivered via Service Level Agreement arrangements by Voluntary Sector providers. This reflects a number of factors, including:
- Fife Council's introduction of three-year Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in 2008 for the majority of Voluntary Organisations delivering services/activities supported financially by the Council. This was a welcome step forward and indicates a commitment on behalf of the Local Authority to work effectively with the Voluntary Sector
- A significant proportion of Voluntary Organisations work in service areas classed as Part B services by the 2006 regulations; within these service areas, contracting authorities have greater flexibility to decide how to proceed with procurement
However, there have been some specific examples of retendering for service areas previously delivered by Voluntary Sector Organisations via SLAs which have caused concern. Please see the Briefing Paper on Advocacy Services for further details. The kind of issues thrown up by the experience of the Advocacy organisations in Fife have also been highlighted in other retendering exercises elsewhere in Scotland. (see the section entitled The National Picture for further details)
CVS Fife believes that a planned approach to tendering, with particular consideration given to how tenders are structured in order to facilitate the participation of small operators, along with good communication around decision-making processes and options for training for Staff and Board Members of Voluntary Organisations will have benefits both for those procuring services, for the sector itself and ultimately, for the users of services. This was the view expressed in a Briefing Paper drawn up for members of Fife Council's Social Work & Health Committee in October 2008.
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