This part of the Merseyside Funding Information Portal (www.mfip.org.uk) is specifically designed to help Greater Merseyside’s Voluntary Community & Faith Sector (VCFS) learn more about commissioning, tendering and procurement.

• Commissioning is the process used to ensure that the particular goods and/or services provided most effectively meet the needs of the designated population. It is a complex process with responsibilities ranging from assessing need and prioritising outcomes; to procuring goods and/or services; and the management of service providers.

• Tendering is the making of a formal offer to undertake to supply particular goods and/or services.

• Procurement is the acquisition of goods and/or services at the best possible total ownership cost (in the right quantities and quality, at the right time and from the right source) for the direct benefit of, or use by, organisations or individuals, generally via a contract.

Use the Latest menu on the right-hand side of this page to access our articles and tips; and learn more about The Chest, LiverpoolTenders.com, TED and Funding Central.

The Tendering and Procurement Support (TaPS) project funded by Greater Merseyside ChangeUp aims to help VCFS organisations decide:

1. Whether tendering is for them

2. Encourage those interested to get tender ready by explaining what is involved

3. Improve access to tendering opportunities

4. Provide a mechanism to enable commissioners to engage with the sector whilst raising awareness about what the sector, can in turn offer them

5. Help the public sector improve their commissioning processes and increase voluntary sector involvement in service delivery

6. Broker partnership arrangements for organisations with other VCFS, public or private sector organisations

By providing infrastructure support services, performance improvement and quality management techniques, the TaPS project wants to help organisations become ‘PASSMARK ready’ in the areas of commissioning, tendering and procurement. Over the coming weeks and months these pages will be progressively populated with content. Users are advised to visit regularly to find out the latest news, advice, guidance, training events and direct links to contract opportunities.

What is Greater Merseyside ChangeUp?

ChangeUp is a £231m programme that aims to improve the capacity of local third sector support providers (or infrastructure organisations) so they are better able to support frontline organisations e.g. by help, advice and providing the tools needed to provide enhanced service delivery to users. The ChangeUp vision is that by 2014 the needs of frontline organisations will be met by support which is available nationwide, structured for maximum efficiency, and offers excellent provision, that is sustainable and accessible to all whilst reflecting and promoting diversity.