Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED
1100 Century Way Thorpe Park
LEEDS
LS158TU
Contact
Rebecca Rowley
Telephone
+44 7935077342
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKE42 - Leeds
Companies House
NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED
Internet address(es)
Main address
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 project - Holistic app energy debt & Welfare advice
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
Citizens Advice Northumberland is a registered local charity which provides the people of Northumberland with free, confidential, independent and impartial information and advice on a wide range of subjects including welfare benefits, debt, financial capability, fuel poverty, housing, relationships and employment matters. Since 1st April this year we have helped
more than 4,000 clients with more than 22,000 issues. Our help and support is delivered through face to face interview, telephone, digital and virtual conversations and includes endtoend casework as required.
We have been the foremost provider of energy advice in the County for more than 10 years and through our collaboration with Northumberland County Council we have identified priority wards in the county that suffer most from factors related to fuel poverty and therefore why these services are only able to be provided by Citizens Advice Northumberland.
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)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Citizens Advice Northumberland is a registered local charity which provides the people of Northumberland with free, confidential, independent and impartial information and advice on a wide range of subjects including welfare benefits, debt, financial capability, fuel poverty, housing, relationships and employment matters. Since 1st April this year we have helped
more than 4,000 clients with more than 22,000 issues. Our help and support is delivered through face to face interview, telephone, digital and virtual conversations and includes endtoend casework as required.
We have been the foremost provider of energy advice in the County for more than 10 years and through our collaboration with Northumberland County Council we have identified priority wards in the county that suffer most from factors related to fuel poverty and therefore why these services are only able to be provided by Citizens Advice Nortumberland.
We have Focused on wards with:
● The highest proportion of households with income of below £20k/annum
● That have the highest levels of hospital admissions and excess winter deaths
● Where more than 1⁄3 of homes are estimated to have EPC below band C.
This approach has highlighted wards, for example Hirst, Newbiggin Central & East, Isabella, Croft, Ashington Central and Cowpen - all urban/coastal settlements and will target the delivery of advice directly into vulnerable households in these communities. We have an established track record of targeted support into these communities - our historic data shows that more than 30% of our general advice beneficiaries live in the 10
worst affected wards in the county.
County-wide statistics for Northumberland can mask the extreme deprivation experienced in the poorest urban and rural settlements, however notwithstanding this anomaly, the data in the June 2022 report, Research on Vulnerable Customer Groups for Northern Gas Networks supports our view that the County has a strong claim on additional resources to combat the effects of fuel poverty on its vulnerable households.
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:
Citizens Advice Northumberland is a registered local charity which provides the people of
Northumberland with free, confidential, independent and impartial information and advice on
a wide range of subjects including welfare benefits, debt, financial capability, fuel poverty,
housing, relationships and employment matters. Since 1st April this year we have helped
more than 4,000 clients with more than 22,000 issues. Our help and support is delivered
through face to face interview, telephone, digital and virtual conversations and includes endtoend
casework as required.
We have been the foremost provider of energy advice in the County for more than 10 years
and through our collaboration with Northumberland County Council we have identified
priority wards in the county that suffer most from factors related to fuel poverty and therefore why these
services are only able to be provided by Citizens Advice Nortumberland.
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 project - Holistic app energy debt & Welfare advice
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
25 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
Citizens Advice Northumberland
Northumberland
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKD - North West (England)
Companies House
Citizens Advice Northumberland
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: £450,477
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £450,477
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Northern Gas Networks
Leeds
Country
United Kingdom