Closing the Gap 2 (RBC) bidding window open – various contracts and deadlines in May and June 2025

Article date
30 April 2025
Primary interest
Voluntary sector

Reading Borough Council have now opened their bidding window for Closing the Gap 2 contracts for voluntary and community sector organisations to deliver services related to various themes. This is the second rendition of CTG following recent consultation with the local VCS.

The contracts are for differing amounts with the Invitation to Tender (ITT) contracts requiring more detail, medium size contracts under Request for Quotation process and the smaller contracts under the Request for Quotation Lite (RFQ Lite process.

Successful bidders will start their contracts in Nov 2025 for 3 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years. A partnership approach is favoured, especially for the larger contracts.

All tenders can be found on the RBC commissioning website, Intend, and the tenders must be submitted through this platform too. The deadlines for submission of tenders differ, please see below.

1: Invitation to Tender (ITT) – deadline to submit tenders 3 June 2025
    • Carer’s Support Service – tender reference 00002236. Value £185,643 p/a.
    • Cost of Living Support Service – tender reference 00002237. Value £174,000 p/a.
    • Aging Well Support Service – tender reference 00002238. Value £125,000 p/a.
2: Request for Quotation (RFQ) – deadline to submit tenders 3 June 2025
    • Ethnically Diverse Communities – tender reference 00002253. Value £68,000 p/a.
    • Hospital to Home Service  – tender reference 00002249. Value £73,500.
    • Men’s Mental Health  Service – tender reference 00002252. Value £39,000 p/a.
    • Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support – tender reference 00002250. Value £65,000 p/a.
    • Visual Impairment Support Service  – tender reference 00002251. Value £65,000 p/a.
    • Young People’s Wellbeing Service  – tender reference 00002248. Value £65,000 p/a.
    • Women’s Wellbeing Service  – tender reference 00002248. Value £100,000 p/a.
    • Debt Support Service  – tender reference 00002247. Value £100,000 p/a.
3: Request for Quotation Lite (RFQ Lite) – deadline to submit tenders 21 May 2025
    • Autism Support Service  – tender reference 00002242. Value £25,000 p/a.
    • Deaf and Hearing Impairment Service – tender reference 00002243. Value £25,000 p/a.
    • HIV Support  – tender reference 00002245. Value £25,000 p/a.
    • Learning Disabilities Support Service  – tender reference 00002241. Value £25,000 p/a.
    • LGBTQIA+ Support  – tender reference 00002239. Value £25,000 p/a.
    • Physical Disabilities Support – tender reference £25,000 p/a.
Support from RVA

If you would like support or advice in relation to understanding the process or developing/submitting your application including any related governance, please contact advice@rva.org.uk for free confidential advice.

All questions to RBC in relation to the contracts must be made through Intend ‘clarifications’. RVA can show you how to do this if you are unsure.