Voluntary Sector (VS) Procurement in Practice A Home Office Perspective Speaker:Dave Dorrington NASS VS Contract Manager

Introduction Migrant Helpline Refugee Action Refugee Arrivals Project Refugee Council Scottish Refugee Council Welsh Refugee Council NASS currently funds six VS organizations:

Introduction Residual Reception Assistant Service - facilitating access to NASS support and the provision of Emergency Accommodation One Stop Service - the provision of advice for NASS supported asylum seekers Induction Centre Services - the provision of management services, briefings and accommodation They provide the following range of services:

Introduction They received funds totaling £106M in 2003/04, which included: £25M in Grants (which covers staff salaries and the organizations operating costs); and £81M for Variable Costs (which covers the accommodation, subsistence payments, consumables etc.)

VS Procurement in Practice Why did NASS decide to use the VS? Knowledge base; Experience; and Not profit driven What were the main issues this raised? Contracting with an adversary; Focus on their agenda; and More naive

VS Procurement in Practice How were some of these challenges overcome? New arrangements for the One Stop Service: Define the service expectations; Obtain detailed Annual Workplans that specify the specific services; and Monitor and Review actual performance

VS Procurement in Practice - Moving Forward What does the future hold? How do we provide a well-defined, settled framework in which the VS can exercise their independent discretion? Can we enter into longer-term arrangements that provide greater operational stability for both NASS and the VS? How do we demonstrate Value for Money? Should we be using a Grant Agreement or a Contract?

Conclusion Voluntary Sector Procurement in Practice A Home Office Perspective