MARKET SOUNDING EXERCISE ? NOTICE OF INTEREST ? SEEKING AN
INDEPENDENT SOCIAL ENTERPRISE TO RUN A CAF? IN A COMMUNITY & LEISURE
CENTRE
Donabate & Portrane Community & Leisure Centre (DPCC) is conducting a
market sounding exercise in order to seek the level of interest and
engagement from suitable operators for an existing caf? facility in a
vacant unit within a large community leisure centre in Donabate, North
County Dublin. DPCC is seeking an independent operator to run a caf?
that will provide an accessible and inclusive facility welcoming to
all members of surrounding communities. The facility is to be provided
at a heavily subsidised rent to the selected Caf? Operator.
At this early stage, DPCC will accept expressions of interest from
social enterprises only, as permitted for this type of initiative
under public procurement rules. However, it may be determined that a
request for tender open to all types of economic operator may be
published arising from this process, with social clauses to be
included in the terms of any contract offered.
This is a voluntary notice which is not governed by public procurement
law or guidelines. DPCC reserves the right not to follow up on this
notice in any way and/or to change its requirements in any way.
The objective of this market sounding exercise is to get a clear
understanding of the level of interest in the proposed caf? as a
social enterprise providing accessible and inclusive space and service
for surrounding communities, and to obtain feedback on the proposition
set out in this document
BACKGROUND & CONTEXT
Donabate & Portrane Community & Leisure Centre (DPCC) opened in
**Apply on the website** and is a registered charity supported by
Fingal County Council (FCC), Pobal and Leader, and governed by a
voluntary board of management. The Centre is located in the heart of
Donabate along the main road to Portrane, just five minutes? drive
from the M1 and fifteen minutes from Dublin Airport. Our mission is to
work with communities, groups and individuals to provide high quality
sports and leisure facilities and activities which are accessible and
available to people of all ages and abilities.
DPCC is located within its own grounds with ample car parking
facilities and is adjacent to three schools (Secondary, Educate
Together, Gaelscoil), St. Michael?s House, Sophia Housing, and the
local Credit Union. The new National Forensic Mental Health Service
Hospital is a short distance away and we are within easy walking
distance of a number of housing developments. The current population
of the Donabate & Portrane peninsula is around **Apply on the
website**.5k and significant growth is planned with the recent
announcement by FCC to build a further 1,**Apply on the website**
homes in the area.
In addition to the caf?, DPCC currently houses a gym and wellness
area, a sports hall, an FCC public library, a pre-school and
Montessori, meeting rooms and a number of community groups. The Centre
employs a full-time manager and sixteen staff. DPCC opening hours are
6.**Apply on the website**am to **Apply on the website**.**Apply on
the website**pm Monday/Wednesday/Friday, 8.**Apply on the website**am
to **Apply on the website**.**Apply on the website**pm
Tuesday/Thursday, 9.**Apply on the website**am to 5.**Apply on the
website**pm on Saturday, 9.**Apply on the website**am to 2.**Apply on
the website**pm on Sunday. There is no requirement for the caf? to
remain open for the duration of the Centre?s opening hours.
A caf? has been operated on site by commercial operators since
**Apply on the website** and has recently become vacant. The caf?
unit has a prime location at the front of the Centre and offers direct
public access from outside as well as from within the Centre. It
includes a fully equipped commercial kitchen, counter fittings with
fridge, space for **Apply on the website** covers inside and a paved
area to the front for optional outdoor dining. The selected operator
will be required to provide indoor and outdoor caf? furniture,
crockery/cutlery and pots/pans/kitchen utensils.
PREFERRED SELECTION CRITERIA
Social enterprises expressing an interest should satisfy themselves
that they can (or consortium can) meet the following criteria:
* Be a bona fide social enterprise.
* Be able to demonstrate at least two years trading in the same
sector in another location & make available annual turnover figures.
* Evidence of awareness and experience of community engagement,
including how to identify and respond to the needs of marginalised and
hard to reach groups within the community.
* Business model includes a focus on sustainable environmental
practices.
TIMEFRAME
Following a successful tendering process, the Board have set a target
timeframe for the caf? to be fully operational by 6th September
**Apply on the website**. The level of operation will be influenced by
COVID-**Apply on the website** restrictions in place at that time.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES:
The primary objectives of seeking a social enterprise to operate a
caf? in DPCC are:
* to operate as an independent social enterprise and continue to work
in line with your existing social mission and ethos;
* to create an inclusive and welcoming space and services for all
groups and individuals in the community, to be responsive to a range
of community needs, and to work with the DPCC manager and board of
management to identify and facilitate specific groups within the
community in using the caf?;
* to offer a variety of fresh wholesome food to meet a range of
dietary requirements;
* to cover all other business related expenses such as rates,
insurance, utility expenses and waste management;
* to pay at least minimum wage, preferably living wage, to
employees;
* to ensure the business continually meets all Employment Law, as
well as Health & Safety, Food Hygiene and Environmental Health
requirements
* to agree to a communication strategy with the DPCC Manager as a
key point of contact.
OBJECTIVES FOR MARKET SOUNDING EXERCISE:
* Test that there is a sufficient level of interest in this
proposition and sufficient capacity among social enterprises to meet
the primary objectives in order to proceed to the Reserved Contract
tender stage.
INITIAL TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION FOR DISCUSSION:
* Financial capacity to cover the running of the business.
* Process for engaging local communities and identifying the needs
of a variety of individuals and groups, including those who are hard
to reach, marginalised or vulnerable with a view to providing them
with a welcoming and accessible caf? facility.
FORMAT FOR MARKET SOUNDING EXERCISE
DPCC intend to hold discussions with a selection of social enterprises
through on-site meetings where interested parties will be given the
opportunity to view the caf? space and offer their proposed plan for
developing and operating the caf?. On-site meetings will be held in
accordance with COVID-**Apply on the website** restrictions. These
on-site visits will take place during WEEK BEGINNING MONDAY **APPLY ON
THE WEBSITE**TH MAY **APPLY ON THE WEBSITE**.
If you are interested in putting your name forward for selection,
please e-mail the following details to Kathleen McCann (DPCC
Vice-Chair) at **Apply on the website** BEFORE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON
FRIDAY 7TH MAY **APPLY ON THE WEBSITE**.
* Social enterprise name and address.
* Legal Structure of organisation (Company limited by guarantee
(CLG), Designated Activity Company (DAC), social enterprise)
* Contact name, e-mail address and phone number.
* Names and roles of proposed attendees
Please note that all social enterprises (whether selected to present
or not) will have an opportunity to tender via e-tenders website when
DPCC decides to go to tender for an independent operator for its caf?
space.
We need : English (Good)
Type: Permanent
Payment:
Category: Others
