Award

VCMA Collaborative project - Mental Health UK

  • NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-001867

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-042e62

Published 19 January 2024, 9:38am



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED

1100 Century Way Thorpe Park

LEEDS

LS158TU

Contact

Rebecca Rowley

Email

rrowley@northerngas.co.uk

Telephone

+44 7935077342

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKE42 - Leeds

Companies House

NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk

one.6) Main activity

Production, transport and distribution of gas and heat


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

VCMA Collaborative project - Mental Health UK

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Mental Health UK is a National Mental Health charity that covers all of the UK and has representatives in each GDN area.

Mental Health UK are the only national charity that can cover all GDN areas at the same time.

Objectives

• To launch the new support service, 'Money Navigators', for customers who utilise MHUK support services, offering energy safeguarding and CO awareness as part of this extended service.

• To enable effective referral pathways from GDNs and their partners for customers with poor mental health in addressing pressing challenges with their utility costs; ensuring facilitated access to energy initiatives like the Warm Homes Discount scheme, the CO safety programme, supplier advocacy services to address energy debt, and access to key services like the Priority Services Register.

• To train all Mental Health & Money Advice Advisors and Navigators as energy specialists, so that anyone accessing the service via any referral mechanism can be supported with their utility needs.

• To introduce a new network of partners to support people with poor mental health through joined-up customer journeys, e.g., Gas Distribution Networks, Energy Saving Trust, StepChange, Age UK and Mental Health UK.

• To upskill and train GDN engineers and customer experience colleagues on mental health; helping them provide appropriate support and great service to customers experiencing mental health problems.

Training for Gas Distribution Networks

• Mental Health UK will carry out a need analysis discovery period to determine the specific requirements of GDN colleagues, primarily engineers, regarding mental health and how to support and signpost vulnerable customers with poor mental health and severe mental illness, as well as have to support engineers and wider colleagues with their own mental health.

• Mental Health UK will provide awareness training content to meet the needs of engineers and front-facing colleagues. This will be supplied for the adaption to the GDN's own E-Learning teams/external providers who will format the content to the relevant platforms. The e-learning can be used for the 2-year duration of the project, with an annual license fee to be agreed if the GDN's wish to use it thereafter.

• Mental Health UK will provide a range of learning that will encourage further learning and engagement for all (in the form of physical and downloadable resources), designed to equip engineers with the tools, understanding and knowledge of how to spot the signs of poor mental health, and how to compassionately signpost customers in need of support.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKC - North East (England)
  • UKD - North West (England)
  • UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
  • UKF - East Midlands (England)
  • UKG - West Midlands (England)
  • UKH - East of England
  • UKI - London
  • UKJ - South East (England)
  • UKK - South West (England)
  • UKL - Wales
  • UKM - Scotland
  • UKN - Northern Ireland
  • UKZ - Extra-Regio NUTS 1

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Mental Health UK is a National Mental Health charity that covers all of the UK and has representatives in each GDN area.

Mental Health UK are the only national charity that can cover all GDN areas at the same time.

Objectives

• To launch the new support service, 'Money Navigators', for customers who utilise MHUK support services, offering energy safeguarding and CO awareness as part of this extended service.

• To enable effective referral pathways from GDNs and their partners for customers with poor mental health in addressing pressing challenges with their utility costs; ensuring facilitated access to energy initiatives like the Warm Homes Discount scheme, the CO safety programme, supplier advocacy services to address energy debt, and access to key services like the Priority Services Register.

• To train all Mental Health & Money Advice Advisors and Navigators as energy specialists, so that anyone accessing the service via any referral mechanism can be supported with their utility needs.

• To introduce a new network of partners to support people with poor mental health through joined-up customer journeys, e.g., Gas Distribution Networks, Energy Saving Trust, StepChange, Age UK and Mental Health UK.

• To upskill and train GDN engineers and customer experience colleagues on mental health; helping them provide appropriate support and great service to customers experiencing mental health problems.

Training for Gas Distribution Networks

• Mental Health UK will carry out a need analysis discovery period to determine the specific requirements of GDN colleagues, primarily engineers, regarding mental health and how to support and signpost vulnerable customers with poor mental health and severe mental illness, as well as have to support engineers and wider colleagues with their own mental health.

• Mental Health UK will provide awareness training content to meet the needs of engineers and front-facing colleagues. This will be supplied for the adaption to the GDN's own E-Learning teams/external providers who will format the content to the relevant platforms. The e-learning can be used for the 2-year duration of the project, with an annual license fee to be agreed if the GDN's wish to use it thereafter.

• Mental Health UK will provide a range of learning that will encourage further learning and engagement for all (in the form of physical and downloadable resources), designed to equip engineers with the tools, understanding and knowledge of how to spot the signs of poor mental health, and how to compassionately signpost customers in need of support.

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below

  • The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations

Explanation:

Mental Health UK is a National Mental Health charity that covers all of the UK and has representatives in each GDN area. Mental Health UK are the only national charity that can cover all GDN areas at the same time.

The project is unique in that nothing else exists in the region in terms of these specific project objectives.

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No


Section five. Award of contract/concession

Title

VCMA Collaborative project - Mental Health UK

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

18 January 2024

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

Mental Health UK

London

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKI - London
Companies House

Mental Health UK

Internet address

www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk

The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £664,100

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £664,100


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Northern Gas Networks

Leeds

Country

United Kingdom