13/03/23/NYCC - A waiver of contract procedure
rules was signed by Barry Khan and Gary Fielding that started a
seamless contract award was possible to ensure the continuation of
an inactive individuals support programme through Better
Connect.
The recommendation was to award a contract to Better Connect for a
period of 12 months only to provide the management and coordination
of the Action Towards Inclusion VCS partnership of providers to
ensure this service and VCS delivery organisations is not at risk
from the withdrawal of ESF funding and can continue delivering key
worker and wrap around employability support to inactive
individuals across North Yorkshire.
This decision has allowed for the continuation of the programme to
ensure client and sub-providers were able to continue with their
service and support - continue with excellent outcome result and
performance.
Better Connect were awarded the contract on the understanding that
the existing 20 providers through which the work was sub-contracted
and delivered, would continue/develop their work for existing and
new clients over the course of the 12 months (23/24).
Better Connect’s (through an agreed and fixed fee) role has
expanded to include:
- Acting as the accountable body for the programme
- Partnership profiling and development
- Grant criteria, monitoring form and evaluation development
- Delivery of partner training workshops
- Ongoing partner support and performance management
- Programme marketing and promotion
- Monitoring and financial paperwork verification
- Financial claims processing
- Partner payment calculations
- Internal and external audit management
- Programme storage and archive
- Strategic liaison with funders and stakeholders
The value of the contract with Better Connect is:
£210,068